Overview & Reviews

If you're thinking about purchasing a vehicle rugged enough to finesse rocky trails, chances are, one make comes to mind: Jeep. This specialty automotive manufacturer has a long history of producing trucks and SUVs capable of off-highway adventures — so much so that the term jeep is used by many to refer to all SUVs, whether the vehicle in question is a true Jeep or not.

Jeep took root in WWII as the name of the now-iconic four-wheel-drive military vehicle produced by Willys-Overland and Ford for the U.S. Army. The name's origin is somewhat of a mystery; popular belief is that it morphed from "GP," or "general purpose," though others have suggested that it was a nickname derived from a character featured in the Popeye comic strip of the time.

The mid-1940s saw the introduction of the first civilian Jeep, the CJ-2A. It offered many features not available on military versions, such as a tailgate, an external fuel cap and a side-mounted spare tire, and was targeted mainly toward farmers and construction workers.

Civilian Jeeps caught on with the public, and by the 1950s, new models such as the CJ-3B and the CJ-5 had been introduced. The CJ-5 had the longest production run of any Jeep vehicle, continuing for 30 years after its introduction in the early '50s. The company changed owners during this decade as Willys-Overland was sold to Kaiser in 1953.

Jeep broke new ground in the 1960s with the debut of its Wagoneer. Geared toward active families, this early SUV was the first four-wheel-drive vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission. A new "Dauntless" V6 became available as an option on the CJ-5 and CJ-6 in 1965. This was the first time that a Jeep CJ could be equipped with a V6. Packing 155 horses, the engine's horsepower almost doubled that offered by the standard four-cylinder.

By the 1970s, Jeep had changed ownership yet again, with the purchase of Kaiser-Jeep by American Motors Corporation. New models like the CJ-7 and the Scrambler were rolled out. Additionally, the company unveiled some new technology with the introduction of the world's first automatic full-time four-wheel-drive system. Dubbed Quadra-Trac, it was available in the CJ-7 as well as in full-size Jeep trucks and wagons. During this decade, Jeep's fortunes soared as four-wheel-drive vehicles became increasingly popular with large sections of American buyers.

The 1980s saw the introduction of the Cherokee and Wrangler. The Cherokee was one of the first of the new breed of SUVs — high-riding midsize wagons that skyrocketed in popularity as the decade progressed. The Wrangler replaced the CJ series in 1987 and offered the raw functionality of the CJ along with more comfort features. That year also saw the purchase of American Motors by Chrysler, with the Jeep brand becoming part of Chrysler's Jeep/Eagle division. One of Jeep's most popular models, the Grand Cherokee, debuted for 1993. This handsome, midsize SUV offered considerably more comfort and luxury than the smaller Cherokee while still providing stout off-road capability.

Jeep fell under the umbrella of DaimlerChrysler after Chrysler and Daimler-Benz merged in 1998. This partnership resulted in a few new models, such as the Liberty and Compass, though none were able to attain great sales success. In 2007, Daimler sold the Chrysler Group to a private equity firm. It is now under control of Fiat.

More recently, the company has added a couple of enticing models to its lineup (including a four-door version of the Wrangler and the pavement-scorching Grand Cherokee SRT8) and made substantial performance and quality improvements under the hoods and within the cabins. As such, we expect Jeep will not only maintain a loyal group of customers but will also bring new fans into the fold.

User Reviews:

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  Love the Compass - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By taz - September 4 - 11:43 pm

  I just got a 2007 Compass and just love it. My husband saw it, drove it and within 3 hours bought it for me. I just love the room in it and it drive great. My husband is 65 and has lots of room in it. I am going to enjoy my new vehicle.

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  Jeep - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Missy R - September 4 - 4:50 pm

  The tank is small and the fuel mileage is terrible so Im at the gas station quite often. Also because of the stadium seating it is hard to see through the rear mirror. The upside is pretty good though. Its the best driving SUV I have owned and it is extremely comfortable.

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  OUTSTANDING Built Vehicle - 2009 Jeep Compass
  By Mike Klementovich - September 4 - 9:26 am

  I never thought I would buy American again after a wonderful run with my 95 Toyota Corolla with over 200,000 on it and still running strong...i needed a stronger motor to pull a motorcycle trailer and I test drove a X-3 BMW and a honda C-RV and this Compass blew them both away. The most outstanding thing about this vehicle is the way it handles...IT handles like a sports car!!!!!!!!!! No Kidding. Tight package. Comfortable seats...and an EXTREMELY quiet ride even at 70-80mph!!!!! I also work on my own cars and plugs and oil must be easy for me to get to and this engine is laid out simply and very clean design...Pulls my trailer with my 650 dirt bike with ease. FANTASTIC

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  I love my jeep :) - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By amd8153 - September 4 - 2:00 am

  Before buying my jeep I was a bit skeptical as to how reliable the jeep was because of everyones complaints and reviews. I got mine used and have had no problems with it. The car rides and looks great. Its fun to drive and my leather seats are extremely comfortable. The infinity stereo system is like no other. I love the radio controls on the steering wheel, the huge cargo space, and the sunroof. I would recommend getting this car fully loaded with all the neat gadgets. My recommendation for people looking at jeeps is to test drive one before you base your decision on the other unfortunate horror stories

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  Great SUV! - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By JoannaHataway - September 4 - 2:00 am

  The Liberty is a great sport utility, just make sure you get it with ABS if possible. It can be difficult to control in rainy conditions, but it really is fun and in most situations handles the roads great!

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  This vehicle is GREAT!! - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By cani - September 4 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is great. The ride is great, layout and controls are great, especially the radio controls on back of steering wheel. No problems with vehicle--has 16,000+ miles. This is my first Jeep--went from Pathfinder LE to this and love it! Go USA!

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  Beware - unseen bugs - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By brad - September 3 - 4:13 pm

  Transmission is slow to engage at times, acts like it is slipping, you gas it and it free revs, exhaust manifold leak, limp mood is triggered sometimes by transmission issue resets to 3rd gear and is very slow, battery already went bad 3 years old (special expensive battery needed), surging at idle, dealership services, they have only fixed the manifold, numerous attempts by dealership but have never fixed. They could never get it to do it and the service manager would never return my messages. Had differential fluid changed and they charged me an extra $60.00 to just shut off the light. Planning on taking some where else to fix.

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  My first Jeep product - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jeepboy - September 3 - 12:40 am

  Basic SUV not to be mistaken for a soccer mom urban assault vehicle. Even with comfort features like leather, sunroof and power seats, its still a SUV through and through. Besides the gas consumption, which gets better and better with each mile put on it. (Im up to 17 mpg!) Its not a car; f I wanted a car I would have purchased a car. Great SUV and even greater price.

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  Im LOVIN it! - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By snowbordet - September 2 - 5:20 am

  This is the most classy, reliable fun car I have ever had. Its extremely maneuverable and has a nice ride for being a small SUV. Its got plenty of storage space in the back considering its a small vehicle. I have not had any problems in ANY type of weather and Ive pretty much encountered it all (rain, snow, ice, strong gusts of wind, hail).

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  Mixed bag, hvac system. Buyer beware! - 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By pa350z2006 - September 2 - 4:12 am

  I traded in a Honda pilot as my Honda pilot had the VCM issues. This car is so quiet on the highway compared to Honda. It definitely feels more luxurious than a Honda pilot. The ride in the car is good considering its a true SUV. However I would advise you before purchasing this car to try out the heat controls in the vehicle. On a cold day turn it to manual at 60° and see how hot the air comes out the vents. It turns the car into a sauna and then goes a complete reversal and blows cold air in. The Jeep dealership told me that is because even in manual mode its behaving like a thermostat trying to get the car of 60°. For this reason alone I hate driving the vehicle.