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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  New owner - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By Wes O. - June 2 - 2:00 am

  I just picked up my Liberty Renegade yesterday. I absolutely love the vehicle. The leather seats are very comfortable and the interior controls are logically arranged. The seating area is every bit as large as my Ford Explorer Sport was. The exterior appearance is aggressive, without being overboard like the Avalanche. My only complaint was the difficulty in locating a Renegade with the options I wanted. I was unable to find one with antilock brakes in the Austin area and had to travel to San Antonio to find one. It was worth the drive. The 75 mile drive back to Austin was an absolute pleasure.

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  Having Fun! - 2007 Jeep Commander
  By veryhappy07 - May 31 - 9:40 pm

  We have owned this vehicle for about a month now and we love it! We went with the Rocky Mountain Edition and it is different and fun to drive. It has a very comfortable ride and makes any rough road feel like nothing. My wife and I usually race to get in the drivers seat!

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  Love it! - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By KRISTINA - May 30 - 5:10 pm

  I traded a decked out Buick Rendevous for my 4wd Jeep Compass, Sport edition. Truthfully I cant tell much difference in the performance and feel. The gas mileage was my main reason for purchase. While it doesnt get quite what I expected- average 24 mpg, it is still way better than my past vehicle. The interior is very comfortable. I can fit our two small children in the backseat with a little room to spare. The cargo space is very roomy. This car is fun to drive, and very comfortable. It even handled some very deep mud on our country road without difficulty. I would recommend this to anyone who is searching for a small SUV.

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  05 diesel - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By vtdog - May 28 - 11:16 am

  Fit & finish far superior to other American cars (maybe the Benz influence?); diesel runs very strong, good mileage (average about 24mpg). So far (3500 miles) very happy with purchase; got rid of 00 Xterra.

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  Is this for real? - 1998 Jeep Cherokee
  By Is this suv for real - May 27 - 12:50 pm

  My Father brought this home new when I was in high school. He used it for the work commute. Last year, with 212k problem free miles on it, he just gave it to me!! I now have near 245k miles on her and it runs and sounds just like when he first brought it home!! I cannot say enough about this engine and vehicle!! It boggles my mind that Jeep could get rid of it!! You couldnt PAY me to drive a Liberty! 3. who? I really believe that with my REGULAR maintenance Ill get well over 350k. Well see!

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  Fun in the Sun - 2000 Jeep Wrangler
  By ralph Johnson - May 27 - 2:00 am

  Where else can you get a car that is 4 wheel drive a convertable is dependable extreemly well built and designed? Wrangler is the only one--its the real deal with the 6 cylinder it is surprising zippy in traffic and has plenty of power in the snow or to climb the occasional hill.

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  Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By AmCraft - May 27 - 2:00 am

  I heard alot of negitive things about the Jeep. After buying one, I love the feel of the ride, the handling of its 4 wheel select-trac system. I thas been an over all joy to own and drive. I have heard from other people, that some SUVs have different drive systems (automatic shifting). As far as I am concerned, if you cant control when it will shift, you cant control the vehicle. That is what makes this jeep lover happy.

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  I love my Jeep! - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By michelleb - May 27 - 2:00 am

  I love this SUV! I bought the limited edition with every feature you can imagine. It was worth every penny! There have been no problems so far. Yes, it does like gasoline, but who buys an SUV for mileage? The comfort level is extraordinary, both my husband and I are tall and large, this Jeep is wonderful!

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  SUV Like No Other - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By GSX-RChris - May 27 - 2:00 am

  This SUV is perfect for the person who does it all! It tows my boat easily through the mountains, handles the snow better than any other Ive experienced, and cruises the highway with the comfort of a sedan. The Liberty is the perfect compliment between the ruggedness of the Wrangler and the Luxury of the Grand Cherokee. After 13,000 miles in 7 months, I can honestly say I made the right decision in buying a Jeep Liberty!

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  White Hot 2003 Liberty Limited 4WD - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By lia d. - May 27 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my Liberty Limited 4WD for three weeks now and I love it. Although the gas mileage is not the greatest, I hate having to get out of it. I was told that Jeeps had notoriously hard rides, but I cant say the same. The handling and ride have been very smooth. Overall, Jeep has made a very attractive vehichle both inside and out.