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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  BA-A-AD BRAKES - GOOD LOOKS - 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By impecunious - April 6 - 2:00 am

  I love the looks of the car. I am happy with the comfort level and the room and the safety of 4WD. I am most decidedly NOT happy with brake rotors that warp even before pads need to be replaced!! I mean, what is up with that?? All in all I would NOT buy another Jeep just because of the brakes.

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  2003 Liberty - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By thefisherking - April 6 - 2:00 am

  I owned a 94 Cherokee for 224,000 miles before it was crashed beyond repair. I purchased the Liberty expecting improved results. Overall, I enjoyed the Cherokee better & wish it was still offered.

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  Jeep Liberty Loving It - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By keets - April 6 - 2:00 am

  Good looking well built vehicle. The ride is better than expected, and the reliability so far has been outstanding

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  Daimler Chrysler - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By Poisson - April 6 - 2:00 am

  I have a sister who has owned Mercedes for the past 40 years. You would not believe how much Mercedes is in my Liberty. Even the ride is comparable to Mercedes. It feels so tight. Now Im looking to buy a Liberty diesel, as mileage is not very good.

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  WOW! - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By johnpog - April 6 - 2:00 am

  This SUV is a blast! Sold my 94 Jeep Grand Cherokee after 165K, which only had minor issues. 2004 model has a more comfortable ride than my older one. V8 offers a lot of power off the line or merging into highway trafic. Youll be in the fast lane before you know it. I was shocked the first time I looked down at the speedometer and saw 80, thought I was doing 65. The Special Addition comes with all the bells and wistles of the Limited at a lower price point.

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  Excellent Vehicle! - 2009 Jeep Patriot
  By TPS - April 6 - 12:06 am

  Got my 09 Patriot 4WD and love it. The CVT transmission is peppy, and the vehicle handles my bumpy twisty back roads wonderfully. Its sure-footed in foul weather, and really well-equipped for the price ($5-7K less than comparably equipped CRV or Forester, + LIFETIME powertrain warranty!) Im happy with my Pat! If youre in the market, put it on your must drive list.

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  Not crazy about it - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By blackhaus50 - April 4 - 11:10 pm

  Got this 07 compass from my parents for only 3k. Was a gift, we just had a baby and they wanted something bigger. Not a bad looking SUV but the 2.4 has no power. Feel like Im towing a boat behind me! The interior is small for our liking, hate where the cup holders are and not much room in the back seats. But hey I only got it for 3k with 20k on it. It is what it is. A gift. I just wouldnt buy one. We have a 07 grand Cherokee a much more powerful and bigger SUV

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  2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude V6 FWD - 2014 Jeep Cherokee
  By rmk2106 - April 4 - 6:16 pm

  I purchased this vehicle a couple weeks back and I already have near 2000 miles on the vehicle. This past week I drove it to West Virginia from Georgia. Three adults and a fully packed cab, I still managed to get around 30 to 31 mpg on the highway. Handled exceptionally well in snow and dry land. Jeep did a great job with the interior design not to mention the comfort. The stitching seems high quality as well as everything about the vehicle. I have the factory base sound system and it seems to sound just as good as the upgraded speakers. The center console display is very easy to manage and is well placed. I am very pleased with the overall performance of the vehicle. Highly recommend it.

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  Boy Toy - 2007 Jeep Wrangler
  By KB - April 4 - 4:10 pm

  We traded in our Tahoe for the 4 dr Jeep and Ive had some trouble getting used to the loss of luxury. I know we bought it as a fun car, but in this day and age, every vehicle should come standard with power mirrors and power seats. And what about the small things like mirrors on the visor? Plus there are no pockets on the back seats so pretty much everything you put in the car flies out if you dont have the hard top on. Which is what makes the vehicle fun...no hard top. We purchased this car for our children and dogs and thought it would be a good practical car. I just think they could have made this a little more kid friendly and a little less man friendly.

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  Good vehicle, a few problems. - 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Steve Peck - April 4 - 10:00 am

  Bought mine for a price that couldnt be refused. Paint seems to be excellent by American car standards or anyone elses. Wasnt garaged for the past six years, but it looks like new for the most part. Exhaust manifold and bumpers were cracked, but replacement wasnt costly or difficult. (Bought replacements online.) Excellent stereo speakers. (factory high-end option) A minor oil leak that I can live with. Hood release wouldnt. All minor stuff. Anybody who complains about the cost associated with the GCs typical problems (radiator, manifold, AC evaporator, transfer case) never owned a Mercedes.