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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  Buyers Remorse - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jeep No More? - March 20 - 5:00 pm

  Jeep owner for 30 years. Last Jeep was a 02 Grand Cherokee. Bought the 05 Hemi but failed to review the specs. 05 is longer and wider but there is less interior room due to the bulky plastic used through-out. Dash takes too much space; at 61" no leg room in the back nor in the front when driving with an adult in the back. On the passenger side, the bulky glove box placement is awful and knees are pressed against it when my 5- yr old sits in back. Lacks head room, headrests angled too forward which forces you to recline the seat further back. No way 4 adults fit in this Grand Cherokee. The 02 had more comfort space. After 13,000 miles, the transmission has a shudder, front differential solenoid failed, waiting for parts.

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  Reliable - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By 2003 Liberty - March 20 - 2:00 pm

  Mom bought this car brand new in 2003, and I received it when she left the country in 2006. Overall, it has been reliable. Only major things I had to fix so far are the rear tailgate handle (pulled the handle, tailgate wouldnt open) & stock speakers started rattling and had to be replaced. Tailgate was EXPENSIVE to fix. Comfort-wise, I have started to notice some back discomfort after mid- to long-range trips, but otherwise leather seats are nice. Aesthetic-wise, the "abruptness" of the dash (or lack thereof) is a major detractor. It feels like you are sitting facing a wall, not a car dash. Gas mileage is downright awful. I average 17.5 with basic commuting.

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  Love it! - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By Jon - March 19 - 1:50 pm

  I got my Jeep new on my 16th birthday and still have it now. It has never left me stranded and is still running strong with just routine maintenance at a tad over 100,000 miles. It is a great suv to have for all occasions, such as out with clients, moving furniture or just around town doing errands.

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  Impressed so far - 2010 Jeep Compass
  By flbeachgirl - March 19 - 11:57 am

  So far Im fairly impressed. I bought the 2010 4x4 Sport Automatic used with 32,000miles. I love how it looks, its comfortable, has all the room I need & 4x4 capability. Ive noticed that the top 1/2 of the gas tank does much better than the lower 1/2. Generally 28-29mpg compared to 22-23mpg respectively. Ive also noticed the "wobble" during braking others have noticed but it doesnt happen frequently. It handles very well. It has stability & traction control. You can easily put the car in manual when needed. I have 2 complaints: There is a noticeable feel when the car downshifts (but smooth acceleration). For safety they should have adjustment buttons for the radio on the steering wheel

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  I like it, I love it! - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By bigmaninds - March 19 - 9:06 am

  I have 100,000 miles on my 2006 and not one single problem. I ask it to do something and without hesitation the Jeep does it. Plenty of room with my camping buddies and all our gear. Very reliable and wouldnt trade it for anything. Her name is "Billy".

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  Window problems, cheap interior - 2007 Jeep Patriot
  By farmwife - March 18 - 10:16 pm

  This is my first jeep. I bought it because of price and fuel economy. We had a snowy winter, and it handles well in snow. I have a toddler, so the plastic back on the seats and the YES fabric work great. Controls are in odd spots, and that took some getting used to. Window noise from rear windows is annoying. Seats are uncomfortable, and the arm rest is terrible, cup holders very inconvenient. For the second time in a month, the power windows have failed. All four windows get stuck down, the controls get some working after repeated effort. Rear driver never responded, stuck down. In zero degree weather with a toddler, a real problem. Today it did it again- thinking of trading...

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  1st time Jeep - 2009 Jeep Liberty
  By Car Buy Guy - March 18 - 11:53 am

  This is my first American car after many years of driving foreign. I feel very fortunate to have purchased a new vehicle during such hard times and decided to give the American car companies another chance. This is my first Jeep and so far I pretty impressed. Quality and workmanship have definitely improved but the amount of product has lessened. Metal and materials have taken a back seat to technology. One of the reasons I chose Jeep was for safety. A full frame,rear wheel drive,and superb styling brought some of the important basics back to an industry that has become "boring". Looking at other SUVs, they all looked and drove the same until I met Jeep. Its a buy recommendation for me..

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  By Far the Most Fun Vehicle Ive Ever Owned! - 2012 Jeep Wrangler
  By hsteff - March 18 - 10:51 am

  Im a first time Jeep owner & I bought a Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon because Ive always wanted a convertible and also wanted a vehicle that could handle almost any off road trail and occasional deep snow. This past summer, I removed my hardtop and 4 doors and had my Wrangler in “topless mode” for 12 weeks—it was the best summer I’ve had in years. This fall, I participated in the 25th Ouray CO Jeep Jamboree where I learned how to properly drive my Jeep on mountain trails & was utterly amazed on how well engineered & tough Jeeps are to handle the wilderness to include traversing over fields of small boulders.

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  Woohoo - 2005 Jeep Wrangler
  By Tyler - March 17 - 3:26 pm

  This is my second Wrangler as I had one back in 99; a Sahara. There have been vast improvements in the sound system and I dont think the newer one has a distributor cap like the 99 did which seemed kind of archaic. Its a lot of fun, though not very comfortable on long trips. The under 30 set would love it though and there is nothing quite like the top down on a nice day, or being able to go through snow like it does.

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  Good hunting rig - 2000 Jeep Cherokee
  By MNtrailhunter - March 17 - 3:06 pm

  My XJ has been a good hunting vehicle. With a minor lift and larger tires, It can go through just about anything. It sucks the gas and isnt the best for larger people to be in but it has a lot of cargo area compared to the TJs.