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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  Jeep - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By Jerry4375 - October 12 - 2:00 am

  Great car with lots of power and heft in the driving feel. 3.7 6 cyl. provides a great kick. Moderate road noise with hum/whine from automatic transmission, which is a little annoying at higher speeds.

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  Uh Oh! - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By 2ndJeep - October 11 - 10:40 pm

  Fun to drive, love the style. BUT problems with auto trans that dealer cant seem to fix. When below 32 degrees, trans locks in 2nd gear and check engine light comes on. Had it to dealer 3 times so far, and it just happened again today. Also two symetrical dents on either side of hood cracking the paint. To be fixed under warranty. Starting to think I got a lemon, although I do love the vehicle. very concerned. Gas mileage disapointing.

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  better than the sahara - 2008 Jeep Wrangler
  By Orlando - October 11 - 11:43 am

  I have had my X model for less than six months and so far it is great. the top comes down and goes up in less than three minutes. i made a few improvements, changed the tires to M/Ts (old ones were slippery in the heavy rain). added a brush guard, side rails, rear bumper and seat covers. all for less than $3500.00. i spent a total of 21500.00 with all the upgrades and it looks far better than a stock sahara that cost 25k or more. would recommend the x over sahara or rubicon( make your own improvements and save money)

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  Just mine? - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By special k - October 11 - 12:30 am

  Well - Im a die-hard jeep fan....of Wranglers!! Had a Sahara and then a Rubicon...but the mileage was killing me - so I downgraded to a better MPG model. This car is no fun and I had the engine REPLACED at 13,000 miles and as of today - the entire A/C unit is being replaced as I key. As soon as this lease is up - Im going back to the Wrangler!

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  Buy a Jeep NOW! - 1999 Jeep Wrangler
  By Max Rockatansky - October 10 - 10:00 am

  My Jeep has nearly 60000 miles and runs like new. I have the 4.0L 6 cylinder with a five speed manual. This combo is quick and works well in all conditions. At home on the highway, and will amaze you off-road. Controls are easy to use and well thought out. Take the top and doors off and its close to riding a motorcycle, but you dont need a helmet. This is the ultimate all around vehicle, great in the snow, awsome in the summer. Ill own no other. Buy one NOW!

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  JeepSuck - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jeepsux - October 10 - 10:00 am

  The Jeep left me stranded three times in three years. Electrical problems abound. The transmission was clunky and skipped, and the dealer couldnt repair it. The sunroof often failed to close or open; getting stuck in whichever position it was in. The air conditioning system was unable to cool the vehicle in Atlanta Summer weather. Customer Service is virtually non- existent. Dont recommend Jeep.

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  Great SUV for the Money - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By robbyru - October 10 - 10:00 am

  Weve testing a lot of SUVs and this one is by far the best in its class. Although I think the gas consumption is a bit on the high side, I wouldnt trade it for anything! We go on camping trips and can fit a lot of things in the cargo area. We Love It!!

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  The 02 sure is better than the 99 - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By thewebmine - October 10 - 10:00 am

  It looks like Jeep did something right compared to the junk 1999 I had, I couldnt pass up the 02 JGC SE because of the price, Listed for over 32k and paid 25k. So far I have no complaints like I did on the 99. One thing that stayed the same is the HORRIBLE GAS MILAGE. I average 13MPG, but what can you expect from a 4000lb vehicle with QuadraTracII

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  Nothing like the Wrangler - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By jagnag - October 9 - 1:43 pm

  Bought the Patriot because we loved the Wrangler, but have had many problems: Overheats at 65 MPH so we dont take it on many family trips which is why we bought it in the first place. We have taken it to dealers and they cant figure out why...........Currently A/C isnt working well and the back passenger window will not close. Issues with Ball Bearings and just the ways it slurps gas gives this a failing grade.

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  2008 Jeep Laredo - 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Tom J - October 9 - 12:56 pm

  I had been dedicated to Japanese cars based on too many bad experiences with American cars. I wanted to buy American, and gave Jeep a chance based primarily on their warranty. It was a great decision. I absolutely love this car. Jeep used quality materials throughout the car, giving it a solid feel. It rides nice, and is great in the bad weather we can get in the Chicago area. The acceleration on the 6 cylinder is good, with the mileage being what I expected. I shopped for quite a while before buying this car, and looked at just about every small and mid size SUV on the market. If I had to do it all over again, I would make the same decision.