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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  My Jeep - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By siltorn - September 25 - 3:16 pm

  I love my Jeep! There is nothing better than going out on a snowy day and knowing I own the road!

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  Happy So Far - 2010 Jeep Liberty
  By Kenny R - September 24 - 11:00 am

  Traded my 1999 Durango that I bought new. Only had 87,000 on it, but I new issues were coming. Have a 2009 Suzuki SX4 Crossover that we LOVE. Looked at the GV and the Equator double cab. Wouldnt budge enough on price. Checked Subaru and Toyota. Was getting tough to find a mid-sized, affordable TRUCK-LIKE SUV, like my Durango was. Have never looked at or considered Jeep before. The front seats are VERY comfortable. Love the driving position. Sits up, great view, and is a "commanding" position. Nice 2nd row space and cargo space. Back seats fold flat, and lock! Engine seems a little loud. But this is their tried and true Jeep engine so well see. But so far, very happy with it.

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  Bought new jeep is a lemon horrible !!!! - 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Kathy - September 23 - 8:02 pm

  Bought new first dealer messed up had to get a Whole new loan then when I had car issues they Told my I was [non-permissible content removed] ( what who does that when. Your car is new and has 7 issues Like brakes squeak and worse Transmission jerks and the car makes a bad noise Just driving I paid this much to have daily issues and makes my life a mess I have a 20 yr old camaro that runs better than this Its said because Chrysler doesnt care If there is one thing I can do to help others Dont dont dont buy JEEP the company does not care its a horror that will consume your life Repair failed ok try again repair failed ok wil give you a rental that failed they dont care if you walk I had to walk to the hospital to seem grandchild born they promised a car rental for 3 days that never showed up but kept telling me they got it Not for me I never saw it ! Jeep to me is a rip off an I wanted a reliable car this is NOT ONE beware unless you Want to spend 40,000 for junk then thats up to you I am saying this to help others who dont have to go threw what I do daily And the dealerships get upset becuase they cant figure it out I am overwhelmed and have high bp now I am truly a jeep owner and this is true I 4000 miles on my car and more problems than any car I have ever ever owned Please shop the net for recalls and jeep Issues there are tons Mine are transmission and front wheel and axle And the computer they also have cheap seats and my carpet is messed up so are my seat buckle holders and being a woman I am so upset and cry alot just want then to take it back

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  Love Love - 2001 Jeep Cherokee
  By micki - September 22 - 11:36 am

  Have always admired the shape of this car since I was a kid. I love how long lasting they are and how when something needs maintenance, it is easy to do yourself and cheap!

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  Wouldnt Trade It For the World! - 2005 Jeep Wrangler
  By Alisha - September 22 - 4:03 am

  Ive wanted a Jeep for a VERY long time and finally got it! Regardless of what the overview on this site says, the soft top is not that hard to work with once you get used to it. (Im 57 with very little arm muscle and can do it!). Now we have 2 Jeeps in the family and can count on mine to do everything the other one does (and its more reliable than our 91 Wrangler too). A little noisy at 75mph, but it was never meant to be an interstate vehicle really, and the noise of the soft top is a good sacrifice to make with the unpredictable weather of New Mexico. I wouldnt trade my Jeep for the world!

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  1998 Jeep Wrangler SE - 1998 Jeep Wrangler
  By Kathryn - September 22 - 2:00 am

  First of all, there is nothing like a Jeep. What it lacks in ability it makes up for in fun. I regret not getting glass windows rather than plastic because they are considerably noisier. Plus, plastic windows are sort of a pain when you go through a drive through and its raining. I have never regretted not getting a hard top. They seem like an inconvenience not worthy of something which is an aesthetic improvement. Plus, I would like to dispel the myth that Jeeps are cold. A soft top suffices in keeping a jeep warm. The heater is awesome as is the air conditioning. Overall, this car rocks and Ive loved it since the day I got it!

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  someone is going to be seriously injured - 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By spiker69 - September 21 - 12:00 am

  I bought this jeep with only 12,000 km on it,after owning a 1999 jeep cherokee sport before this one I didnt think that I would regret making this purchase.This vehicle has a mind of its own and decides itself when it wants to accelerate and when it doesnt, I dont want to take any chances when pulling onto a major highway as I never know if it is going to go or not!After seeing all the reviews of people with the same problems Im wondering how seriously someone is going to have to be injured before Chrysler recalls!I bought this vehicle because I have a family but I dont want to even take my son in it! This jeep has turned me off chrysler products definitely look elsewhere for reliability

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  Great SUV! - 2007 Jeep Liberty
  By Jeep lover - September 20 - 6:56 pm

  Have about 1000 miles on the Liberty. So far most of the driving has been in the city. To date the city driving mpg has been 17. Overall we are very happy with the new jeep. My first jeep and the way things are going it wont be our last.

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  Beyond pleased! - 2008 Jeep Wrangler
  By Rickxjeeps - September 19 - 8:23 pm

  Weve had 13 Jeeps between the two of us in our lifetime. From a 77 Cherokee to the most current model year, an 02 Grand Cherokee Limited. Retiring a 93 Wrangler that was my daily driver for the last 13 years for this model and we both are extremely pleased! The ride is impecably smooth even for a Wrangler but so much more car like. It is so quiet you forget your in a Hardtop, unlike the 93 Wrangler with the hardtop. People had trouble hearing me on the cell phone. Unlike the 4.0 in the 93 which could be heard easily, you cant hear the 3.8 motor and you forget you have it running. Factory remote start rocks! Opt for it, its worth it! Its 10.5 inches bigger than an 08 Liberty!

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  Love this car! - 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By rebecca - September 18 - 10:20 am

  I bought this new and used to drive it 2 hours back and forth to work. It made the wretched commute tolerable. Now, I use it for my dog car. With 103K miles on it, the extended warranty has expired and that makes me nervous. So Im thinking about selling it. It has been very reliable, and the repairs that were necessary were covered under the warranty. I highly recommend Grand Cherokees - this is my second one.