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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  First Time Jeep Owner - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By California Girl - March 22 - 10:00 am

  My Liberty Renegade 4x4 is kick-butt awesome!! When the Liberty first hit the market, I was in love with it and knew that it had to be my next vehicle. I set out to get a Liberty Sport 4x2 5-Speed (because it was more in my price range) but the dealer made me an offer that I couldnt refuse~I LOVE everything about this vehicle and I am so glad that I upgraded to the Renegade. It is fun to drive, its high up off the road, interior is spacious, it looks tough - it is just the best!!

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  Shame on Chrysler - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By upset owner - March 22 - 2:40 am

  ent $40,000 on this Jeep and after 2 years the problems started: 1. Headlights burned out with in the 1st year (not covered due to mileage) 2. Power Windows switch replaced twice in fists two years (covered by warranty) 3. Lights on heater control burned out in 2 years (not covered due to mileage) $250 to fix 4. Parking Asst. quit working after 3 years (not covered due to mileage) $500 to fix. 5. Knob on GPS quit working and can no longer use the GPS (not covered due to mileage) $1000 to replace. I talked to Chrysler about these problems and they basically told me too bad so sad. I asked them about the GPS and they told me to go buy a portable one.

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  Hello happy mileage! - 2014 Jeep Cherokee
  By dggarcia - March 21 - 5:19 am

  I started reading Edmunds.coms reviews a while ago, deciding between Mazda CX-5 & Cherokee, i am happy with my choice, is super comfortable and full of details as they claim, i switched from Jeep Liberty (3.7 V6) to the V4 and mileage is great, granted is that the V4 does not performs nor sounds as my old V6 did but my main concern was gas mileage so to me is a fair trade, tested the VW Tiguan Turbo and seems a more powerful V4 than Cherokee but overall car is no comparison at all. If you are looking for super performance probably the V6 will respond better to that need, design which seemed hideous on pictures quite frankly grows in me easy and love that sets it apart.

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  Expected a little more - 2008 Jeep Liberty
  By Liberty Limited - March 21 - 12:20 am

  I have very mixed feelings with my Jeep. Aesthetically it looks nice inside and out yet once you begin to familiarize yourself with the SUV you begin to notice the abundance of plastic both inside and out. Cheap plastic that scratches easily. The MPG sticker says 20 mpg on the hwy. True if you reset the gauge doing 55 mph on a flat low wind hwy. 16-17 mpg combined city/hwy is realistic. The drive train should have been updated with the rest of the Jeep. Same drivetrain as in the previous version/yrs. Normally this would be a good thing however the additional 200-300 lbs that the vehicle gained with the remodel has made it lethargic from a stop and forcing the trans to constantly look for a gear.

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  Wrangler X - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By Its a Jeep thing!!! - March 18 - 7:40 pm

  This is one type of car/truck/SUV that everyone wants. We have owned sports cars, trucks and minivans but I have always wanted a Wrangler. This is the most fun you can have in anything out there. We live in NE Ohio about 60 miles south of Lake Erie. Just last week it was 72 degrees on a Friday and 10 inches of snow on Sunday morning. Our Wrangler has handled everything our weather has thrown at us. From winter snows to the top down fun in the summer; you just cant find that in any other SUV.

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  I love my Compass! - 2007 Jeep Compass
  By Teresa - March 18 - 7:16 am

  I never bought a new car before, always bought used. That is until I first saw the Compass back in September of 2006! Its body style is so unique, I had to check it out. Now, 18 months later, I still love my Compass inside and out! I have had only one minor problem, an air sensor, which was quickly diagnosed and replaced. I get between 24 and 25 mpg and I would say that 75% of my driving is city versus highway!

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  Toughest SUV on the road - 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Mike - March 18 - 5:56 am

  Words to describe this truck: Brute power, menacing, aggressive, intimidating, classic, smooth, head turner, exclusive, hungry (or thirsty), "get-out-of-my-way". Ive put over 1000 miles on it and it is more fun to drive each day. It is also surprisingly quiet inside, and not as bumpy as I thought it would be. Stereo is clear and crisp, but could use a little more bass.

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  Fix The Window Regulator Problems! - 2007 Jeep Liberty
  By MicahW - March 18 - 2:56 am

  If you want a Jeep, buy a Jeep, but be prepared for about 14 - 16 mpg, and a company that wont toss you a dime for the window regulators that CONSTANTLY go out. Ive had my Jeep for 6 months, in that time, 2 of the regulators have gone out. Its a $500 repair that Jeep wont cover that happens to every Jeep.

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  Having Fun in NYC - 2008 Jeep Liberty
  By Carlos - March 17 - 11:53 am

  Having a career in scouring construction job sites from Brooklyn to Rockland, I need a vehicle to comfort like a mobil office and remain reliable to get me back home safely under any conditions. Thank you Jeep. The Liberty 08 is fairly spacious, large enough to load 5 grown men and compact enough to parallel park tight spots throughout the 5 boroughs. The 115-volt outlet powers my laptop, the fold down passenger seat is a great desktop and the storage compartments keep my Jeep from being cluttered. Airbags all over with great crash test ratings makes the wife happy, and for a truly capable off-road 4x4, it handles comfortably on and off road through all weather. Bring on the potholes.

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  Sad to see it go... - 2000 Jeep Cherokee
  By Danny Wong - March 17 - 10:00 am

  I never thought that I would be driving a Jeep. This XJ has been my daily driver, my street racer, and my savior in bad weather. For a 4.0, Inline-6, this Jeep performs like an SUV on steriods. After a year since I bought her, I have been installing performance modifications that have upgraded the power. Now my XJ really burns the pavement. Overall, Im sad to see it go as I still believe DC made a horrible choice in discontinuing the XJ. Maybe someday, DC will have a change in heart and the XJ will come back with a revamped XJ for the future.