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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  Great SUV! - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Mike S. - August 30 - 10:06 am

  This is my first Jeep and I absolutely love it! Got it with the 4.7 V8 with Quadra Trac. If youre like me and you want your SUV to have real capabilities (towing, off road/inclement weather, cargo etc.) the Grand Cherokee is the way to go. Yes, it rides like a truck, but thats because its a truck, with truck like capability! Looks great at deer camp as well as cruising downtown. My wife has a Trailblazer, which has about 40 more HP, but its a dog compared to the Grand Cherokee. Few minor issues since purchase, including worn out sway bar bushings, and a popping sound from steering whee -l- both replaced under warranty with redesigned parts. Fuel economy is decent. Again, its a truck, its not supposed to get 30 mpg.

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  5th Grand Cherokee Still Needs Improved - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By donfrench - August 30 - 6:43 am

  Ive had 5 from 94 up and theyre getting better but once again, with 60,000 miles I am suspicious of future repair costs after the lease is up, so will trade it in. I absolutely LOVE this car but reliability is mediocre and 5-star dealer service and Chryslers hotline for warranty issues are disappointments. I weekly tow a trailer and the car does well; this one has the quiet Select-Trac because axle whine from both my last 2 Jeeps with Quadra-Trac eventually was intolerable at 60 mph. But - easy to get stuck on wet grass - no limited slip. Had to replace seat heater, gauge cluster, starter, brakes twice, & all chrome wheels twice - no warr 2nd time!

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  the best ever - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By jasper - August 30 - 2:00 am

  this ride is the best i have ever had!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the jeep is so reliable. it is so much like a porsh i used to have! one time i wan is a test driving it and i went through a 2ft deep mud hole and it went throgh it like it was 2in deep!!!

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  I take the LONG way home now!!!!! - 1999 Jeep Wrangler
  By orrelse - August 30 - 2:00 am

  This was my first Wrangler so naturally I was apprehensive about the ride quality and the noise, but Im pleasantly surprised at both. The interior is very comfortable and everything is laid out nicely. The ride is a little rough, but better than I expected. The soft top can be noisy at high speeds but for its purpose it is suitable. The engine is the 2.4L I4 and lacks any real get up and go for lots of highway driving, but for city driving it is powerful enough. If I were to do it over again, Id buy the 6 cyl. model. Otherwise, like the title says, I intentionally find the long way home now--anything to spend more time driving my Jeep!!

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  Why drive anything else? - 2001 Jeep Wrangler
  By DerekB - August 30 - 2:00 am

  This is my 10th vehicle, but my first suv. The wrangler is very capable of doing anything that needs to be done....and with the vast amounts of aftermarket support, your options are near limitless. As far as gas mileage, it isnt the best, but look at other trucks/suvs and you will see that its by far not the worst. The interior is designed for ruggedness and comfort at the same time. Forget to put your top on during a rain storm? A normal occurence that would destroy most vehicles, is simply taken care of with a Wrangler. Just pull the plugs and empty the water, and go for a drive to let it dry out.

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  Love Liberty - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By Tracy Jif - August 30 - 2:00 am

  It has been great in the snow!

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  New Jeep Wrangler Sport - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By PoppaZ - August 30 - 2:00 am

  I bought this as a second car; primarily for the snow, sun and fun. I expect my son will be driving this vehicle in the past so I also consider safety, roll-over and fun. The jeep itself is larger inside than I expected for the driver and front passenger. It is tight in the back and there is very limited trunk space, but it still works for me.

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  great - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By Antonia - August 30 - 2:00 am

  Its fun and reliable. I love it.

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  Car is a Death Trap - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By LibertyDeathTrap - August 30 - 2:00 am

  This car was the worse purchase ever. 3 months after driving it, the Steering gave out and it flipped me into a ditch. Dont buy unless you wanna risk death, and the fuel economy will put a hurting on your wallet.

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  2004 Liberty - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By RonD1971 - August 30 - 2:00 am

  so far so good