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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  Mopar Junky - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By GWiz - December 10 - 1:30 pm

  Trail Rated 4.7 V8 w/trailer tow package best bet. In 45 years of driving (almost all 4x4/awd) my JGC Laredo is one of the best highway cruisers Ive ever owned. I live in Winnipeg, MB, Canada and Ive never understood why everyone doesnt own a 4x4/awd vehicle. It pulls my boat (1500 lbs) and I dont even know its attached. My son from Calgary is buying the Jeep from me because after looking for a newer vehicle, both in Calgary and Winnipeg, my Jeep came up "best" as a vehicle for the next 2-3 years as the auto industry goes thru some major changes. Now I have to do the looking for a replacement and the Jeep GC is the only NA vehicle Id consider. Ext. warranty hasnt been needed yet.

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  Gets You From A to B - 2011 Jeep Patriot
  By tezza76 - December 10 - 1:06 pm

  Bought this brand new to replace my TL that died. Just had a kid so I decided to get an SUV, but on a limited budget since a new car wasnt planned. Not the smoothest ride (it is a jeep) & not a lot of power. Going uphill is a lot of work & the gas mileage is horrible (15mpg) Im guessing because of design. Not aerodynamic at all. Cabin is very small. My sedan had more interior room. With a car seat in the back its a tight fit for other passengers when they can actually fit. Cargo area is small so transporting large items is out. Even with seats folded. Tried to move a playhouse & it wouldnt fit through rear opening. Loaded same playhouse into my brother in laws CR-V with ease

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  Bad car to buy - 2012 Jeep Compass
  By Irving vega - December 10 - 2:42 am

  Please save your money and dont buy this vehicle , nothing but problems ,car seen dealer ship tons of times.

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  Embarassing - 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By hebron112 - December 9 - 11:05 am

  I love my first ever GC. I had the fabric seats changed to leather and it is brilliant and only 6 months old.I am blown away by the power when you hit the accelerator even compared to my Dodge Nitro (petrol). The Laredo can throw you back in your seat. Love it! The paddle shifts that I thought were just a gimmick are great when towing which it also a winner in my book.All the electronics are impressive compared to my previous Dodge.It looks good and for an SUV is reasonably quiet. The only 2 x things that annoy me actually embarrass me and Jeep could have avoided which is the foot brake alarms and warnings and the door hinges able to overextend.

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  Sometimes okay, most of the time not! - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By chipsahui2 - December 9 - 2:00 am

  Its been 4 years since new, it had some good times, had alot of bad. At about 20k mile, driveshaft fell off resulting in two weeks in the shop. At about 50k miles, speedometer gained a mine of its own, spent 3 days in the shop and $300 for a new computer. Currently and for the third time, oil pressure gauge is not functioning correctly. Will be visiting the dealership for the 7th time in 6 months. Jeep gets about 14 mpg, very poor. Currently, the Jeep is at 57k miles. The 4.0L does the job well. Command- Trac 4WD is poor on the streets but great off-roading and deep snow. Trak- lok differential offers excellent traction in 2WD.

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  Jeep Cherokee Laredo - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By bikermom - December 9 - 2:00 am

  Having enjoyed my Jeep Cherokee Sport 2 Door 6 cyl, for a full 10 years, it was time for a new toy. Price, performance and spirit where high on my list of wants in a new machine. I kept coming back to Jeep. The Laredo was the right size for my shopping and travel needs. I am hoping this will give me at least 10 reliable years of fun, like its predecessor.

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  Wow!!! - 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jeep thriller - December 8 - 11:08 am

  Loved the ride in comparison with ford and toyota SUVs. Best SUV -- bang for the buck. We looked at german SUVs and their repair expense is very high. I own two german cars so i have experience with regular wear and tear repair cost. I was very sceptical to buy first American car and was sold right away after i drove .

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  JUNK CAR JUNK COMPANY - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By kh0864 - December 7 - 11:39 pm

  I would like to add to my previous review... We went to the dealership and got our transmission looked at, and they confirmed at 100,000Km on a FIVE yr old car the transmission needs to be replaced... The best part.. the factory warranty is expired by TWO MONTHS and Jeep/Chrysler head office will NOT warranty it.. 2 [non-permissible content removed] MONTHS!!!!! Oh and the BEST part... They tell us it will be $5300.00 to replace...What a joke!!!! First and LAST time we ever buy an American car. Very disappointed, I really loved the looks of this car, too bad they cant get the CVT right.

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  Worst rental Ive ever had - 2017 Jeep Patriot
  By Compcond - December 7 - 11:35 pm

  I purchased a 97 Audi A4 new and owned it for 5 years so I know rental cars. I had everything from a Buick LeSabre to Geo Metros and everything in between (lots of Tauruss) and never returned a car early. My car was totaled last week (not my fault) so I needed to rent a car. I had a Camry for almost a week but it sounded like something was going to fall out of the front end so I swapped it last night for this Jeep. I went back first thing this morning and swapped that out for a Hyundai. I have never felt "not safe" driving a car until this Jeep. Forget the interior that seems more cheaply built than the aforementioned Geo Metro, the stereo that cant cost FCA more than $15 including all the speakers, or the rear mirror that you have to be a monkey to reach, but I have never driven a car with worse torque steer in my life. I drive like a little old lady and I kept finding myself heading toward a parked car every time I touched the gas. This Jeep would be an embarassment in 1980. How can a 2017 be this horrid?

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  The SUV you want with todays gas prices - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By Eric in CO - December 6 - 9:16 pm

  We got the Patriot to replace a Honda Element. So far, we have mostly good things to say about it. Where we live, we routinely get heavy snows, and even with Freedom Drive I we have no problems. The upgraded sound is amazing, the sunroof is well worth the $800, and the YES! seats are perfect for our 10-month-old. Our big complaint is that theres not very much cargo space, especially with a baby in the back seat. I guess thats what you get with a small SUV, though. I also wish the liftgate lifted higher. Im 511 and I hit my head all the time. So far we get something in the 25-26 mpg range, but we drive up a 2000-foot hill once or twice a day, which kills the mpg. Overall were pleased.