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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  recommend over all over small utes - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By jbenn - February 21 - 2:00 am

  i looked at all other small sport utes on market and this is the best. build quality, interior/exterior fine fit/finish, comfortable ride, good handling, smooth steering, good power, needs better gas mileage, smooth tranny, rear seat needs to fold flat, great headroom for 6 fters, good ergonomics, suspension is good-a little rough on big bumps, but that is to be expected for this type of vehicle, factory sound system sucks, good in snow/rain, would like to be able to get different tire brand, goodyears are terrible...

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  disappointed - 2008 Jeep Wrangler
  By Disappointed - February 19 - 4:36 pm

  Most fun vehicle I have ever owned. Not 1 problem until 36600 miles. Dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree and engine overheated. Overheating caused the head to warp. Dealer said "sorry, bumper to bumper ran out at 36000". Would not back up the vehicle. Really a shame, I would have kept it a long time despite the sluggish motor. There are some things that could use improvement, but the fun factor far out weighed the negatives until it broke.

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  So Far So Good - 2008 Jeep Liberty
  By Sartori - February 18 - 8:13 am

  Weve had our Liberty now for close to a month and no problems so far. Its mainly my wifes daily driver and she uses it as part of her job at the school(home school liason) so it gets put through the paces every day with city and highway driving. We live 16 miles from town and about 5 miles of gravel. Plenty of power, very sporty to drive. Got to test it on some slippery streets the other day and it handled that very well with the ESP kicking in. I stopped on a pretty icy hill and with it in 4 wheel took off just fine. Very nice ride in all conditions, will probably swap out the tires here pretty soon as the stock Wranglers arent the best. Getting 20 mpg on highway driving 70

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  Patriot 2007 - 2007 Jeep Patriot
  By bombshellfromhell - February 18 - 5:10 am

  This is my first brand new car purchase. We checked out a lot of SUVs and for the price you couldnt beat the Jeep Patriot.

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  Rude Awakening - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By WDH - February 18 - 3:30 am

  I purchased a 2006 Commander with the 4.7 motor; I had it for a week and the trouble started. Multiple check engine lights, ranging from the MAF sensor, the idle sensor, and then a transmission problem. Then we went on to the service four wheel drive system. This was a part in the transfer case. Three more times with the check engine light. I finally had enough and now I am in the process of getting it bought back under my states lemon law.

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  Perfect 4x4 for me - 2013 Jeep Wrangler
  By mark2169 - February 17 - 8:58 pm

  This is my first Wrangler, and it is everything I wanted and expected it to be. I put off buying a Wrangler for decades because others told me it would be impractical and I regret having done so as I now have the vehicle I feel that fits who I am. One who buys a Wrangler isn’t someone who cares about luxury features, speed or slalom figures on the racetrack, or smoothness. They get a Wrangler because they want a JEEP. This is one of the most capable off road vehicles out there, and it works well on the road also as a daily driver.

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  First Time Owner: Used 08 JGC - Loredo - 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Tim F. - February 16 - 6:13 am

  Bought as subsitute for a FJ Cruiser. FJ is too expensive used. JGC-Loredo was in my P range - meets my wants & requirements. Bought used with ~25K mi. Would not recommend brand new purchase - too expensive. Wife likes it, good crash ratings (5/5 & 4/5). Not so good in traffic. Not driven in bad weather or long trips yet. Price can be great if used. I see lots of older JGCs on the road - leads me to believe it is a quality vehicle. OVERALL RATING: WOULD RECOMMEND. Cheap if used, good quality, fun to drive. Meets SUV and comfort expectations. See other fields for additional info.

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  Great for the price - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By J. - February 15 - 10:00 am

  Bought this three years old but only 10K miles. Love the thing...very comfortable, good visibility and performance. Super in snow and ice. The Liberty is a dog by comparison. Jeep should have never dropped the Cherokee.

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  Sad and disappointed - 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Time to trade - February 15 - 10:00 am

  I bought this care one year old. I was immediately impressed by the cars comfort and interior styling. It didnt take long before things began to disintegrate, one by one. the dealer just informed me that the entire rear end needs replacing. Estimated cost of another $3000!!!!! I have performed maintenance on this car very religiously. Upkeep has been exhorbitantly expensive and very frequent. Im not Bill Gates, so im trading in.

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  Jeep Liberty is pretty good - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By mike4678 - February 15 - 10:00 am

  The Jeep Liberty is a fine vehicle. It is comfortable and has a solid engine that generates sufficient power for its weight. The radio controls on the steering wheel are quite cool. It feels a little top heavy during tight maneuvering but weve never lifted the wheels off the ground. The steering is tight but sometimes does not want to return to neutral steering, without input.