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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  Love my Jeep and will never sell it ! - 1995 Jeep Wrangler
  By Darren - December 20 - 11:23 pm

  I have had this Jeep for 3 years now. I bought it and have not looked back. It has been super reliable. Other than routine maintenance it has not failed us . It is soooooo fun to drive and the 4 cyl gets great mileage. I do not keep vehicles for long but this baby will be with me forever ! It is the RIO GRANDE model.

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  10 years trouble free - 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By mm - December 20 - 6:53 am

  Bought new in 96, now with 110K. Runs great, always starts. Have always done routine maintenance and that has paid off. Lately though I am putting more money into it each year. Recent radiator, AC leaks, 1st muffler/exhaust replacement last year. Good brakes, strong engine. Take care of it and it will do likewise.

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  Love the Patriot! - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By DavidR - December 18 - 9:16 pm

  I did a lot of shopping before deciding on the Patriot. Having owned SUVs for years, it was a totally new experience shopping for an SUV based on gas mileage, and good mileage at that! Thus far, the mileage is excellent, and has given me no reason to believe that the estimated mileage on the sticker will not be accurate after break-in. The CVT was a bit different for the first few miles, but it didnt take long to not even notice it. Now I love the fact that you have no negligible shift. Acceleration is amazing for a 2.0 Liter! Driver visibility is excellent, everything seems to be just where I want it, and I like the interior. This vehicle is just what I was looking for.

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  great suv - 2007 Jeep Commander
  By JR - December 18 - 4:33 pm

  This has been even better than i expected - I recommend this Hemi to anyone looking for luxury. I sold a MBZ m class - this is even better.

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  I Love My Liberty - 2006 Jeep Liberty
  By RED - December 17 - 7:06 pm

  I bought my pre-owned Liberty, never having owned one before. I am so happy I made the purchase. It hasnt disappointed. I live in a heavy snow area of the country and this vehicle handles like a champion. It especially rolls in 4x4. I put too many miles on it annually, but will drive it until it falls apart. It could get better fuel economy for a small SUV. I was concerned about buying it because of what I had heard about Grand Cherokees and Durangos, but I am very satisfied so far. Great vehicle.

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  Lovin my JEEP! - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Joretta - December 17 - 3:02 pm

  I have had a recall on my 4 wheel drive which has been repaired 3 times. I am now awaiting a call from my case manager to see what Chrysler is willing to do this time. Chrysler kept my Jeep for a week and it would appear as though it is now repaired. Thanks to Edmunds, I will keep this review updated. I neglected to mention....my door handles ( all 4) are held on with plastic and have all broken....I have had to replace my driver side door panel so I can exit the car.....very poor materials in that respect. I rarely use my back except to transport my dogs to the vet. They do need replacement however. They have now fallen out. Anyone in the backseat is unable to exit the vehicle without outside assistance!! By the way....my Jeep is a 5.7 hemi and she runs like a scalded dog!! As of 11/23/17 nothing has changed. Door handles continue to fall into floor board!!

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  Hit the Road Jeep and Dont You Come Back - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By MRumple - December 17 - 1:50 pm

  This is the third Jeep my family has owned and it still lives up to expectations ... a piece of junk. Good year tires make the car vibrate at high speeds (why did I buy a HEMI?). Interior is no good for hauling large items including average sized people. Glove box is small as is the cargo area. DVD is not driver friendly at all. In order to reset the DVD for my daughter, I have to stop and get in the back seat. Oh, and gas mileage. I knew it would be "not so great." But come on 15-16 mpg highway? Tires have leaked multiple times, Seat belt light errors and now air bag errors to fix. Good things are few but include heat seaters (theyre great), exterior styling, HEMI engine minus the mpg.

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  Patriot a pleasant surprise! - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By Larry from Michigan - December 17 - 10:00 am

  Have had the Patriot for two weeks now, and I am so far very pleased with this vehicle. The five-speed transmission is forgiving and responsive. The ride is quiet (in fact, the first time I came to a stop sign, I thought the engine had killed). The suspension is perfect- firm but not brittle-feeling. Vinyl seats have been nice, firm and comfortable. The vehicle rolls very freely in neutral, and the resultant glide is nice if you like to coast in to stop signs for better gas mileage. My first tank of gas gave me 33 mpg in mixed suburban driving, no freeway. There is good visibility around the car. I love driving it.

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  Comfy in Colorado - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By BGFATI - December 17 - 8:46 am

  its my third jeep and couldnt be happier. gas mileage is suspect, possibly due to break in period. very comfortable,great paint,interior controls are very friendly and close without over reaching. what gives with the bug shield?? need a better mounting system for that otherwise beat it up and treat it like a jeep!

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  4th Jeep Owned - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Mike - December 17 - 7:23 am

  This is my fourth Jeep vehicle, three Grand Cherokees and one Liberty in between, (dont waste your time with a Liberty). This 2005 is the best of the lot. Comfort and reliability are the best and gas mileage is what they said it would be, not real great. Auto wipers are fabulous, but auto lights could be more sensitive to a dusk environment. Navigation system is limited, but sufficient. Ride is responsive and sure footed. You will feel real good driving this with confidence. They did a real nice job with this vehicle.