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 - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By GolfNut - February 13 - 2:00 am

  My Limited has been a pleasure to own. The brake problem is the only dissappointment. Chrysler should take responsibility for their poor brake design. Other than the brakes the vehicle has been totally trouble free.

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  SO GOOOOOOOOOOD! - 2003 Jeep Liberty
  By tamara - February 13 - 2:00 am

  The 2002 Jeep Liberty is amazing. The drive is smooth, the jeep is reliable, and the stereo is awesome!

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  Its a Jeep thing - 2001 Jeep Wrangler
  By Mazer - February 12 - 5:46 am

  i bought it used in April 05 with 17,000 miles on it. The 4.0L is perfect for highway and city. Love the low end torque, feels like it could pull down a house. Its awesome with the top down.

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  Jeep has stepped it up - 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jeremy Bevans - February 12 - 12:50 am

  Honestly I had never considered a Jeep when I started my search, nor did I realize the following that Jeep brand has. Im a young-ish guy, hit my early thirties and decided that I wanted to finally trade in the Murano SL Id been driving for 7 years and upgrade to a moderate "luxury" vehicle as a reward to myself for hard work. I started with looking at the usual... BMW, Mercedes, Land Rover, etc. Then I decided to broaden my search to include the $35,000 - $45,000 range for new and used. Thats when I came across the Jeep GC Overland and Summit models. As I looked over the features, every one of the features that I found so appealing of luxury vehicles was built into this thing. Im a tech-person, so the touch screen, digital display in the drivers hub, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot warnings, reverse cross traffic warnings, ventilated / heated seats, powered lift gate... Seriously the list goes on... When I discovered all of these in a vehicle for at least $10,000 to $15000 less than the other brands I had looked at, I could no longer justify spending >$60,000 for the base model of stereotypical "luxury" brands. The test drive is what sealed the deal. Smooth with just the right amount of power. Love it. The only issue Ive had in 2 months is a small rattle that was coming from a loose engine cradle mount of some sort. Took it back and they fixed it in a couple hours. I havent joined the cult yet, but I can see why so many people stick with Jeep. I hope it holds up.

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  Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4X4 - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By AJ - February 11 - 11:16 am

  Bought this 4X4 Jeep in 2005 with 55,000 miles. Loved it when I bought it but started having problems about 6 months later. Had to replace output speed sensor, water pump,security sensor, door lock actuators, door checks, cvt boots, radiator sensor all under 75,000 miles. Gas mileage is terrible for a 6 cylinder averaging about 13 mpg. AC is ice cold and heat works very well and quick. Loved the outside temperature gauge with compass, average mpg, and fuel range. Very comfortable and roomy and fun to drive. Just sold it with 85,000 miles. Good fun vehicle if you have a warranty and dont have to worry about these problems.

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  Jeep Grand Cherokee - 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By N/A 1 - February 10 - 2:13 am

  Best car ever,thats if u owned a Yogo in the past.

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  Gently Used - 2003 Jeep Wrangler
  By teflonjpr - February 9 - 6:16 am

  Purchased it gently used with 31x10.5 tires already installed. Rides a lot better than the 97 I had previously driven. 2.4L has better horsepower than older models. Transmission and clutch operate very smoothly. Can hear some clunking into gear, and very stiff in the single digit temps of Iowa winter. High back seats are comfortable for long drives, but dont expect to get much above 65mph with the 4 cyl. Looking forward to spring off-roading.

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  160,000 Miles and We Still Love Our Commander - 2008 Jeep Commander
  By Brett West - February 9 - 3:21 am

  Ours is a Sport 4WD with the 4.7 Flex fuel engine...it is not a Limited (Edmunds doesnt have all the trim levels correct). The Commander is an awesome vehicle with seating for 7 (were a family of 5) that runs smoothly and quietly down the highway while being super capable off-road if you want to go there. It can transition from comfy highway cruiser to off-road beast instantly. Weve taken ours over some of the highest 4x4 passes in Colorado without any trouble at all. We have also driven it in snow and ice with confidence. Weve had no mechanical trouble other than having to have the main computer replaced around 30k miles (warranty). Fuel economy is poor averaging around 16 mpg combined but we expected that in a 7 passenger 4x4 SUV. Ours is equipped with the Boston Acoustics sound system but it could use more speakers in the rear of the vehicle. We own a 2015 Jeep Renegade 4x4 as well but it does not even begin to hold a candle to the Commander. Overall it has been a great vehicle and one that we plan to keep as long as possible.

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  Jeep seeking mud - 2008 Jeep Wrangler
  By WAVE NY - February 9 - 12:16 am

  I love my new JEEP! I like walking up to it from a store and just thinking this thing is just a big ol toy! About the leaking, there was a notice about the freedom tops leaking due to inadequate weather stripping. What warranties are for! Plenty of power for me, and i dont think anyone buys a wrangler that is overly worried about shelling out for gas. Keep Jeepin and Wave!

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  Jeep Wrangler - 1999 Jeep Wrangler
  By thok06 - February 8 - 9:26 pm

  If you want a fun weekend car, this is it. Taking the top down and driving around is loads of entertainment. Its one of the cheapest convertibles available. However, if you plan on using this for an everyday car, be prepared. The gas mileage is poor, especially for a small SUV. Reliability is no better, I had to have my exhaust manifold replaced at the dealership for $900. It cracked at just 45K miles. The interior is cheaply made. A/C knobs barely function. The ride is terrible and unstable. All this and I am at 55K. Security is nil: if it werent for my hard top my car would be a playground for thieves. The hood doesnt lock, and I know a Wrangler owner who had her battery stolen