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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  Jeep Grand Cherokee - 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By ancientric - June 21 - 10:00 am

  I have the I-6 4X4 with an automatic transmition. It has been a comfortable road car. On several cross country trips it has averaged 21 MPG. Around the city it has averaged 17 MPG. It has proven to be extremely reliable. The car is very comfortable and has very good handling. The four wheel drive is a major plus in our midwest winters.

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  A lot of BANG for little $$$ - 2009 Jeep Patriot
  By GEG - June 20 - 8:56 am

  Living Houston, and the horrible commutes to and from work, this little Jeep does pretty well with an average of 19.8 mpg. Even though it is a little sluggish from a stop it is a very light and responsive vehicle that really climbs up the speedometer fast! The roominess of the cabin great and sits comfortably with plenty of leg room to spare. The Life Time warranty on the power train is the best around. The in-dash compass and audible signals for gas and oil change are handy. The Sirius radio, navigation system, Blue Tooth, etc… in this device are very nice additions in “creature features”. It has a “Brilliant Black Crystal Pearlcoat” which really shimmers in the sunlight. Very nice Jeep!

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  the vehicle for you - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By jack spratt - June 20 - 3:50 am

  Traded in a 1998 6 cyl.Laredo. Have to tow 3500 pound boats occasionally and I need the extra oomph provided by Hemi. Solid feel, has authority, pep, and power...Storage space not as much as 1998, rear seats dont come up to put cables, etc. in. Overall, very happy. Glad to see Mercedes engineering that when cruising on the highway it goes back to 4 cylinder, sure helps mileage. . . Love the silver paint job. This will be a good seller, a real improvement and folks will be happy with the Hemi. AND, a lot of bang for the buck.

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  02 Jeep, Best First Car Ever! A Must Buy!!!!!!! - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By vikki3710 - June 19 - 11:32 pm

  Seriously this is my first car and i have to say that i love it! Treats me great! Bought it about 5 months ago with 126,000 miles on it and havnt looked back. Nothing needed replaced except the o2 cencer which the guy replaced for me so that was an easy fix of course. But all in all it is a wonder full car with great features, only thing that sucks is gas milage but hey i bought it so i have to live with it!:D

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  Its a Jeep thing....NOW I understand :) - 2011 Jeep Wrangler
  By uber - June 19 - 5:31 pm

  70th Anniversary Unlimited Auto - Bronze Pearl. I had pretty much decided on a Dodge Journey based on reviews and my requirements. So....I hiked off to the dealerships...drove the Journey....it wasnt bad.....good in fact....but....there they were....all those Wranglers....looking cool and iconic....made the Journey look pathetic....then I found out about the rebates and I was sold....$11k off sticker incl tax!! Three weeks in and I cant stop smiling... a bit more power would be OK but, when you are in a Jeep you dont care if you go a bit slower. Its not a sports car...point it in the general direction you want and it will go there....over almost anything! So much more than I expected.

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  replacing great Jeep Grand Cherokee - 2005 Jeep Liberty
  By J King - June 19 - 10:33 am

  I love it. I hope it holds up, I think parts and service could be costly with so few sold. $25.00+ for a fuel filter?

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  JEEP = JUNK JUNK JUNK - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Bill - June 19 - 6:16 am

  I put very limited mileage on this vehicle annually, and it is by far the worst quality vehicle I have ever owned. I have put new brakes and rotors on this vehicle TWICE, a front drive shaft, rear wiper motor, CV boots on the front TWICE, front radiator fan TWICE, rear CV boots, and a few other little things not worth mentioning, but you get the idea. Jeep equals junk, and thats the bottom line. I will never own another Daimler-Chrysler product again, and neither will my family or friends. Not to mention the service at the dealership left something to be desired.

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  Best vehicle Ive owned - 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By ChillyMJ - June 18 - 10:00 am

  We have used the vehicle for cross country drives, riding in style for a night out, towing a large boat, and off roading in the California desert. It has handled all tasks extremely well. I love the power and acceleration of the V8 engine. The heated leather seats are extremely comfortable. The cockpit layout is great, including audio controls on the steering wheel. However, I have replaced the brake rotors twice, and regular maintenance has cost me more a year than any previous vehicle Ive owned. The vehicle also has more road noise on the highway and the fuel economy is pretty average for an SUV.

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  I love my Jeep Wrangler - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By hannahbelle - June 18 - 10:00 am

  I love my Jeep, Yes it is noisy expect that, but I am a sales rep so I dont have alot of passengers. If you are looking for the Jeep that is a smooth quiet ride the wrangler is not a good choice---I have had a Jeep Wrangler for the last 6 years and love it. This is a very fun car and very safe...I had an accident with a brand new lexus, $47,000 in damage to their car and I think $6,000 damage to my Jeep.

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  Excellent all weather vehicle - 1999 Jeep Cherokee
  By aphartman - June 18 - 8:46 am

  This is my second Cherokee (the first was a 96), and Ive really enjoyed the restyle (done in 97). I get good fuel economy with the 5-speed manual, and the 4wd works well in the snow. Never breaks, but when it does its inexpensive to repair and easy to do-it-yourself. An excellent all around SUV. It isnt the newest design or the most stylish, but I think its the best. Jeep never should have killed it for the Liberty.