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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  Wife loves it! - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By jbear - March 18 - 6:13 am

  My wife bought this Jeep for work. She love its quickness, handling, surprisingly decent gas mileage for a v6 its and maneuverability (turn radius). I would not recommend it for extremely long trips due to the short wheel base, keep trips to 100 miles or less. It has had a few recalls which our local dealership has been very quick at responding to. There is a little rust bubbling under the paint at the pop up Glass at rear door just under the third brake lite at the welding seam. Its covered again by jeeps 5 year 100,000 mile warranty. Wife says she will always own a Jeep.

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  Bad investment!! - 2017 Jeep Compass
  By Marsha p. - March 17 - 3:16 pm

  Noisy, I just bought the Jeep in November and the unconnected is already not working.. so pissed off. I did not know that a lot of people had the same problem. People even sued over defective product. Acceleration is horrible. The damn thing is so damn slow I feel like Im driving ms. Daisy. It kills the gas because you have to press the gas pedal so hard to take off.... old fashioned looking features.. technology sucks. Which I did more research before investing. Now I am stuck in a82 my loan which the dealer failed to explain...

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  Sky Slider Wind Noise FIXED - 2008 Jeep Liberty
  By Bigger in Texas - March 16 - 6:50 am

  Ladies & Gentleman: Alas, I finally had the Sky Slider Wind Noise FIXED on my 2008 Jeep Liberty Limited! I was paranoid about a mechanic touching my roof and making it worse. Since the date I purchased the vehicle in August 2008, I had extreme wind noise and the roof would "puff up" 1/2" -1" in the interior after I reached 65 mph. The noise was completely unbearable when I drove into a 10-15 mph headwind, it was impossible to carry on a conversation, and very difficult to hear the radio. Today, I took my Jeep to Ancira Jeep on I-10 West. Jaye Patton was extremely helpful at the front desk, and the service tech did a marvelous job! I took my Jeep up to 85 mph on the Interstate

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  2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4WD - 2001 Jeep Wrangler
  By Deb Shaw - March 14 - 7:43 am

  I always wanted a Jeep Wrangler. Now that I have one, I realize why I always wanted one. It is a blast to drive, especially with the top down and with the dogs harnessed in. It has so much response to it. I dont have to guess if theres "Enough time to pass this guy". The A/C rocks. The sound bar / system also rocks. I wish it got better mileage though. I get between 14-16 running around town, but never got more than 17.1 on a 500 mile trip. Oh well. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have a "Fun" vehicle. My husband & I never take it off-road. It is fantastic in snow though. It is really put together sturdy

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  Yep Yep - 2010 Jeep Wrangler
  By jthumanist - March 14 - 7:30 am

  Been wanting a Jeep Wrangler for a long time. Occasionally paruse the consumer reports and then it happened; a seeming nexus of all things good about the Wrangler came together in 2010. So I went for it and have not looked back since. The 2011 and 2012 models look like Jeep is trrying to get a broader customer base by making it gentler and kinder to the occupants. A Jeep is a Jeep and should not be messed with unless adding accessories. Speaking of which, the 2010 Sport that I have was designed for add-ons; Id rather do the stuff myself than buy factory installed. Its my DD and my DFV (Daily Fun Vehicle).

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  Great Vehicle - 2008 Jeep Liberty
  By BRUSKI - March 13 - 9:10 pm

  I needed to replace a tow vehicle for a 2000lb camper. When not towing, it will be my wifes daily drive. This used Jeep Liberty Sport caught my eye. Its a good looking 4 wheel drive vehicle that is fun to drive. No, its not as "carlike" as my old Ford Escape, but out-tows the heck out of it. Were averaging about 2-3 mpg less than the Escape (which was a two wheel drive) a fair trade off for a 4x4 with more power and capacity.

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  smart car - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By off roader - March 13 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is everything that a college student wants. It is sporty, fun to drive and a great off road escape from the rigors of college campus life. If you need to transport your friends for some off rading relief this vehicle ahs it all. Lots of head room and storage capabilites makes this vehicle great for transporting bicycles, kayaks, and anything else you can do outdoors. You cant go wrong with this vehicle.

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  Rough Idle - 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By cdavis993 - March 10 - 2:00 am

  Original owner, now 122,000 miles as of Jan 03. Solid car, good gas mileage and no significant mtce problems (yet). However, very rough engine (4.7L) idle (approx 550 rpms)and mechanics can not fix it.

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  First Time & Last Time Jeep Buyer - 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By MMK - March 9 - 6:16 pm

  Look before you leap. If you are in the market for a fun to drive SUV, this jeep offers a smooth ride. However, for the $45k plus, you are better off with choosing a luxury model, so you have something to show for it. While they claim, the seats are leather, they feel and smell like plastic or as some marketing genius dubbed it, leatherette. The backseat is so stiff that you can barely make it around the block without a backache. Same for front seats, no lumbar! Engine revs a lot, between shifting and no one needs to remind you how often you will be handing the gas attendant $50+ to fill er up. Im stuck in a lease, but the good news, I can just hand the keys over and say so long.

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  Much Improved! - 2007 Jeep Wrangler
  By Boulder - March 9 - 1:36 pm

  Ive really enjoyed this vehicle. Plenty of space, good fuel economy for an SUV, and one of the only SUVs available in a manual transmission. Four door convertible in the summer is certainly fun, and the hard tops have improved (ease of use/installation as well as reduced leaks, squeaks, etc.). Great in the snow and ice, and the longer wheelbase and new suspension make it comfortable (not luxurious) on long road trips. Underpowered (needs something larger than the 3.8) at elevation but with a manual you can certainly get by. No maintenance issues to date (~1 year and 12k miles). Overall, lots of fun.