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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  Wheres my gas and oil? - 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jimmy Jim - January 6 - 10:00 am

  gas mileage blows...and in a 100 mile trip i used 2 quarts of oil...no leak nor smoke so id like to know wheres my oil?

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  Brakes, Drivetrain and Electrical Woes - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Dissapointment - January 6 - 10:00 am

  I have had many makes of automobiles Japanese, German and American but this is the most problematic of them all. I purchased a Limited 4X4 with all the goodies, V8, Quadratrac etc,etc... The brakes have been among the worst I have ever owned needing replacement before 15K miles. The transmission has a mind of its own, clunking off downshifts at slow speed and upshifting harshly when cold. The electrical system has been a nightmare randomly flashing the headlights when the vehicle is unattended. I should have done my homework before I purchased this vehicle. Shame on me!

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  First Drive Review - 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By beantown617 - January 3 - 10:27 am

  Ive only had my new Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited for a few days. Thats why I only gave Reliability a 3. Time will tell in that category. The Jeep is fun to drive. The acceleration is good not great. I dont understand when people make comments about poor acceleration for quick passing on the highway or slight body lean if you corner to fast. If youre trying to do either of these things then you shouldnt be looking for an SUV. The V6 is good enough for most unless, you tow, need a lot of acceleration for off-roading or carry around a large family with the cargo area full. I will update this after Ive driven for a few months...

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  Excellent buy - 2000 Jeep Cherokee
  By Sanju - January 3 - 10:00 am

  I am glad I got this jeep. Its a 4D,2W drive, just needed it for regular use in city. After 4 years, Still Gives 22 m/g on highways. Very confortable to drive. Haven`t spent a $ for repairs yet, except regular oil change & maintenance. Drive one to have fun, a classic.

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  Thirsty but fun - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By Steve - January 1 - 8:40 am

  I initially had my heart set on a Durango, but also had my eye on the Commander. The first I drove a Commander was in my test drive (I usually try to rent a potential purchase for a weekend) and was impressed. I think the quality of materials and assembly are on par with its cost. Not luxurious, but comfortable, particularly with the leather like mine. The back-up sensor is a must, given that the stadium seating limits rear visibility. If you require all 3 rows plus a lot of storage, you might look at something else, because with those seats up, theres only about 8" of storage space. It meets my needs, as I only occasionally use the 3rd row. One really bad thing is the awful mpg.

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  1000 miles down - 2002 Jeep Liberty
  By Marc A. - December 30 - 1:53 am

  After 6 weeks, Ive finally crossed over the 1K mark on the odometer. This vehicle is very impressive. Ive driven a number of SUVs (Blazer/Jimmy, Cherokee, CRV, etc.) and this one rides more like a mini-van than a truck. It handles very well, has a very tight turning radius, and looks good. I had a kid at the Wendys drive-thru look at it and say "Mr....that is one neat looking truck". My only complaint is of course the MPG, but it is to be expected.

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  Still going - 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Jwimm - December 27 - 6:00 am

  Bought this vehicle with about 35K miles on it. Up to about 120k now. Thing still going well. Problems to date: A/C leaks, on 3rd cat conv due to recalls, and just found out that exhaust manifold is cracked. Only regular maintenance beyond that. Like to get a new car but this thing just doesnt want to give up.

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  One hot hot rod - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Dade - December 27 - 1:53 am

  I love the performance of the Grand. I put in a K&N air filter and Bosch platinum 2 plugs. Handles great. She is a daily driver as I deliver pizza with the Grand; not the best gas mileage but stuck until VW gets fixed. Very comfortable, best vehicle to make deliveries with. I have not had any major problems yet. The transfer case was shot when i bought it and was replaced by the warranty. It does have the mechanical whine and the rotors and calipers are starting to warp, but there is a settlement to replace those now. The transmission does shift funny from time to time and the rear end is starting to groan when making slow sharp turns. She does have 132,000 miles and still running strong.

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  Skeptical - 2008 Jeep Patriot
  By Sarah - December 23 - 7:03 pm

  About two years ago I purchased a 2008 Jeep Patriot brand new and have had an overall good experience until it started making weird noises whenever I accelerated. Well, it turns out at around 30,000 miles I need to replace my CVT. Thank god it is still under warranty! Other minor problems are that the tires constantly squeak whenever I go around turns and it does no handle well at high speeds, especially with the windows down.

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  Tough and Reliable SUV - 1996 Jeep Cherokee
  By cc - December 22 - 5:30 am

  It has been a very reliable vehicle, and still runs great at 219,000 miles. I used to drive it daily until it was hit from behind. Now I use it mainly for hauling and plan to let kids drive it eventually. I would not hesitate to buy another Cherokee. They are a great value for the money.