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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  myjeep - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By monsour - September 27 - 2:00 am

  The Liberty provides a confident ride. When Shutting the doors you get a sense of excellent build quality. The V6 offers ample get up and go power on the highway when needed. The Select trac feature on the 4wd model of proficient in snow and sno/ice conditions and very capable off road. It was an excellent choice for me.

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  ITS NOT A BENZ - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By SDTRADE - September 27 - 2:00 am

  I OWN A 2003 E-CLASS MERCEDES BENZ. LIVING IN THE NORTHEAST AND HAVING A BENZ IS LIKE TAKING YOUR LIFE IN YOUR HANDS WITH THE ICE AND SNOW. I DECIEDED TO GARRAGE MY BENZ AND BUY A NEW 2004 JEEP SPECIAL EDITION FOR THE WINTER. WE HAVE HAD PLENTY OF STORMS IN THE NORTHEAST AND I HAVE NOT MISSED A BEAT USING MY NEW 2004 JEEP SPECIAL EDITION.

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  jeep grand cherokee - buy one anyday - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By cort - September 27 - 2:00 am

  This Jeep is awesome for the money. 32,000 with every option you could need or want. Rides perfect. cool look. test drive one, buy one, you wont be disappointed. I love mine. the 4 wheel drive all time is PERFECT for a girl to drive in snow. it puts in the 4 wheel drive when you dont know you need it. too many options to mention. just go see for your self. i have drove many suvs and none are better in the same price range. of course if you want to spend 15000 more, go for a Tahoe

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  Luv my 06 Jeep Commander - 2006 Jeep Commander
  By KareBear0972 - September 26 - 4:33 pm

  I Luv my commander! I have owned jeeps pretty much all my life but this car is Awesome. Fast pick up, nice off roading. Great in snow. Gas is not great (But Im one of those lead foot people ) but what do you expect in a SUV? :) Only in a Jeep.

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  Better Styling, Less Comfort - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Doug - September 26 - 4:53 am

  Great looking car, but nowhere near as comfortable as my previous model Grand Cherokee.

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  Jeeps rule - 2015 Jeep Patriot
  By ratherbfishn - September 23 - 2:07 am

  First week with new Jeep, snow all week she did great as expected. Plenty of room for four, fun to drive easy to park. Second jeep in the garage one commander and now the patriot.

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  Jeepers Keepers - 2007 Jeep Liberty
  By Greg Krar - September 22 - 9:26 pm

  Ive recently purchased a used 2007 Jeep Liberty Sport and have enjoyed the driving experience. This Jeep offers a solid ride with great sight lines - almost no blind spots. The Jeep handles any road conditions - I live in a snow belt area and the smooth shift-on-the-fly 4X4 feature makes for confident and safe driving on the worst of roads. This vehicle handles well in both highway and city driving. It offers tons of space inside but is easy to park on a downtown street. The sound system is good, all dash board controls are within convenient reach, and the center located window controls are a neat idea. The back tailgate/window set up is unique and works like a charm! This Jeep is a keeper!

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  2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee - 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By rrw - September 22 - 10:00 am

  My experiences with Jeep Grand Cherokees have been good ones. Before buying the 2003 model, I compared the features of the Grand Cherokee with other SUVs in its class. The Jeep had many more features and nicer interior/exterior for the money compared with other SUVs the same size. In my opinion, the ride is smooth, reliability is good, passenger space is excellent. The 2003 model has a bigger storage space than the older models. This is my second Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Im very pleased with both models.

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  Wrangler=Fun Machine - 2004 Jeep Wrangler
  By jason D - September 22 - 10:00 am

  The wrangler is the ultimate fun machine. As well as the ultimate build machine!!!! Its the most bolt on vehicle available!!!! I recomend the X for anyone thats goiing to use it as a daily driver-a rock crawler build up. Come on its $6000 less than the rubicon!!!!

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  MY JEEP !!!! - 2004 Jeep Liberty
  By MLf - September 22 - 10:00 am

  I am really enjoying my jeep liberty a lot. I am looking forward to the winter as I brought it after all the snow fell, but I have a friend who has one and says they are great in the snow !