Jeep is an American SUV and truck manufacturer. It is a division of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The company started when Willys-Overland began producing civilian jeeps, commonly abbreviated to “CJ,” after World War II. Willys received the trademark for “Jeep” in 1950 and merged with Kaiser Motors in 1953 to form Kaiser-Jeep. That company was later bought by American Motors Corporation in 1970, then Chrysler in 1987.
WWII-era Jeeps were designed to go anywhere. That plucky off-road capability has defined the Jeep brand since. The first CJs were boxy, two-door off-roaders, modestly upgraded from their military versions. Jeep expanded its oeuvre in later years, producing wagon-style SUVs like the Cherokee and Wagoneer. In recent years, Jeep has branched out further into road-dwelling crossovers. On various occasions, Jeep has also dabbled with pickup trucks.
Jeep helped initiate two massive automotive trends: accessorized off-roading, and the-SUV-as-family-vehicle. Recent moves to bring Jeeps more upmarket and make them more practical have led to the division’s strongest sales ever. Jeep is not just FCA’s most valuable brand; by some estimates, it may be more valuable than the entire rest of the FCA lineup combined.
Jeep generally keeps things simple with its nomenclature. There are a few model names, and they often stick around for decades. It’s at the trim level where things can get confusing; individual trims can number in the double digits, change frequently and often represent superficial aesthetic choices instead of tangible vehicle upgrades.
Jeep Terminology
Aftermarket: Parts and accessories manufactured by a third party.
Air Conditioning Bypass: Jeep lists air conditioning as a $1,295 option on the base “Sport” model of the Wrangler. The standard has “air conditioning bypass” selected. This allows Jeep to market the Wrangler with a base price below $30,000.
Altitude: A trim offered for every Jeep vehicle except the Gladiator. It’s an appearance upgrade offering slick, trendy blacked-out detailing.
Death Wobble: A heavy shaking of the front suspension and steering components. It happens when a solid axle-equipped vehicle hits a large bump at highway speed. Whether and why it happens is controversial, and tied up in lawsuits. It’s rare, not as dangerous as the name suggests, and can be resolved by stopping the vehicle.
Jeep Wave: A social convention where Jeep Wrangler owners acknowledge one another on the road with a quick wave. Not applicable to other Jeep vehicles. Also a Jeep owner membership program with select benefits.
Moab: The location of the yearly Easter Jeep Safari. Also a special top-of-the-line edition of the Wrangler for the 2019 model year, incorporating features from the Rubicon and Sahara.
OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer. Jeep has been a forerunner of OEM customization, grabbing profits from the robust Wrangler aftermarket by accessorizing its vehicles in-house.
Overland: A premium luxury trim offered for the Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, and Gladiator.
Rubicon: A premium off-road performance trim for the Wrangler and Gladiator. These vehicles come loaded with upgraded 4×4 systems and heavier-duty componentry for leaving the pavement.
Sahara: A premium luxury trim for the Wrangler.
Solid Axle: The Wrangler uses a dependent “solid axle” suspension, instead of the independent suspensions found in most cars. Opposing wheels are connected by a bar into a single unit. This setup offers advantages for off-roading. It is simpler and easier to repair. But it also hampers on-road ride quality, which is why other Jeeps converted to independent suspensions.
Summit: A top-tier luxury trim for the Grand Cherokee starting above $50,000.
Trailhawk: An upgraded trim level for the Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Compass and Renegade. It offers a distinctive off-road style and an enhanced off-road capability not found on the standard model.
Upland: A styling variant trim for the Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Compass and Renegade. It incorporates off-road style from the Trailhawk without the performance upgrades.
Buying Guide
Wrangler
The Wrangler is Jeep’s iconic body-on-frame SUV, descended from the original CJ line. The latest “JL” generation debuted for the 2018 model year. The Wrangler is the most off-road capable SUV of Jeep’s lineup. Its capability and ample charm have outweighed concerns about efficiency and on-road driving dynamics. The Wrangler has among the best resale values of any vehicle in the U.S.
There are two versions, the two-door Wrangler (only available in Sport, Sport S and Rubicon trims) and the four-door Wrangler Unlimited. The latter has become the preferred option for most buyers. The Wrangler uses two powertrains, a base 285-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 and a 268-hp 2.0-liter inline-four turbo with an eTorque mild hybrid system. The four-pot gets better gas mileage, but it only comes with the eight-speed automatic. You need the V6 to get the six-speed manual.
Body Style: SUV
Models:
• Sport
• Sport S
• Sport Altitude
• Sahara
• Rubicon
• Sahara Altitude
• Moab
Engines:
• Turbocharged mild hybrid 2.0-liter inline-four
• 3.6-liter V6
Base MSRP: $28,045
Grand Cherokee
The Grand Cherokee is Jeep’s range-topping midsize SUV. The fourth-generation Grand Cherokee, which launched for the 2011 model year, has been a strong seller. It uses a base 3.6-liter V6 engine making 295 hp. Upper trims can be optioned with a 5.7-liter V8 making 360 hp. The Grand Cherokee can come with either 4WD or RWD.
The Grand Cherokee has two additional on-road performance editions. The “SRT” uses a 6.4-liter V8 making 475 hp. The Trackhawk edition employs a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 making 707 hp and accelerates from 0-60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds.
Body Style: SUV
Models:
• Laredo
• Laredo E
• Upland
• Altitude
• Limited
• Limited X
• Trailhawk (4WD only)
• Overland
• High Altitude
• Summit
• SRT (4WD only)
• Trackhawk (4WD only)
Engines:
• 3.6-liter V6
• 5.7-liter V8
• 6.4-liter V8
• Supercharged 6.2-liter V8
Base MSRP: $32,195
Cherokee
The Cherokee is a storied nameplate in Jeep history. The XJ generation (1984-2001) modernized the SUV with its unibody construction. That vehicle then spent two generations as the Liberty before Jeep revived the Cherokee name for the fifth generation.
The modern car is a compact crossover. It looks much improved after a 2019 facelift. The Cherokee has three different powertrains: a base 2.4-liter inline-four making 181 hp, a 3.2-liter V6 making 271 hp and a new 2.0-liter inline-four turbo making 270 hp. It comes with either FWD or 4WD.
Body Style: SUV
Models:
• Latitude
• Latitude Plus
• Upland (4WD only)
• Altitude
• Trailhawk (4WD only)
• Limited
• High Altitude
• Trailhawk Elite (4WD only)
• Overland
Engines:
• Turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four
• 2.4-liter inline-four Tigershark
• 3.2-liter V6
Base MSRP: $25,740
Compass
The Compass is Jeep’s less venerable compact crossover. It’s shorter than the Cherokee with more cramped seating. But, it does offer more cargo capacity. A second-generation redesign in 2016 greatly improved the aesthetics, converting it from a Dodge Caliber look-alike into a baby Grand Cherokee. Not coincidentally, sales improved dramatically.
There’s only one Compass engine option, the 180 hp 2.4-liter inline-four known internall as “Tigershark.” Most trims offer a disliked nine-speed automatic transmission, though lower trim Sport and Latitude versions come with a six-speed manual. The Compass can have both in both FWD and 4WD. The Trailhawk edition provides more extensive 4WD settings.
Body Style: SUV
Models:
• Sport
• Latitude
• Sun and Wheel (FWD only)
• Upland
• Altitude
• Limited
• Trailhawk (4WD only)
• High Altitude
Engines:
• 2.4-liter inline-four
Base MSRP: $22,095
Renegade
The Renegade is Jeep’s subcompact crossover. It’s not technically “entry-level,” as it starts out a hair more expensive than the Compass. But it’s Jeep’s smallest vehicle. The Renegade has more Italian DNA than its brethren, and is the only Jeep manufactured entirely outside North America.
The car received a facelift for 2019 with two big changes. It added a 1.3-liter inline-four engine making 177 hp as an alternative to the 2.4-liter Tigershark shared with the Cherokee and the Compass. The Renegade also dropped the optional six-speed manual. It can come with front- or four-wheel-drive.
Body Style: SUV
Models:
• Sport
• Upland (4WD Only)
• Latitude
• Altitude
• Trailhawk (4WD Only)
• Limited
• High Altitude
Engines:
• Turbocharged 1.3-liter inline-four
• 2.4-liter inline-four Tigershark
Base MSRP: $22,275
Gladiator
The Gladiator is Jeep’s all-new Wrangler-based midsize pickup. It currently comes with one engine option, the 285-hp 3.6-liter V6, for now, although a turbodiesel V6 is forthcoming. All four trims are available with either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. The truck is intended to be a direct competitor for the Toyota Tacoma and the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. It’s projected to rival the Taco and the Wrangler for the best resale value of any used vehicle in the United States, which should make it affordable to lease.
Body Style: Pickup
Models:
• Sport
• Sport S
• Overland
• Rubicon
Engines:
• 3.6-liter V6
Base MSRP: $33,545