Bred for the battleground, Jeep 4x4s evolved from vital military transportation to the original luxury 4×4 SUV. From the CJ to the Wagoneer, Jeep vehicles became the blueprint for all other SUVs.
Jeep has faced tough competition over the past six decades. Automakers from Land Rover to Ford have come for Jeep’s crown as the King of the SUVs. We’ll look at how the brand has evolved through the years and whether it’s enough to keep them on top.
Often Imitated
Rival automakers like Ford and Chevrolet have been chasing Jeep since the introduction of the original Ford Bronco and Chevy Blazer, which took direct aim at the Jeep CJ (the precursor to the Wrangler). As Jeep SUV models like the Wagoneer and Cherokee proved popular with families, new models following a similar template debuted, including the Explorer and the revamped Chevrolet Suburban.
Although they rivaled Jeep in creature comforts and offered some off-road capability, the Big Daddy of SUVs is still the one to beat.
Breathing New Life into the Classics
If you’ve been around long enough—or you frequent classic auto shows—you’ll see some familiar names in the current lineup of Jeeps for sale.
The Gladiator of today shares a nameplate with Jeep’s early consumer truck line that bore the name throughout the 1960s. While every pickup on the road today offers an all-wheel drive option, the original Gladiator was the only truck sold in the United States that was a standard 4×4.
The original Wagoneers were the perfect blend of rugged and refined, making them ideal for families who liked to play on unpaved backroads on the weekend but needed something that looked good taking the kids to school and in the office parking lot. And the eagerly anticipated 2022 Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer continue the fine tradition of go-everywhere SUVs.
Make it Your Own
It’s not just their style and capability that make Jeep SUVs wildly popular with consumers. With a huge catalog of packages and accessories, there are hundreds of ways to make your Jeep your own.
Two of the most exciting packages make premium SUVs like the Grand Cherokee almost ridiculously capable. The supercharged Grand Cherokee Trackhawk boasts the 707-horsepower V8 Hellcat engine, making it Jeep’s most powerful—and pricey—SUV ever.
Maybe 0-60 in a few seconds isn’t your top priority, but blazing your own trail is. Look for the Trail Rated badge on every TrailHawk Jeep model. What does Trail Rated mean? It means these Jeeps have been tested under some of the most punishing off-road and weather conditions and have proven themselves capable when crawling over debris, fording waterways, and handling mud, sand, and snow as easily as it handles pavement.
Staying Ahead by Looking Forward
Never one to rest on its laurels, Jeep is creating a line of plug-in hybrid vehicles that take capability to a whole new level. The 4xe (pronounced “four by e”) Wrangler and Grand Cherokee get exceptional gas mileage, are simple to charge, and produce enough horsepower and torque to make them as fully off-road capable as their gas-powered siblings.
So, while many automakers continue to take aim at them, Jeep continues to evolve, making it nearly impossible to dethrone the King of SUVs.
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