2012 & 2011 Jeep SUV Reviews & Ratings

You could argue that behind the off-the-road vehicle concept lays the mother and father of them all, the Jeep. The original Jeep or general purpose vehicle to give it its full title has been around for more than seventy years, making its first serious appearance during World War Two. Tens of thousands of this hardy go anywhere vehicle graced the European and Pacific platforms, carving themselves out an unforgettable niche in motoring history.

Since those days, and taking in a few more wars in the meantime, the Jeep has evolved into one of the best known SUVs to be seen on the roads and countryside around the World.

Over the years, the Jeep has softened its tough guy, no frills image and evolved to a fully fledged family SUV, without compromising its image too much, especially when it comes to putting the Jeep through its paces off the road or in the most testing of weather conditions. Conditions where other vehicles, among them SUVs, might well are left by the side of the road.

for 2012, there are three versions of the Jeep SUV on offer. The first one out of the traps is the Jeep Wrangler that comes in two versions, either a two door short wheel based model or a long wheel based four door. Either configuration comes with a 3.6 liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower as well as 260 pound per feet of torque. This model comes paired with a six speed manual transmission with the option of five speed automatic going to those who don't want to be involved in gear changes. The Wrangler comes with standard four wheel drive.

Interior trim for the Wrangler is comfortable with little trace of luxury, because this is one jeep that hasn't forgotten where it came from and still performs as well off road as it does on it.

Every jeep variation has its own characteristics and the Jeep Commander stands out as being a seven seater sport version with a much stronger taste for luxury on the road driving than it does for off road activities. You can also tell from its trim that the Commander has been pointed at a different market than the Wrangler with a wide range of treats, included heated hide seating, climate control, cruise control and a power operated sunroof among the just a few in the list of comfort treats that the Commander offers.

Where the Commander may be faulted is that it is also powered by the same 3.6 liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower as well as 260 pound per feet of torque, paired with a six speed manual transmission found in the Wrangler. This sounds good till you discover that the Commander weighs around two and half tons (4,800 pounds). Toting that kind of weight around means low power and high fuel consumption. The way to offset that is to opt for the Commander Limited edition which offers a 5.7 liter V8 engine with 357 horsepower to be called on.

as compact as the Commander is oversized, the Compass Jeep is a friendly passenger carrier that more comfortably makes the transition from being a general purpose vehicle and a true SUV. Coming with a 2.4 liter four cylinder engine to power its four wheels paired with a five speed automatic transmission, the Compass looks to the casual observer more as to how the Jeep should have developed in terms of appearance as well as power. Probably more important is the fact that the Compass falls into a niche, in terms of size, price and comfort levels that will ideally suit the budget and aspirations of those who are looking to add a SUV to their shopping list, and are liable to be less impressed by the Jeep emblem.