Auto News & New car review

Jeep 8 Sarge 2008 review.

With its unique wartime heritage, Jeep has always had a hard-man image. Yet even the Wrangler – the US firm’s most rugged offering – has been growing increasingly soft of late. So it’s hardly surprising that Jeep is looking to toughen up its act. And in traditional US military style, it’s expecting the Sarge to lead the way. (more…)

Jeep J8 2008 review.

Unless you’re a foreign military, government, or humanitarian organization, you’re not getting your hands on the Jeep J8, a vehicle we think a number of Jeepers would be all over in about two seconds if it were to be offered in neighborhood dealerships. Available as a two-door pickup (above) or a four-door (like the civilian Wrangler Unlimited), the J8 goes on sale this month and was officially revealed at Euro Camp Jeep ‘08 in Germany. (more…)

Jeep Commander review.

The Jeep Commander is, in many ways, an engineering tour de force. Using the same platform as the Jeep Grand Cherokee - which is shared with the Mercedes M-Class, but developed by Jeep/Truck Engineering in Detroit - the Commander is not a mere cosmetic rebadging job, but a fully retuned, reconfigured vehicle. It’s said that the benchmark for the Commander was the new Land Rover LR3 - and that the Commander beats the LR3 in every benchmark, in some cases by a large margin, with greater reliability and much lower cost. What’s more, it is produced on the same assembly line, so production can be kept in line with demand for both the Commander and Grand Cherokee. It’s hard to say which one is the more prodigious feat: the incredibly flexible production line, which can make two vehicles with very different bodies one after the other, or beating what was until very recently considered to be the best-in-class vehicle in just about every way, including price and quality. (more…)

Jeep Liberty 2008 review.

This review covers two different 2008 Jeep Liberty models - one with and one without the magical canvas SkySlider™ roof. Both models were the Limited, with classy two-tone leather seats and a variety of options. (more…)

Jeep Compass 2008 review.

The Jeep Compass is a car-based vehicle that’s enjoyable to drive and comes with a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. First introduced as a 2007 model, the Compass is built on a front-wheel-drive, car-based structure, a modified version of the platform that supports the Mitsubishi Lancer and Jeep Patriot.

One way to measure the value of the Compass might be to compare it to the trusty Jeep Cherokee that was enormously popular for 18 years and finally ended its run in 2001. The Compass is slightly bigger and much more comfortable than the Cherokee was 10 years ago, though without as much off-road capability. (more…)

Jeep Wrangler 2008 review.

Few vehicles are better off road than a Jeep Wrangler The Wrangler is an icon and it can deliver inimitable fun.

The Wrangler was redesigned for the 2007 model year. At the same time, a four-door version was introduced and named Wrangler Unlimited. The four-door doesn’t change the character of the Wrangler but makes it easier to own and more practical for many. (more…)

Jeep Grand Cherokee 2008 review.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a midsize SUV, like the Ford Explorer or Chevrolet TrailBlazer, but it offers superior off-road capability comparable to that of the upscale Land Rover LR3.

Outside, the Grand Cherokee is edgy and angular, clean and contemporary, uncluttered by body cladding. Yet it is instantly recognizable as a Jeep. (more…)

Jeep Patriot 2008 review.

The Jeep Patriot is an all-new compact SUV with plenty of room inside, using a powerful and economical 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that gets an EPA-rated 25 city and 29 highway miles per gallon, with four-wheel drive and a five-speed manual transmission.

It’s basically built on the platform of the Dodge Caliber, but you’d never know it. It’s unmistakably a Jeep, and looks like a cross between a Liberty and the new Compass; or maybe a three-quarter scale version of the big Commander. (more…)