Are Jeeps Good Cars? How To Make The Right Purchasing Decision
Source: Pixabay
Jeeps are probably some of the most iconic vehicles you can get. There are a lot of people who love all things Jeep, and Jeep the brand definitely manufactures new vehicles with their core audience in mind. That means that Jeeps tend to be big, bad, heavy-duty, and designed to be all-terrain workhorses.
Of course, not all Jeeps fit that profile, but all of their vehicles tend to be more rugged and hardworking than other vehicles of the same type.
When it comes to Jeeps you should consider a few factors. Like other manufacturers, you should look at vehicle reliability, performance, and safety. But when it comes to Jeeps, in particular, deciding whether Jeeps are good cars usually comes down to two factors: price, and eco-friendliness or efficiency.
Let’s take a closer look at Jeeps, who they’re made for, and whether Jeeps are good cars.
Are Jeeps Good Cars?
Jeeps are more of a specialty brand than most, so we’re going to split this up a little differently. In this section, we’ll talk about the normal categories, performance, safety, reliability, and price, and then in the next section, we’ll talk about how Jeeps are specialized, and which consumers are most likely to benefit from owning a Jeep.
GET THE SAME INSIDER INFO THAT DEALERSHIPS USE
The CoPilot app is the smartest way to buy a car. Built using the same technology that dealerships use, we’ll show you everything you want to know about each listing - like how long it’s been on the lot, or if there are similar vehicles at a better price nearby.
Performance
In terms of performance, Jeeps tend to be beefy vehicles. They have a lot of power under the hood and usually come with better-than-average suspension systems that can be easily upgraded to be even better.
Even Jeep’s smaller vehicles are designed to offer rugged performance and to be able to handle just about any terrain.
If you’re looking for a high-performance vehicle and want something that can handle whatever you want to throw at it, Jeeps are a good option. Many off-roaders and outdoors people swear by Jeeps for all your adventuring needs.
That said, there are a few problems with Jeep performance, including that the vehicles are usually less efficient than other similar vehicles.
Safety
Yes, Jeeps are considered very safe, even if a lot of their vehicles are designed more for off-road safety than on the road safety. The two types of safety mean that a lot of Jeeps actually have more safety features than other vehicles and that they are designed to handle a wider variety of crashes gracefully.
Thankfully, that means that Jeeps are good for all kinds of uses, and will generally protect their drivers and passengers as well or better than other vehicle brands and manufacturers.
Reliability
Reliability is more of an issue than safety when it comes to Jeeps. While Jeeps are known to be powerful vehicles, they’re not actually as reliable as you would expect. Jeeps tend to need a fair amount of maintenance, and they need a lot of maintenance work to keep them at top operating efficiency.
Also, Jeep has a relatively wide range of known issues with their vehicles, and it’s largely considered expected that your Jeep will spend more time in the shop, or in your garage waiting for work, than other vehicles.
It’s not that Jeeps are going to fall apart from rough use. Rather, think of most Jeeps as being a little like Harley motorcycles. They’re powerful high-performance vehicles, but only when they get enough TLC at home.
Are Jeeps Affordable?
Jeeps are not considered affordable vehicles. The opposite in fact.
Jeeps tend to have a higher price point than other vehicles for a few reasons. For one thing, they’re designed to handle off-roading and rough terrain, which means that the suspension and safety systems are a little more powerful than on your average commuter vehicle.
Jeeps also tend to be heavier vehicles that need a lot of fuel and a lot of maintenance, which increases the cost of ownership considerably.
But probably the most important single factor in Jeep prices is the value of the brand name. Jeep is an iconic brand with a motivated customer base, so they can afford to keep prices a bit higher than average. They’ll still have plenty of buyers even at the higher price.
THE BEST CARS FOR SNOW
Winter driving impacts young and experienced drivers alike. We’ve compiled a list of the best cars for snow, so you can get from Point A to Point B as safely as possible.
Jeep Efficiency
Jeeps are low-efficiency vehicles overall. They don’t get as many miles per gallon as other vehicles, they often need maintenance more often than other vehicles, and often just cost more in maintenance than their competitors.
If you’re looking for a more efficient or eco-friendly vehicle, chances are you’re going to want to go with a different manufacturer.
Who Are Jeeps Designed For?
With most vehicle manufacturers this isn’t a question you need to ask. The majority of consumer, and even luxury, vehicle manufacturers are trying to appeal to a broad audience of generalist users. Sure, brands have an identity that impacts their most likely audience, Ford works to attract U.S. patriots (at least in the United States), Subaru works to appeal to outdoors people who love camping and adventure, and Kia tries to attract tech-savvy modern workers.
But for the most part, those brands design vehicles that will work pretty well for anyone.
Jeep is a little different. They’re designed for outdoors people, as rugged off-roading or working vehicles, and aren’t necessarily designed to be a good option for your daily commute or errands.
Sure, plenty of Jeeps work for everyday use, but that isn’t the core goal of the company.
That means that if you’re looking for a daily driver you might be better served by getting a vehicle from a different brand, at least if you’re looking for a comfortable ride that works equally well for getting groceries as going camping.
Part of why Jeeps have such a high price tag is because they are specialized vehicles. Jeep doesn’t want everyone and their dog buying their vehicles – not because they’re exclusive, but because they aren’t designing vehicles that will work for everyone.
It’s worth researching Jeep reviews and how other consumers use the Jeep model you’re considering before buying. Just like any specialty vehicle, Jeep models have specific purposes in mind. Sometimes that purpose is showing off, but sometimes it’s off-roading, hauling, or being a great camping and adventure vehicle.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE YOUR BRAKES?
Unless you’re a mechanic or super-dedicated car enthusiast, you might not know much about the brakes on your car. How long do they typically last? How often should you replace your brakes? We’ve got answers
The Final Verdict
Jeeps are great vehicles for the people who are looking for a Jeep, but there are some drawbacks to owning one that might mean their not a great brand for everyone.
That said, Jeeps are a fantastic vehicle for their target audience. For everyone else, they might be a little too expensive and need a little too much maintenance.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.
Only looking for newer models? CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars. Only see cars five years or newer with low mileage — CoPilot Compare is the best way to find off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO cars.
The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.
