Jeep’s wartime roots are something it still celebrates in the ruggedly styled vehicles it makes today. As a subsidiary of the Fiat Chrysler group, the American brand is destined to share lots of mechanical parts with its stablemates, but it still sees success in the SUV and crossover markets it occupies.
That’s particularly true with the entry-level mode, the Renegade, which shares lots of parts with the Fiat 500X but has proven a strong contender against other small SUVs like the Nissan Juke and Mini Countryman.
Further up the range, Jeep sells the Cherokee, a well-equipped rival for the BMW X3 and Land Rover Discovery Sport, and the Grand Cherokee, which competes with the BMW X5 and Range Rover Sport. There’s also the Jeep Renegade, a hardcore off-roader that’s one of precious few rivals for the old Land Rover Defender.
On the whole, though, Jeep remains a niche brand; none of its models is a class leader, but that steadfast commitment to rugged off-road ability means its SUV’s will continue to have appeal.
