Jeep is the most well known off road vehicle maker around the world. Its vehicles have gained a legacy of off roading capability, off road technology, and rugged design. The original Jeep first appeared as the prototype Bantam BRC became the primary light 4-wheel-drive vehicle of the US Army and allies during the World War II and postwar period. Many vehicles serving similar military and civilian roles have since been created by many nations. Final production version Jeeps built by Willys-Overland were the Model MB, while those built by Ford were the Model GPW. There were subtle differences between the two.  The versions produced by Ford had every component marked with an "F". Willys also followed the Ford pattern by stamping its name into some body parts, but stopped this in 1942. The cost per vehicle trended upwards as the war continued from the price under the first contract from Willys at US$648.74. Willys-Overland and Ford, under the direction of Charles E. Sorensen, produced about 640,000 Jeeps between them which was about 18% of all the wheeled military vehicles built in the U.S. during the war. The Jeep has been widely imitated around the world, but never matched. The CJ ("Civilian Jeep") series began in 1945 with the CJ-2A followed by the CJ-3B in 1953. These early Jeeps are commonly referred to as "flatfenders" because their front fenders were flat across the front, the same as their military precedents, the Willys MB and identical Ford GPW models.

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Jeep models have greatly evolved since the original products. A major improvement in more recent Jeeps is ride comfort, cabin features, and versatility. While Jeeps still are not the smoothest riding vehicles, a used car shopper may want a model within the last five years for maximum comfort. The Wrangler, is Jeep?s most popular model of today and its most capable. But more recently Jeep has expanded its line to car based SUVs, such as the Compass. The Wrangler?s lineage goes back more than 60 years to the original military "Jeep," the now-legendary 4x4 that transported World War II soldiers and supplies over very rough terrain. For the most recent version of the Wrangler, Jeep has attempted to make it more civilized via a new four-door body style and new safety and convenience features. The current Jeep Wrangler was introduced for 2007 and is larger and more refined than the previous generation. Key changes included a stiffer structure and more insulation for a quieter ride; a more powerful engine; more modern transmissions; and the first-time availability of a four-door variant (known as the Wrangler Unlimited).

For those looking for a family vehicle or a daily commuter, the Compass may be the most favorable Jeep model. The Jeep Compass isn't like other Jeeps. It doesn't look rugged, it's not trail-rated, and as far as we know, it doesn't even like dirt. Instead, it's a car-based design built for the majority of small-SUV buyers, who want a fuel-efficient runabout that's easy to drive around suburbia and loaded with conveniences. Introduced for the 2007 model year, the Jeep Compass is in its first generation. For '08, the engines and transmission were enhanced to provide smoother acceleration. The only major update happened for 2009, when the interior received a significant overhaul both in terms of design and materials quality.