Jeep has always struggled with making their SUVs as reliable as they are rugged. Here are ten that hit the mark perfectly.
When it comes to off-road SUVs, no one does it quite like Jeep. They’re a brand that’s well known in the industry for making cars that can go anywhere. It doesn’t matter if it’s the open road, dense forest, or rocky terrain, Jeep cars can tackle pretty much anything that they come up against. They make some of the toughest off-road SUVs around, built to withstand practically anything.
However, where great off-road ability and decent road manners are both good qualities in a car, they don’t necessarily translate into the vehicle being reliable. As such, Jeep’s record for reliability is patchy at best. While there are some Jeeps that everyone regrets buying, there are some Jeeps that will last you a lifetime. Taking reliability data from J.D. Power and Vehicle History, as well as owners’ reports on Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book, we have made a list of some of the best Jeep models that combine both performance and reliability.
10. 2021 Jeep Wrangler
It’s widely known that the Jeep Wrangler is one of the best offroading SUVs on the market. The 2021 model belongs to the fourth and current generation of this SUV, and it’s got plenty to offer. There’s a choice of engines, either a 2.0-liter four-cylinder or a 3.6-liter V6 that makes 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. With nearly 10 inches of ground clearance under its belly, it’s capable of creeping over the most uneven of surfaces.
The 2021 Wrangler is one serious off-road machine and scores an impressive 83 for reliability from J.D. Power. Consumers on Edmunds also give it 4.4 stars out of 5, praising its spacious interior, engine, and torque power, with various users giving it top marks for reliability. Vehicle History also records that owners ‘often report mileage topping 200,000’ miles, and goes on to say that ‘it’s known for its durability.’ If you want a Jeep that performs well and is reliable, the 2021 Wrangler is a good choice.
9. 2018 Jeep Cherokee
The Jeep Cherokee is the car that changed the automotive scene forever by introducing the term SUV into the mainstream market. For those that want a small SUV that’s got outstanding off-road ability,the 2018 JeepCherokee is a great option. It’s a comfortable cruiser that can get you to places that normal cars can’t go. The power plant under the hood is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 184 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque, however, there is an optional 3.2-liter V8 available with 271 hp and 239 lb-ft of torque.
As for reliability, the 2018 Cherokee is a very reliable SUV. It gets a great rating from J.D. Power with a score of 84. Various owners on Edmunds give it 5 out of 5 for reliability, praising the ride quality, comfort, technology, and off-road ability. Kelley Blue Book says the 2018 Cherokee has ‘an attitude for adventure’ and many owners rate it top marks for reliability. Vehicle History also notes that models between ‘2017 and 2021 are more reliable choices’ and that ‘a well-maintained 2018 Jeep Cherokee can last around 200,000 miles.’
8. 2008 Jeep Compas
Among the many things you should know about the Jeep Compass, is that it moves away from Jeep’s core values of off-road dominance and swings more to being an urban-friendly daily commuter. It behaves more like a car than a wildlife explorer. That said, however, its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine makes 172 horsepower which is plenty enough for cruising around the urban landscape. Like most Jeeps, reliability is not a strong point, but the 2008 model is a good year for being reliable.
It scores a rating of 80 for reliability from J.D. Power. Edmunds gives it 4.1 stars out of 5, where various owners commend its performance, smooth ride, and build quality, with one owner reporting having done 300,000 miles in their 2008 Compass and ‘It’s been a great, dependable vehicle.’ Additionally, owners on Kelley Blue Book give it 4.1 stars out of 5 for reliability, with one person saying they’ve ‘put 216,481 miles on it.’ It may have less off-road prowess than most Jeep models, but when it comes to on-road performance and reliability, the 2008 Jeep Compass can hold its head up high.
7. 2021 Jeep Renegade
So far the Renegade is the smallest offering from Jeep in the SUV market and with its short stubby body, makes for a great off-road vehicle. However, since its launch in 2014, consistent reliability is an area where it’s struggled. It’s what some might refer to as being one of the reasons why the Jeep Renegade may be underrated. Some models are better at being reliable than others and the 2021 Renegade is one of those years that fares well with reliability.
It gets a J.D. Power reliability rating of 80 as well as an overall rating of 4.0 stars out of 5 from Edmunds. Many owners in their reviews on Edmunds praise the 2021 Jeep Renegade for its power, refinement, and comfort and give it top marks for reliability. Similarly, owners on Kelley Blue Book praise the Renegade’s ride, comfort, and off-road performance. The 2021 Renegade may be small, but it can perform well and be reliable.
6. 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Some of the things that every off-road enthusiast should know about the Jeep Grand Cherokee is that it’s basically a Cherokee in a bigger skin with even more off-road agility. It’s a big, practical mid-size SUV that can be both a comfortable daily commuter and a rock-crawling monster when the road finishes and the dirt starts. The 2008 model is a good year for the Grand Cherokee. With a decent range of powerful engines from a 3.7-liter V6 to a 6.1-liter V8, it’s got plenty of power to handle any situation it’s in, and it’s reliable.
Reliability ratings for the 2008 Grand Cherokee are good with a score of 80 from J.D. Power. Similarly, owners on Edmunds give it an overall rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 with multiple owners commending the durability of their Grand Cherokee, with one owner stating they have 180,000 miles, and it still ‘runs like new.’ According to Vehicle History, a ‘2008 Grand Cherokee should last around 150,000 miles;’ however, with proper attention to care and maintenance, it can last a lot longer.
5. 2020 Jeep Compass
As a small SUV, the Compass sits in Jeep’s line-up between the Renegade and the Cherokee as a surprisingly spacious, comfortable, and refined car with great off-road skills. As capable as it is, however, one of the things to know before getting a Jeep Compass is that its reliability record is up and down. Some years suffer from a lot of problems, like the 2017 and 2018 models, but there are some years that a very reliable.
The 2020 Jeep Compass is in the club of one of those Jeep vehicles that have good reliability scores. J.D. Power gives it a reliability rating of 82, which puts it in the great category. Multiple owners in their reviews of the 2020 Compass give it 5 out of 5 for reliability, praising its build quality, performance both on and off-road, and interior refinement. Additionally, according to Vehicle History ‘a well-maintained 2020 Jeep Compass can last around 200,000 miles.’
4. 2020 Jeep Cherokee
Fans of the Cherokee would argue that the Jeep Cherokee is better than any mid-size SUV on the market, but that view is highly subjective. Yes, the Cherokee has some great qualities to boast about like its well-equipped interior and the levels of refinement that it offers as well as how well it performs off the beaten track. But Jeep’s relationship with reliability is rather tricky at best.
Fortunately, the 2020 Cherokee proves itself as being a very reliable SUV, gaining a great score for reliability of 85 from J.D. Power. In fact, Vehicle History calls it a ‘small SUV with improved reliability from earlier years,’ and goes on to say that ‘the 2020 Jeep Cherokee lasts around 200,000 miles’ when properly maintained. Owners on Edmunds give it 4.3 stars out of 5 for overall performance with many of them giving it the highest marks for reliability. It’s the same for owners on Kelley Blue Book that give it a reliability rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.
3. 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
As a testament to its design, the Grand Cherokee has largely remained the same since its 2005 redesign. As such, this current generation remains a handsome brute with lots of interior refinement and technology alongside great off-road prowess. However, when it comes to what you need to know before buying a Jeep Grand Cherokee, reliability will always be near the top of the list.
While some years of the Grand Cherokee struggle with reliability, the 2021 model does not. It gets an impressive score of 84 from J.D. Power for reliability and Edmunds gives it an overall expert rating of 7.4 out of 10. Additionally, many consumers on Edmunds prize the build quality and sturdiness of their Grand Cherokee as well as its performance. Additionally, Kelley Blue Book calls the 2021 Grand Cherokee ‘continues to hold a certain appeal where luxury, performance, and off-road capability all overlap’ and owners give it a reliability rating of 4.3 stars out of 5.
2. 2021 Jeep Gladiator
If you put a truck bed onto the back of a Wrangler, what you end up with is a Gladiator. That is exactly what Jeep has done to create a pickup truck that’s based on one of the most capable off-road SUVs out there, and we all know how capable the Jeep Wrangler is. One of the things that’s unique to this pickup is that you can feel the open air in the Jeep Gladiator with a new half-door design. Among other impressive features like its powerful 3.6-liter V6 engine and awesome off-road ability, is how reliable the Gladiator is.
The 2021 Gladiator is especially reliable, earning a great score of 85 from J.D. Power. It also gets an overall rating of 4.3 stars out of 5 from owners on Edmunds consumer reviews, most of which give it top marks for reliability. Like the Wrangler, ‘you can expect a Jeep Gladiator to reach 200,000 miles with proper care,’ says Vehicle History. Similarly, owners on Kelley Blue Book give it a reliability rating of 4.6 out of 5, with 93% of owners recommending this pickup. When it comes to performance and reliability, the 2021 Jeep Gladiator is a worthy contender.
1. 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee
For an everyday vehicle, the Grand Cherokee makes a viable option as it offers lots of space for a mid-size SUV as well as plenty of capability for those out-of-town trips. It boasts some of the highest quality interiors in its class and with a range of powerful engines available, there’s lots of performance. There are plenty of models of Grand Cherokee SUVs out there, but one of the most reliable Jeep Grand Cherokee years to buy used is 2016.
It scores well with J.D. Power getting a reliability rating of 83. Furthermore, the ‘2016 Grand Cherokee ranks near the top of its class based on owner reviews,’ according to Vehicle History which goes on to say that it ‘will last over 200,000 miles’ when properly cared for. Additionally, previous owners on Kelley Blue Book give it a rating of 4.3 stars out of 5 for reliability. Edmunds expert review says the 2016 Grand Cherokee ‘easily masters both off-road trails and daily commutes alike,’ with owners giving it an overall score of 4.1 out of 5 stars as well as top marks for reliability.