The Five Greatest And Most Iconic Jeeps Of All Time

Jeeps are incredibly popular all over North America, and that’s largely due to their reputation. They’ve been around for decades, fought in wars, and always been the toughest off-roaders out there. Driving a Jeep elevates you to a status other vehicle brands cannot reach. The average Jeep can go anywhere, and they’re ridiculously reliable. They’re low on maintenance and hold their value well. With all that in mind, let’s look at the five greatest and most iconic Jeeps of all time. This article is brought to you by Just Jeep Canada!

Jeep Wrangler YJ (1986 – 1995)

The Jeep Wrangler YJ was essentially the original Jeep Wrangler. Every Wrangler you see on the road today descended from this masterpiece. The YJ’s design was based on the CJ series of the previous decade. However, a lot of changes were introduced. Changes, many argue, paved the way for the success that Jeep maintains today.

First, the designers behind the YJ hardened many of the soft corners found in the CJ series. Every feature was pushed towards a more aggressive look rather than the elegant look of the CJ series. The headlights became a lot boxier. The hood lines became sharp and sleek rather than smooth and round. Although the YJ was designed to look aggressive and angry, Jeep intended to make them comfortable enough to drive daily. A task that they arguably accomplished.

When it comes to the YJ, many Jeep fans and analysts title it as separate from the Wrangler line we see today. They claim the YJ is genuinely in a class of its own, and trying to replicate its success would be foolish. Some even argue that the YJ is the second generation of the CJ series, but others disagree. The YJ brought comfort and off-road ability together and effectively paved the way for modern off-road vehicles.

CJ-6 and CJ-5 (1972 – 1975)

When the CJ series was introduced, it became the first-ever passenger vehicle to feature four-wheel drive. The CJ-5 and 6, particularly, were based highly upon the models used in the Korean War. The owner behind Jeep wanted to bring that military toughness and utility to the passenger vehicle market. A goal that was, of course, accomplished.

Both the CJ-5 and CJ-6 were released together, separated by only a few days. The CJ-5 featured everything from four-cylinder engines to powerful V6 engines and was everything an offroader could ever want. However, the CJ-5 fell somewhat short as a daily driver because of seating limitations. This is where the CJ-6 came in. With a slightly longer frame, Jeep actually managed to retain the off-road abilities and add another set of seats! Customers could now go rock crawling and bring their entire family!

This particular Jeep era saw the introduction of modern features that hardly any other vehicle had at the time. Effective air conditioning, radios, speakers, ignitions that would run electronically, and various other features.

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 (2019)

This particular Jeep was an inhumanly large step forward for Jeep. The Jeep Grand Cherokee was initially introduced in the 90s and designed to do what the CJ-5 and 6 could do. Daily drive and offroad! The SRT8, on the other hand, had other ideas. The concept behind a Jeep changed, and despite the dynamic overhaul, it became beloved to Jeep owners.

It all started with the frame! Rather than the typical body-on-solid frame design, Jeep became the first to introduce a unibody SUV. Yes, that’s right! The Grand Cherokee was a unibody! Something that was typically only seen in smaller passenger vehicles like coupes and sedans! But this design differed. It was reinforced and strengthened. Tough enough to do anything you really wanted it to, yet still comfortable (as the body on the frame is notoriously uncomfortable).

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Concerning the SRT8, the dynamic of offroading comfortably changed. Rather than utility and offroad, the Grand Cherokee became all about performance. 2019 featured a massive Hemi V8, boasting over 475 horsepower. A tremendous amount of power! In its class, the SRT8 would have been fastest if not for the Trackhawk model (sibling of the SRT8)

Jeep Wagoneer (1963 – 1991)

This Jeep strayed from the likes of the CJ-5 and 6 and was known for its luxurious features. Not to worry, though, it was tougher than nails and stronger than steel. The Wagoneer was actually built upon the frame of a pickup truck, yet drove as nimbly and smoothly as a sedan!

The Wagoneer showcased dozens of features. Air conditioning, power steering, various radio options, and even an automatic transmission! The Wagoneer even came with a fully independent front suspension which was practically unheard of in this class.

For the fans of this particular Jeep, there are plans to reboot it in mid-2021! Keep an eye out!

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4×4 (Unlimited) (2018)

The 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited model was given the title of the most capable vehicle to ever be built by Jeep. This particular model brought together the best parts of the Rubicon and the Unlimited models. It could do practically anything offroad, but it was also very performance-heavy. The Rubicon model brought performance and offroad ability, while the Unlimited model brought passenger room and features, high towing capacity, and much more. Mix it all, and you have one hell of a Jeep.