Until 1963, when Kaiser introduced the Gladiator pickup and Wagoneer SUV, the only Jeeps available were utilitarian CJs. Once AMC acquired the brand, the lineup expanded to include the Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer. Chrysler further broadened the options available to Jeep buyers, introducing the Liberty in 2002, the Compass and Patriot in 2007, and the Renegade in 2014.
Jeep also recently resurrected the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer nameplates after both models were shelved in 1991. The Cherokee badge has a more complicated history, as the Liberty was considered the third generation Cherokee in North America from the time of its introduction until the fourth generation Cherokee debuted in 2008.
The CJ line was transitioned into the Wrangler in 1987, bringing with it a controversial and temporary switch from round to rectangular headlights. Despite the huge expansion in Jeep’s offerings, the Wrangler remains the brand’s flagship through updates in 1996, 2006, and 2018. With each new generation came modern refinements that separated the Wrangler from its military roots, like automatic transmissions, removable lightweight roof panels, and Bluetooth audio systems.
