The journey to a used Jeep vehicle is one we’ve seen many, many times. But it’s one that we know is a significant moment in many drivers’ lives. We also know that making a smooth entry into this adventurous world s is only possible if you know which used Jeep model is right for you. There are many to choose from, but five stand tall as the most popular used Jeep vehicles: the Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Compass, and Renegade. Each brings iconic capabilities to a distinct segment. Each has a lot to offer, but one can offer the most for a certain driver..
See which used Jeep vehicle offers the best package for your lifestyle, needs, and necessities with our guide below. Visit us at DESOTO CDJR to take your preferred choice on a test drive and ask us any questions you may, as our team is equipped with information.
The Wrangler needs no introduction and is undeniably the best used Jeep vehicle for drivers with a strong sense of adventure. If, however, you don’t know its story, the Wrangler was born from a lineage that started in WWII. Its battlefield ancestor was a durability-focused, open-top vehicle that carried our troops all over war-torn Europe and besieged islands across the Pacific. It had to be a tough machine to thrive in those conditions. And when the GIs returned home, they wanted one for themselves.
The “Civilian Jeep” (CJ) was the result. It evolved over the decades to suit farmers, fun-loving city commuters, and wild adventurers alike. When 1986 rolled around, this trustworthy companion finally gained the “Wrangler” name. Today, a used Jeep Wrangler carries the ever-faithful looks and capable spirit of its predecessors into the modern era.
The Wrangler can be both an efficient and supremely powerful used Jeep SUV. Modern versions offer a 285-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6, and can even make 470 horsepower through a 6.4-liter V-8 or a plug-in hybrid system.
Every Wrangler has a standard 4×4 system. Every Wrangler rides with a solid body-on-frame chassis and Dana axles. To sum things up, available 35-inch all-terrain tires, removable doors, high-mounted intakes, rock crawl gearing, front sway bars that disconnect with a button’s push, front and rear locking differentials, and many more off-road features can only be found on a Wrangler. The Gladiator truck is the exception.
The Wrangler can tow up to 3,500 pounds.1If you need more towing power, consider a used Jeep Gladiator — it offers the same spirit and can tow up to 7,700 pounds.1
A Wrangler can have two doors and four seats, or four doors and five seats. This used Jeep model can bring it all along. Either can provide an open cabin atmosphere with a removable soft top roof and removable doors. You will get 104 cubic feet of passenger volume and up to 72.4 cubic feet of cargo space.
As you use all that off-road, you can set the soundtrack with an available nine-speaker Alpine® Premium Audio System, optimize your gear with an available Trail Rail™ system, and stay comfortable with available Nappa leather seats. That is all just a taste. The legendary Wrangler can satisfy with tech including an 8.4-inch Uconnect® 4C NAV touch-screen display, Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™, safety features like blind-spot monitoring and parking assistance, and so much more.
As for trims, the highlights of the lineup include:
If battle-proven dependability wasn’t enough, the 2022 Wrangler SUV’s “Great” J.D. Power Quality & Reliability rating of 86 out of 1002 should demonstrate how reliable a Wrangler can be. Go for a 2021 Wrangler, and you’ll find another “Great” J.D. Power Quality & Reliability rating of 83 out of 100.3
What if you could distill the Wrangler SUV’s philosophy into a larger and smoother used Jeep SUV? You can, and it’s called the Grand Cherokee. Born in 1993 as a large and in-charge SUV that could handle off-road challenges and provide plenty of on-road comforts, the Grand Cherokee was an instant hit. It continues to be one to this day. In fact, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most awarded SUV ever.
Used Jeep Grand Cherokee for Sale
Compared to the Wrangler, the Grand Cherokee has a more car-like ride with sharper handling. However, it brings a healthy portion of the Wrangler SUV’s off-road engineering into this handling-oriented layout. It also offers a 293-horsepower V-6, a 357-horsepower V-8, and a 375-horsepower plug-in hybrid engine with its latest years. Unlike the Wrangler, though, 2WD is standard, and 4×4 capabilities are optional.
The latest years of this used Jeep SUV also offer a two or three-row layout. Two-row models offer up to 70.8 cubic feet, and three-row versions have up to 84.6 cubic feet. You’ll find 145 cubic feet of passenger room inside two-row models and 152 cubic feet in three-row versions. With a maximum towing capacity of 7,200 pounds,1 everything about this used Jeep model is big.
This popular used Jeep SUV brings a massive selection of features to the table. First, choose your trim; popular choices include:
Among all the used Jeep models, the Grand Cherokee can offer the most desirable features, including Palermo leather upholstery, 12-way power front seats, heated and cooled front/rear seats, rear-seat entertainment screens, a 10.1-inch Uconnect® 5 Nav touch-screen display, a 19-speaker sound system, night vision mode, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, a full-speed forward collision warning, and more.
The Grand Cherokee also stands tall in the used Jeep comparison for its reliability. The 2021 model has a “Great” J.D. Power Quality & Reliability rating of 84 out of 100,4 and the Jeep Grand Cherokee has an “Above Average” overall RepairPal.com reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5.0.5
If you like the Grand Cherokee but are looking for what it offers in a smaller, more agile model, the Cherokee is the used Jeep SUV for you. It actually came before the Grand Cherokee; the Jeep Cherokee was introduced in 1974 and has been refined steadily over the course of five generations since then. It stood for a more civilized, family-hauling Jeep vehicle than the Wrangler and continues to offer the same spirit today. The Jeep Cherokee can be the perfect used Jeep model for those who want it all.
The Cherokee is another used Jeep model built with standard 2WD and optional 4×4 capabilities. However, all 2023 model-year Cherokee SUVs are 4×4 as standard. The 2023 model year also brought a new 2.7-liter turbo engine with 270 horsepower in place of the previously-standard 3.2-liter V-6 engine, increasing efficiency as a result.
That’s a lot of power for a small SUV, and the towing capacity shows it; this used Jeep SUV can tow up to 4,000 pounds.1 The rest of its class can only try to offer such strength, and with great interior space like five seats, 128 cubic feet of passenger room and 54.7 cubic feet of cargo room, the same can be said about its spaciousness.
In its latest generation, the Cherokee has similar trim levels to the Grand Cherokee and also offers some of the Wrangler trim options. Whether the Altitude, Trailhawk, Limited, Freedom, or High Altitude, their focus remains the same. However, some unique trims like the sporty and well-equipped X and the balanced Latitude Lux make their appearance in this used Jeep SUV.
The Cherokee has slightly lower upper limits for luxury than the Grand Cherokee, but can exceed the Wrangler. For example, the latest model has standard eight-way power front seats and an 8.4-inch Uconnect® 4C NAV touch-screen display, which is an option on the latest Wrangler. This used Jeep model does not offer the Grand Cherokee SUV’s 12-way power front seats, though.
This smaller used Jeep SUV can match its big brother for reliability; the 2021 and 2022 Jeep Cherokee have a “Great” J.D. Power Quality & Reliability rating of 82 out of 100,6, 7 and the 2020 model has a “Great” J.D. Power Quality & Reliability rating of 85 out of 100.8
So we’ve seen what a city-handling, off-road-ready used Jeep SUV like the Cherokee can do. Imagine if you could bring it all into an even more affordable, even more agile package. What you’re picturing is the Jeep Compass. This compact Jeep SUV is a star for those who want a portion of the all-terrain-loving Jeep life but also need a smooth, safe, and small SUV for their city commutes.
The second generation Jeep Compass — 2017 model year to today — is the most popular and offers very similar specs across all model years. However, the 2023 model made a few changes: a new 2.0-liter turbo engine with 200 horsepower is standard (it replaces the previous 180-horsepower 2.4-liter engine), 4×4 capabilities are now standard, and efficiency has increased to an EPA-estimated 24/32 MPG (city/highway).9
The latest Jeep Compass is the most efficient used Jeep SUV that isn’t a plug-in hybrid. And it packs a practical punch with five seats, up to 100 cubic feet of passenger volume, 59.8 cubic feet of cargo volume, and a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.1
The familiar Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, and Cherokee trims are here, including the Sport, Latitude, Altitude, Trailhawk, Limited, and High Altitude. But, this used Jeep model offers one unique addition: The charity-supporting (RED) Edition, which sits in between the Limited and High Altitude trims for price and features.
Speaking of features, the 2023 Compass has a larger infotainment system than the Cherokee: A standard 10.1-inch Uconnect® 5 touch-screen display. But earlier models have a standard 8.4-inch version. However, this latest Compass has standard six-way manual front seats vs. the 2023 Cherokee SUV’s eight-way power front seats. With a standard Active Lane Management System and more, the Compass serves as the used Jeep SUV that puts cutting-edge tech and power first.
With models like the 2020 Jeep Compass earning a “Great” J.D. Power Quality & Reliability rating of 82 out of 100,10 and the 2021 model receiving a “Great” J.D. Power Quality & Reliability score of 81 out of 100,11 you can count on the Compass to be a reliable used Jeep SUV.
Suppose you like the Compass but want its features and luxuries in a more fun, stylish, and personality-filled package. In that case, the Renegade is the used Jeep SUV for you. It has a very similar price to the Compass, whether new or used. But, the Renegade is the smallest used Jeep model. The Renegade is built in Melfi, Italy, and even serves as a police car for the Carabinieri. It’s built to serve any driver’s sense of adventure, too.
The Renegade has a spacious interior that combines the iconically-American Jeep-brand toughness with the Dolce Vita spirit of Italy. It offers you a modern and intricately-detailed cabin with five seats, 100 cubic feet of passenger space, and up to 50.8 cubic feet of cargo room. You’ll also get up to 2,000 pounds of towing power1 from the standard 177-horsepower 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine.
The latest model has standard 4×4 capabilities, but past years had standard 2WD. Delivering an EPA-estimated 23/29 MPG,12 the 2023 Renegade is beaten only by the Compass for non-hybrid used Jeep MPGs. However, a 2022 Renegade with 2WD can tie the Compass with an EPA-estimated 24/32 MPG.13
The used Jeep trims we’ve seen above are here. The Renegade comes as a Latitude, Trailhawk, Limited, (RED) Edition, or Altitude trim model but also offers a unique Upland trim with off-road features and on-road luxuries.
For feature comparisons, the Renegade is near-equal to the Compass and offers many Cherokee model features. For example, both the Compass and Renegade have standard six-way manual front seats and a six-speaker sound system. The Renegade has a standard 8.4-inch Uconnect® 4C NAV touch-screen display (same as the Cherokee; Compass has a larger screen but no standard navigation). The latest Renegade has a standard Lane-Departure Warning Plus system, while the latest Compass has a standard Active Lane Management system.
The Renegade is a small used Jeep SUV with big reliability. RepairPal.com gave it an “Excellent” reliability score of 4.0 out of 5.0,14 and claims it has an average annual repair cost of $498.14 By their reporting, the average annual repair cost for all vehicle models is $652,14 making the Renegade a great choice for value-driven drivers.
You are now armed with the knowledge of which used Jeep model is which, so there is only one thing left to do: visit DESOTO CDJR for a test drive. Swing by today and explore the model you like the most in our selection-filled, competitively-priced used Jeep inventory. Get behind the wheel of your favorite model and explore its luxuries and features for yourself. For any further information on our lineup of used Jeep vehicles, don’t hesitate to contact our team of Jeep experts. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
The Wrangler is one of the most reliable off-road SUVs and Jeep models, earning a “Great” J.D. Power Quality & Reliability rating of 86 out of 1002 with its 2022 model. You can be confident in any used Jeep vehicle. Other Jeep models are comparably reliable, including the 2020 Jeep Cherokee with its “Great” J.D. Power Quality & Reliability rating of 85 out of 100.8
While the specific lifespan of a Jeep vehicle depends on many factors, including the model, the typical Jeep vehicle can last for around 200,000 miles when properly maintained, cared for, and driven smoothly. Other factors that will affect a vehicle’s lifespan include driving conditions (i.e., off-road driving vs. paved-road commuting), climate conditions, driving habits, and more.
Used Jeep vehicles are great and dependable SUVs (or trucks) that will provide years of fun, adventurous driving. They’re affordable to buy and retain their value very well (popular models like the Wrangler are especially strong at this). Used Jeep vehicles handle terrain conditions that would make others turn back, get you there with more room for family and cargo, and offer all that with the latest features on top.
1When properly equipped. See dealer for details.
2Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit: https://www.jdpower.com/cars/2022/jeep/wrangler
3Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit: https://www.jdpower.com/cars/2021/jeep/wrangler
4Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit: https://www.jdpower.com/cars/2021/jeep/grand-cherokee