How to Draw a Jeep

This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to draw a Jeep – a truly legendary SUV and one of the most popular symbols of the American automotive industry.

The Jeep is a truly American SUV, as it has in its base everything that characterizes cars from the USA, from appearance to philosophy.

Using the nine stages of this guide, you can illustrate any SUV of this brand, so scroll down the page below and to start.

How to draw a Jeep: step-by-step tutorial

Step 1 – Sketch the Jeep SUV’s tall, boxy silhouette

Mark a long, rectangular body with a high, straight roof. Try to make it tall and massive, as SUVs aren’t low like sports cars. The hood should be flat, the windshield shouldn’t be too sloping, and the rear end should be square and vertical. Even in its general outline, the shape should be recognizable as an SUV.

Step 2 – Outline the wheelbase, windows, and lights

Add two large circles for the wheels at the bottom of the SUV body. Sketch the window line above, stretching almost the full length of the body, and mark out the simple rectangular shapes of the front and rear lights. The proportions should now show a big SUV.

Step 3 – Mark the squared doors and angular fenders

Mark the doors as rectangles with straight edges, then add the windows. After that, sketch the square arches that cover the big tires. Place a side mirror near the front door. Inside the tire shapes, add smaller circles to indicate the rims, which will be detailed later.

Step 4 – Draw out the signature Jeep nose area

Darken the outline of the hood so it looks smooth and strong, then trace the visible square headlight. Under the headlight, draw the bumper of the Jeep SUV in detail, using straight lines. Add the lower cutout below the bumper so it doesn’t look like a plain block.

Step 5 – Trace the roofline and glazing segmentation

Now move to the roof and windows, redrawing the top edges with firm, straight strokes so it looks flat and solid. Trace the outline of the car windows and divide them with vertical lines to show the different panes. Keep the lines straight and clean.

Step 6 – Draw out the Jeep’s rear volumes

Detail the rear of the SUV with straight edges and add the square taillight on the side. Trace the bumper under it, making it thick and strong. Then, sketch the small lamp at the bottom of the bumper and add short decorative lines for a more detailed look.

Step 7 – Trace the SUV’s doors, handles, and skirt

Darken the doors and sketch the small door handles, placing them near the middle of each door of the Jeep. Sketch a line at the bottom to represent the side skirt and lower body protection. These details don’t change the silhouette but make the drawing more realistic and give the vehicle a more detailed look.

Step 8 – Draw the Jeep wheels and alloy rim geometry

Go back to the wheels of the American SUV. Mark the center of each rim, then add the spokes radiating outward like sun rays. Keep the rim design simple and angular, since Jeep wheels are built to be very strong. Add a bit of realism to the rims by sketching bolts around the central hub.

Step 9 – Add reflections and shading to convey mass

Darken the bottom edges and lower faces of the Jeep’s details, inside the wheel arches, and under the bumpers. Shade the windows with lighter strokes so they read as glass. The key is to make the roof and upper panels lighter while the lower parts stay darker. This simple tonal contrast makes this American SUV look slightly more three-dimensional.

Drawing classic and modern Jeep variations

The earliest military Willys MB from the 1940s had a flat hood, open body, and exposed wheel arches. To capture this look in a drawing, try to convey the boxy outline, thin pillars, and minimal detailing.

Later civilian versions like the CJ series carried forward the upright grille and round headlights but added slightly wider fenders and more defined door openings.

The Jeep Wrangler, introduced in the 1980s, is the model most associated with the brand today. Its short wheelbase, pronounced fenders, and removable roof panels are key traits.

Modern Jeep SUVs, such as the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee, bring smoother lines and a more modern shape. To represent these in your sketch, remember about the transition from the squared-off classic look to a sleeker silhouette, while still retaining Jeep’s vertical grille and strong wheel arches.

Any of these versions can be illustrated using this guide as a base, changing the necessary parts, removing what is not needed and adding what is needed.

Other SUVs to draw after Jeep

After practicing with the Jeep, you can also try sketching other well-known SUVs that represent very different design philosophies.

The Cadillac Escalade is another American icon with a recognizable shape and details. It has a massive body with a tall roofline, long wheelbase, and a dominant front grille.

In our Cadillac Escalade drawing tutorial we illustrate this iconic car and talk about the design language of American SUVs.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class (G-Wagen) stands as another example of classic SUV, but from Germany. This design is all about simplicity of form and geometric accuracy.

This car has remained virtually unchanged since its inception, and in this Mercedes Gelendvagen drawing guide, we explain why this is so and share techniques for drawing luxury SUVs.

We discuss the design language of this model and how Tesla uses recognizable shapes in both sports cars and SUVs in our Tesla Model X drawing tutorial.