Let's face it: you must have a thing for pain and misery if you drive a Jeep Wrangler on a daily basis. Tight interior, limited access, average accelerations... you kind of get used to it over time, but it doesn't change the fact that this Jeep seems stuck in neutral (and has been since WWII ended 66 years ago) while the rest of the auto industry is surging forward in top gear.
When you want to tackle mountains, swamps and beaches with a more competent machine than a utility ATV, however, I have to admit that the Wrangler has no match. And if you need to sit more than two people comfortably, the Unlimited model is Jeep's modern version of the universal family hauler, with an extra 523 millimetres resulting in decent room for four and a trunk large enough to fit all your camping gear.
Very few ''real'' contenders
Whether you plan to use the Wrangler for work or recreation, very few contenders offer a worthy alternative. The first that comes to mind is the Nissan Xterra, a modern do-it-all SUV achieving a much higher level of comfort, refinement and driving pleasure.
There's also the Toyota FJ Cruiser, whose off-road capabilities have been put on display many times. Problem is, it has only two doors – or three if you count the wiiiide and heeeavy rear hatch. As it stands, though, the FJ boasts roughly the same length and weight as the Wrangler Unlimited while being taller and wider.
All three SUVs are in the 2-ton, 4.0-litre ballpark, but the Japanese duo has one distinct advantage over the American: their DOHC V6 is more advanced, more powerful (by about 60 hp) and generates more torque (+40 lb-ft for the FJ, +50 for the Xterra). That's probably why the Wrangler Unlimited is usually seen in the right lane on highways. But once you have to crawl over an obstacle at ultra-low speed, the Jeep is king.
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| The 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon is ideal for a small family of explorers. (Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |
When you want to tackle mountains, swamps and beaches with a more competent machine than a utility ATV, however, I have to admit that the Wrangler has no match. And if you need to sit more than two people comfortably, the Unlimited model is Jeep's modern version of the universal family hauler, with an extra 523 millimetres resulting in decent room for four and a trunk large enough to fit all your camping gear.
Very few ''real'' contenders
Whether you plan to use the Wrangler for work or recreation, very few contenders offer a worthy alternative. The first that comes to mind is the Nissan Xterra, a modern do-it-all SUV achieving a much higher level of comfort, refinement and driving pleasure.
There's also the Toyota FJ Cruiser, whose off-road capabilities have been put on display many times. Problem is, it has only two doors – or three if you count the wiiiide and heeeavy rear hatch. As it stands, though, the FJ boasts roughly the same length and weight as the Wrangler Unlimited while being taller and wider.
All three SUVs are in the 2-ton, 4.0-litre ballpark, but the Japanese duo has one distinct advantage over the American: their DOHC V6 is more advanced, more powerful (by about 60 hp) and generates more torque (+40 lb-ft for the FJ, +50 for the Xterra). That's probably why the Wrangler Unlimited is usually seen in the right lane on highways. But once you have to crawl over an obstacle at ultra-low speed, the Jeep is king.
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| Whether you plan to use the Wrangler for work or recreation, very few contenders offer a worthy alternative. (Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |