4th place : Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara
At Jeep, no one seems to know the definition of "compromise". In a strictly off-road competition, the Jeep Wrangler would most likely have won or at least battled fiercely for the top honors. But here's the thing: very few consumers buy a vehicle solely for trail driving. The models we put to the test also had to prove their worth in normal driving conditions, like on the highway.
To be fair, though, in daily use, the new generation of the Wrangler is light-years ahead of its predecessor in terms of comfort and quality. The ride is much smoother, the transmission is more efficient and the engine is both pleasant in normal circumstances and capable when pushed hard. That said, you have to be a hardcore off-road enthusiast if you intend to use this vehicle for several tens of kilometers. The suspension is rigid and literally makes the Jeep quiver, regardless of road conditions.
Road noises are aplenty and coming from everywhere. The off-road grade of the standard tires is one explanation. Furthermore, although the engine delivers solid torque, accelerations can be measured with a calendar instead of a chronometer. Passing maneuvers are just as slow. Finally, visibility is not a concept this Jeep seems to grasp.
However, in off-road challenges, the Wrangler fears nothing and never disappoints. No stream is deep enough, no trail is sandy enough and no climb is steep enough; this vehicle overcomes obstacles with disconcerting ease.
This fourth place is the result of a split decision: true Jeep lovers would have put it near the top if it were a better all-around vehicle. But then, it would no longer be a Jeep.
"When you sit behind the wheel, you quickly realize that a Jeep is not only a vehicle, it's also a lifestyle." - Marc Bouchard
At Jeep, no one seems to know the definition of "compromise". In a strictly off-road competition, the Jeep Wrangler would most likely have won or at least battled fiercely for the top honors. But here's the thing: very few consumers buy a vehicle solely for trail driving. The models we put to the test also had to prove their worth in normal driving conditions, like on the highway.
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To be fair, though, in daily use, the new generation of the Wrangler is light-years ahead of its predecessor in terms of comfort and quality. The ride is much smoother, the transmission is more efficient and the engine is both pleasant in normal circumstances and capable when pushed hard. That said, you have to be a hardcore off-road enthusiast if you intend to use this vehicle for several tens of kilometers. The suspension is rigid and literally makes the Jeep quiver, regardless of road conditions.
Road noises are aplenty and coming from everywhere. The off-road grade of the standard tires is one explanation. Furthermore, although the engine delivers solid torque, accelerations can be measured with a calendar instead of a chronometer. Passing maneuvers are just as slow. Finally, visibility is not a concept this Jeep seems to grasp.
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However, in off-road challenges, the Wrangler fears nothing and never disappoints. No stream is deep enough, no trail is sandy enough and no climb is steep enough; this vehicle overcomes obstacles with disconcerting ease.
This fourth place is the result of a split decision: true Jeep lovers would have put it near the top if it were a better all-around vehicle. But then, it would no longer be a Jeep.
"When you sit behind the wheel, you quickly realize that a Jeep is not only a vehicle, it's also a lifestyle." - Marc Bouchard
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