The Jeep Wrangler excels at being an attention-getter. During a one week test drive of the four- door Wrangler Unlimited 4x4, curiosity seekers were everywhere. The Amp’d exterior paint turned heads just as quickly as this 116-inch wheelbase SUV dispensed with potholes and heavily rutted gravel roads. The Wrangler is one of the absolute best off-road vehicles, but it’s also an everyday road warrior and that’s great for drivers who prefer a non-coddled commute. Wrangler’s forward and side views are great, although the rear view is a bit pinched. Both the 2- and 4-door Wrangler versions are offered in Sport, Sahara, and Rubicon trims.

Powered by a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 285 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 260 pounds-feet of peak torque at 4800 rpm, the test driven Wrangler Unlimited with removable hardtop was fitted with the standard 6-speed manual transmission. (A 5-speed automatic transmission is optional.) The manual transmission’s easy-to-engage clutch is complimented by a precise shifter. Front and rear seats provide firm, but comfortable support. With rear seat folded, the 4-door SUV provides more than 70 cubic feet of stow space. Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4x4 with manual transmission collects estimated mpg of 16 city/21 highway and carries an MSRP of $31,995.