2012 Jeep Wrangler

When it comes to tackling the most unfriendly off-road terrain, experts unanimously name the iconic 2012 Jeep Wrangler (Base MSRP: $22,045 to $29,995) as the most capable, hard-core off-road vehicle. Stellar off-road capabilities come with a few compromises, as many reviewers point out.

Critics absolutely love the traditional look, which unmistakably says "Jeep" and immediately conveys the Wrangler's off-road abilities with high ground clearance, very short front and rear departure angles and meaty tires. Car and Driver notes that in relation to Jeep's other offerings, "none of those other so-called Jeeps has anything close to the Wrangler's old-time testosterone levels…we're talking seriously butch here, as well as seriously all-terrain." The Wrangler also boasts some old-school features, like doors that can be removed and a soft-top that can be removed to make it an open-air off-roader.

The Wrangler's true selling point is its off-road prowess. Edmunds.com calls it "pretty much unstoppable in off-road situations…thanks to its specialized hardware," which includes low-range four-wheel drive, front and rear locking differentials, an optional limited slip differential and hill-start assist for the manual transmission. And The Detroit News notes that while the Wrangler is tuned "for all of that crazy wheel articulation off-road," it still "provides a smooth ride on the highway and country roads."

For decades the Jeep Wrangler had a basic, low-rent interior, but that trend reversed direction with its 2011 redesign that brought a new center console, upgraded interior materials and modern creature comforts that were once absent. For instance, the Wrangler can now be had with power mirrors, steering wheel-mounted controls and heated seats, among other things, leading Motor Trend to call it "the most refined Wrangler cabin ever." Other modern crossovers are still more comfortable, but the upside is that, as Edmunds.com puts it, the Wrangler is "still a vehicle meant to drive through dust, dirt and muck and then be easily cleaned afterwards."

The Wrangler comes in either two-door or four-door configurations (the latter known as the Wrangler Unlimited), and can be had in three trim levels: Sport, Sahara and Rubicon. Standard equipment on the base Sport trim level is relatively basic; it gets a CD player and steering-wheel controls, but it still lacks other conveniences like power windows, locks and air conditioning. The higher trim levels benefit from mostly mechanical upgrades in the form of beefier suspensions, bigger tire and wheel combinations, heavy-duty axles and four-wheel drive systems. Four-wheel drive is standard on all versions of the Wrangler.

One option of particular interest is the hardtop, which adds much-needed security from thieves, not to mention a much quieter ride on the road. Furthermore, it alleviates the burden of lowering and raising the soft-top, which some reviewers say is cumbersome and bulky to work with.

Overall, the interior is improved but still not the most comfortable or convenient for passengers. The two-door version has seating for two in the rear, but legroom is in short supply, and back seat access is a real chore with the hardtop installed. The four-door version alleviates this problem somewhat, but still isn't the most comfortable place to be. The lack of a telescoping steering wheel and limited fore/aft adjustment on the driver's seat make it awkward to find a comfortable driving position. Finally, there are limited storage options (read: only a glovebox), though with the rear seats removed the Wrangler Unlimited can hold an impressive 86 cubic feet of cargo.

The biggest update for the 2012 Wrangler is the arrival of Chrysler's 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, which provides a burly 283 horsepower and 260 pounds-feet of torque, a huge leap over its anemic predecessor. Motor Trend says that the engine "offers excellent response and a noticeable improvement in power," and that it "sounds much more upscale than the coarse 3.8-liter." The new engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission that The Detroit News calls "extremely smooth." A new five-speed automatic transmission is available as well.

Best of all, fuel economy is improved by the new, more powerful engine. Regardless of transmission choice, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the Wrangler will achieve 17 mpg city/21 mpg highway/18 mpg. This isn't particularly high relative to other SUVs, but it's much better than the 2011 model.

Compared to more conventional SUVs and crossovers, the Jeep Wrangler has rather long braking distances and quite a bit of body roll when taking faster corners. The tires generate a fair amount of road noise as well.

The Wrangler has lower crash-test scores than most SUVs today, rating just Poor to Marginal in IIHS side-impact tests and Marginal in IIHS rear-impact evaluations. (NHTSA hasn't crash tested the Wrangler.) Antilock brakes, traction control, stability control and front airbags are standard safety equipment, but side airbags are optional.

Overall, the Jeep Wrangler isn't the best everyday on-road SUV by any measure, but it's one of the most capable vehicles around when it leaves the pavement for more adventuresome terrain.