Cars
And don't act as though interior capacity isn't a reason to buy the Wrangler Unlimited. When contrasted with the regular-wheelbase Wrangler, it's the only reason. Seats up, the Unlimited has 163% more capacity for camping gear. With the rear seats down, the Unlimited has 91% more cargo volume. Not that we're submitting the Escape as a Wrangler Unlimited rival, but the Ford has three fewer cubic feet of cargo volume.
The Wrangler's other attributes? It will take you through flooded valleys and up snow-covered mountain trails. This much you knew.
You also know that it looks like a Jeep: iconic, influential, memorable, and nearly mythical in its status as an off-roader. Perhaps it's not your cup of tea, but factually speaking, it is a do-it-all SUV. To end up as a vehicle that's capable of so much more than you need it to be, Jeep needed the Wrangler Unlimited to make some sacrifices. Some are more difficult to accept than others; none are insurmountable.
Engine: 285 horsepower; 260 lb-ft of torque from a 3.6L V6
Base USD/CAD Price: $25,695 / $30,045
City Fuel Economy: 16 miles per gallon
It's Not Perfect: Highway stability isn't the Wrangler's forte. Maintaining the straight-ahead requires more concentration than in most vehicles. Fuel economy is better than it used to be, but the city figure still makes the Wrangler a difficult pill to swallow for a buyer who's also considering a Kia Sorento or Nissan Pathfinder.
Sales Stats: The Wrangler is one of North America's best-selling SUVs, not just in comparison to other rough-and-tumble bruisers like the Toyota FJ Cruiser (which sells once for every twelve Wranglers) but crossovers like the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot, too.
Viable Alternatives: For those who want to be different, the Toyota 4Runner is more costly, but it's an awfully attractive proposition.
The Bad 8
- 2013's The Good 12 - Land Rover Range Rover - $80,000-$90,000
LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER A November piece written by the unquestionably wise Jack Baruth for TTAC included mostly harsh words for the current state of Land Rover. Baruth shows this photo and explains it this way: "Putting that photo up where PEOPLE...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Chevrolet Suburban - $45,000-$50,000
CHEVROLET SUBURBAN The Chevrolet Suburban's downsides are widely known and easily explained in a nutshell. Suburbans are vast, and while that pays dividends inside, the size of this behemoth sucks, both in parking lots and at the fuel pump. Additionally,...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Ford F-150 Svt Raptor - $40,000-$45,000
FORD F-150 SVT RAPTOR GoodCarBadCar was quick to honour the Ram 1500 range with a Good 12 placement, but for customers aiming to spend a little extra, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is downright irresistable. Sure, an off-road truck isn't every pickup...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Bmw 328i - $35,000-$40,000
BMW 328i Until the F31-generation 3-Series Touring arrives and shows us what rooflines were meant to be, the 3-Series sedan does a fine job of showing us what a luxury car ought to be. BMW is still benefiting from its long cultivation of the 3-Series...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Fiat 500 Turbo - $15,000-$20,000
FIAT 500 TURBO Remember all the times you questioned whether 101 horsepower was enough in a modern automobile? Fiat heard your concerns. The 135-horsepower 500T is no Abarth. This wasn't the car Tracy Chapman was singing about. But it's plenty...
Cars
2013's The Good 12 - Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - $25,000-$30,000
JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED
Strange as it may sound, Jeep's stretched Wrangler is a pleasant place in which to spend time. A decent sound system, ample room, and moderate equipment levels are just the beginning. Visibility, paired with the Wrangler's squared-off corners, makes maneuvering the Unlimited in tight spaces a breeze. Compared to many SUVs with this level of interior capacity, city life in the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is easy.And don't act as though interior capacity isn't a reason to buy the Wrangler Unlimited. When contrasted with the regular-wheelbase Wrangler, it's the only reason. Seats up, the Unlimited has 163% more capacity for camping gear. With the rear seats down, the Unlimited has 91% more cargo volume. Not that we're submitting the Escape as a Wrangler Unlimited rival, but the Ford has three fewer cubic feet of cargo volume. The Wrangler's other attributes? It will take you through flooded valleys and up snow-covered mountain trails. This much you knew.
You also know that it looks like a Jeep: iconic, influential, memorable, and nearly mythical in its status as an off-roader. Perhaps it's not your cup of tea, but factually speaking, it is a do-it-all SUV. To end up as a vehicle that's capable of so much more than you need it to be, Jeep needed the Wrangler Unlimited to make some sacrifices. Some are more difficult to accept than others; none are insurmountable.
-----
Engine: 285 horsepower; 260 lb-ft of torque from a 3.6L V6
Base USD/CAD Price: $25,695 / $30,045
City Fuel Economy: 16 miles per gallon
It's Not Perfect: Highway stability isn't the Wrangler's forte. Maintaining the straight-ahead requires more concentration than in most vehicles. Fuel economy is better than it used to be, but the city figure still makes the Wrangler a difficult pill to swallow for a buyer who's also considering a Kia Sorento or Nissan Pathfinder.
Sales Stats: The Wrangler is one of North America's best-selling SUVs, not just in comparison to other rough-and-tumble bruisers like the Toyota FJ Cruiser (which sells once for every twelve Wranglers) but crossovers like the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot, too.
Viable Alternatives: For those who want to be different, the Toyota 4Runner is more costly, but it's an awfully attractive proposition.
The Good 12
Kia Rio 5-Door - Fiat 500 Turbo - Volkswagen Golf GTI
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - Dodge Ram - BMW 328i
Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Chevrolet Suburban -
Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic Wagon - Porsche Boxster S -
Porsche Cayenne S - Land Rover Range Rover
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - Dodge Ram - BMW 328i
Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Chevrolet Suburban -
Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic Wagon - Porsche Boxster S -
Porsche Cayenne S - Land Rover Range Rover
The Bad 8
Chevrolet Spark - Chrysler 200 Convertible -
Ford Escape Titanium AWD - Honda Crosstour -
Lincoln MKS - Nissan Versa Sedan -
Toyota Corolla CE - Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid
Ford Escape Titanium AWD - Honda Crosstour -
Lincoln MKS - Nissan Versa Sedan -
Toyota Corolla CE - Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid
The Good 12 Rules
- 2013's The Good 12 - Land Rover Range Rover - $80,000-$90,000
LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER A November piece written by the unquestionably wise Jack Baruth for TTAC included mostly harsh words for the current state of Land Rover. Baruth shows this photo and explains it this way: "Putting that photo up where PEOPLE...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Chevrolet Suburban - $45,000-$50,000
CHEVROLET SUBURBAN The Chevrolet Suburban's downsides are widely known and easily explained in a nutshell. Suburbans are vast, and while that pays dividends inside, the size of this behemoth sucks, both in parking lots and at the fuel pump. Additionally,...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Ford F-150 Svt Raptor - $40,000-$45,000
FORD F-150 SVT RAPTOR GoodCarBadCar was quick to honour the Ram 1500 range with a Good 12 placement, but for customers aiming to spend a little extra, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is downright irresistable. Sure, an off-road truck isn't every pickup...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Bmw 328i - $35,000-$40,000
BMW 328i Until the F31-generation 3-Series Touring arrives and shows us what rooflines were meant to be, the 3-Series sedan does a fine job of showing us what a luxury car ought to be. BMW is still benefiting from its long cultivation of the 3-Series...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Fiat 500 Turbo - $15,000-$20,000
FIAT 500 TURBO Remember all the times you questioned whether 101 horsepower was enough in a modern automobile? Fiat heard your concerns. The 135-horsepower 500T is no Abarth. This wasn't the car Tracy Chapman was singing about. But it's plenty...