2009 Jeep Wrangler

Off-roading. You hear about it, you see it in commercials, and you know it sells SUVs. Not nearly as many people ever actually tackle the wilderness, but those who do have long known the one SUV best suited for the job. You're looking at it.

What makes the Jeep Wrangler such a talented trailblazer? Pure, uncompromised dedication. Check out its hardware -- it's got all the right tools for the job. Dual live axles. Super-knobby tires. A scant 95-inch wheelbase and a vast 10-plus inches of ground clearance. The top-of-the-line Rubicon model even throws in detachable front and rear stabilizer bars for extra wheel articulation on wildly uneven terrain. Bottom line: if the Wrangler can't get you through it, nothing can.

The moment you return to the pavement, however, the Wrangler's weaknesses start showing rather quickly. Every bump sends the body rocking or jerking. Around corners, the tires slip like they're on ice. Acceleration is asthmatic from the 205-horsepower pushrod V6, and once up to speed, the wind roars loudly through the flimsy plastic top (a "Freedom" hardtop is also available). Oh, and don't expect much more than 15 MPG.

Surprisingly, all of this doesn't necessarily add up to an unpleasant SUV. The Wrangler is still easy and accurate to drive, and it feels appropriate butch as it moves about. The interior looks rugged in a bare-bones sort of way, and the driver's seat can fit even the tallest members of the human species. The cargo hold might be near-useless and the soft top is a pain in the ass, but the back seat has decent space, and anyone needing more can buy the 21-inches-longer Wrangler Unlimited. Think about that: a four-door, four-seat convertible that can go anywhere. And has removable doors. And a folding windshield.

But then, anyone who doesn't need all this ruggedness and capability can easily find a more well-rounded SUV than the Wrangler. The almost-as-capable Nissan Xterra comes to mind (more space, comfort, performance, refinement), as do the countless ranks of more efficient car-like SUVs. Still, there's something to be said about being able to do one thing better than anyone else.