2013 Jeep Wrangler

Jeep's continued evolution of the Wrangler brings better front and rear seats, extra interior lighting, and a standard auto-dimming rearview mirror. Soft tops are easier for one person to manage on Unlimited models, and a premium soft top is easier to clean and keeps the cabin quieter. A limited-edition Moab model based on the Sahara adds off-road touches but doesn't threaten the Rubicon's top-dog status.

The exterior of the 2013 Jeep Wrangler includes 17-inch painted alloy wheels on the Sport, Unlimited Sport, Rubicon, and Unlimited Rubicon models. The Sahara and Sahara Unlimited models come with 18-inch painted alloy wheels. The round headlights of the Jeep Wrangler remain stylistic and classic. Sahara and Unlimited Sahara models include painted finish bumpers and tube running boards. There are numerous color options for the Jeep Wrangler, many of which are a bit unconventional. Color options include several standard colors and crush clear coat, gecko pearl coat, and rock lobster clear coat.

The angles of the Wrangler make it look rough and rugged. When looking at the Wrangler from the side, it has a distinct boxy shape. The Wrangler comes in soft or hard tops. A premium soft top is available that helps reduce the amount of noise in the cabin, and it performs surprisingly well.

The 2013 Jeep Wrangler does not have as many standard features as the competition, but it still tends to be a popular vehicle among consumers. The seating in the Wrangler is comfortable, and there are options for adding leather upholstery and heated seats. The only drawback of the Wrangler seating is the rear seat, which is barely large enough for the average adult. Other interior features for the 2013 Jeep Wrangler includes lighting in the foot base and around cup holders for ease of navigating within the cabin. Other creature comforts include cruise control and audio and cruise control settings on the steering wheel.

The Jeep Wrangler comes standard with a six-speaker audio system that includes an AM/FM/CD radio with MP3 CD capabilities. Audi system also includes an auxiliary jack for integration with other audio devices. The Sahara and Unlimited Sahara models include a seven-speaker premium audio system by Alpine, which includes the addition of a subwoofer. Interior options include air condition and climate control. Other interior options are heated front seats, a smoker's grouping of options, and a UConnect CD/DVD/MP3 and navigation system, which integrates into the console. Air conditioning is standard in all Unlimited models. Overall, the interior is rugged, just as people have come to expect with the Wrangler.

In the two door Wranglers, there are 55 cubic feet of cargo room available by lowering the back seats. Without the seats lowered, the cargo room is around 17.2 cubic feet. In the Unlimited models, the total cubic feet with the rear seats folded down is around 70.6 cubic feet, while standard cargo space is 31.5 cubic feet.

The 2013 Jeep Wrangler comes standard with four-wheel anti-lock brakes, emergency braking assist technology, and electronic brake force distribution for powerful braking ability. Also standard on the Wrangler are supplemental front seat airbags and a passenger detection system. The passenger detection system will determine if a passenger is present and only deploy airbags if needed. Additional safety includes standard fog lights to aid in visibility, tire pressure monitoring system, and traction control.

A post-collision safety system also helps after the event of a collision. Also standard is an automatic dimming rear-view mirror, which reduces the amount of glare from other vehicles. Side airbags are an available option. The Sahara models of the 2013 Jeep Wrangler comes with an anti-theft alarm system to deter would-be thieves. Other than this, the Jeep Wrangler doesn't offer many safety features.

During crash testing conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2013 Jeep Wrangler received a three out of five star rating for overall rollover safety. This is expected from a vehicle that has the convertible option. This is especially true when applied to the soft top versions of the Wrangler. Unfortunately, the NHTSA and other traffic safety groups have not conducted other tests on the 2013 Jeep Wrangler. The Wrangler may not be the safest vehicle, but overall, it offers the standard in safety equipment without any frills.

There are four models for the 2013 Wrangler, and all of these models are going to offer slight differences in performance. That said, all models of the Jeep Wrangler feature a 3.6-liter, V-6 engine that produces 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The estimated fuel economy for the Wrangler is 17/21 mpg city/highway. The Wrangler is available with automatic and manual transmissions.

The Wrangler is a fun drive, but the handling is a bit lackluster. Additionally, drivers and passengers are able to feel bumps on the road. The performance of the V-6 engine is more than enough to get the driver through most terrains, and when combined with four-wheel drive, the Jeep Wrangler is smoother off the road than on the road. As such, the cabin is very noisy and while the premium hard and soft tops available can help reduce noise, it is definitely still loud.

• Nissan Xterra
• Toyota FJ Cruiser