2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara SUV

Jeep's legendary Wrangler has gotten incredibly refined in the last two years. For 2011, an all-new interior made the SUV much more inviting, and now there's an equally impressive engine with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6. Horsepower and torque have never been the highlights of the Wrangler's spec sheet, but 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque mean you will no longer have to apologize for holding up eighteen-wheelers leaving a stoplight. There's a decidedly trucky feeling through the steering wheel thanks to the Wrangler's signature solid axles and relatively long suspension travel. Not many vehicles are capable of hauling five people and a respectable amount of luggage to virtually any destination you can imagine. And no other vehicle can do so while allowing passengers to enjoy the unique open-air experience of driving without a top or doors. Speaking of which, the Wrangler's soft top is somewhat easier to take down and put up than was the case in earlier Wranglers, and you can flip back the front portion to create a makeshift sunroof. The hard top offers additional flexibility and can now be had in body-matching colors. The Wrangler handles every situation, from cruising around the beach to taming the famed Rubicon Trail, with equal ease. Previous Wranglers required a lot of sacrifices from owners and didn't make much sense for daily use, but the 2012 Jeep Wrangler has managed to become civilized enough for the mainstream market without abandoning its off-road heritage or sacrificing capability.