2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

The Wrangler is Jeep's iconic off-roader, the one with removable doors and a fold-down windshield that no other SUV really matches. On pavement, the ride is truck-like and the cabin is noisy, especially with the soft top, so it's not the cruiser you'd pick for a long highway trip. The two-door's back seat is tight for adults and cargo space is minimal, but the four-door Unlimited gives you room for people and gear. The Rubicon is the Wrangler built for serious off-roading, with locking differentials and a disconnecting sway bar that the Sport and Sahara don't have. Its 3.6L V6 makes 285 horsepower and pairs with a six-speed manual, giving you low-end grunt for crawling over rocks and enough highway pace to keep up with traffic. The trade-off is the ride: the Rubicon's off-road suspension and knobby tires mean a firmer, noisier experience on pavement than the Sahara's.