2000 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

The Wrangler is Jeep's compact off-roader, the one with the removable top and doors that people cross-shop with nothing else because nothing else does what it does. It's a blast to drive with the top and doors off, and the strong 4WD will get you out of sticky situations, though the ride is rough and noisy on pavement. The interior is simple and basic, with a small back seat that's tight for adults and little cargo space when it's in use, but the rear seat removes easily. Owners note the plastic fender flares fade, the soft top is a pain to put on and off, and you'll hear plenty of rattles, but most are just Jeep quirks. Stepping up from the Sport gets you the Sahara's body-color fender flares and a nicer cloth interior, plus standard air conditioning and a center console that the base trims skip. The Sahara shares its 4.0L V6 with the Sport, making 181 horsepower and 222 lb-ft of torque, and the five-speed automatic handles the power well on and off the trail, though you'll see 16 mpg combined at the pump.