Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2001

Specialty SUV

Winner: Jeep Wrangler

Ever since the original Jeep, the Willys, was created for the U.S. military in the Second World War, it has been synonymous with rugged, off-road performance and adventurous spirit. Today's Wrangler has become essential equipment for anyone who fancies himself an outdoor enthusiast. Whether your gig is surfboards, mountain bikes, kayaks or skis, it all looks cool sticking out of the back or tied to the rollbars of a Wrangler. However, in the not-so-distant past, the cost of that image was frequent and costly repairs, shoddy design, a buckboard ride and a cold and noisy interior. No more -- the 2001 Jeep Wrangler provides an Eddie Bauer attitude without Son of Sam side effects. Start with its engine: unless you're really tight for cash, skip the 2.5-liter, 120 horsepower four-banger in the base Wrangler SE. The 4.0-liter inline six-cylinder is the way to go. Quiet and smooth, its 190 horsepower (@ 4,600 rpm) adequately speeds the relatively light Wrangler over blacktop or chopped-up trail. Next, the live solid axle suspension in front and back provides a ride that is surprisingly quiet and car-like. Also, new soft-top materials and a super-snug top fastening system keep the interior draft-free, dry and cozy in bad weather. Interior amenities, such as high-back, cloth bucket seats, carpet, cruise control, tinted glass, air conditioning, efficient heating and a CD player provide comfort and convenience worthy of a mid-level sedan. Yet, off road, the Wrangler is every bit a dirt-chewing, go-anywhere workhorse. The Command-Trac, shift-on-the-fly transfer case is convenient and reliable, allowing shifts from two-wheel to four-wheel drive at speeds up to 55 mph. And in 4WD low, the Wrangler can climb, fjord, traverse or descend almost any obstacle in its path. With the soft top dropped, there isn't an off-road motoring experience that can match it.