The 2013 Wrangler Unlimited comes in four main trim levels: Sport, Sport RHD, Sahara and Rubicon. Sport acts as the base level, giving buyers the legendary off-road capabilities of the Wrangler with an extra pair of doors. The Sport RHD tosses in a removable hard top and a few extra creature comforts. The Sahara trim level adds a touch of class to the inside and outside of the wrangler. The Rubicon maintains the Sahara’s class on the inside and pairs it with a more rugged-looking exterior. All three trim levels share the same 285-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 engine and four-wheel drive.
Few SUVs can match the Wrangler’s off-road capabilities and cult-like following, but there is a handful of SUVs that are close competitors. The Wrangler’s most formidable foe comes in the form of the Toyota FJ Cruiser, which boast styling just as rugged as the Wrangler Unlimited, a 4.0-liter V-6 engine with 260 horsepower and a 5,000-pound towing capacity. Next up in the list is the 2012 Nissan Xterra, which features a 261-horsepower, 4.0-liter V-6, a 5,000-pound towing capacity and a standard automatic transmission. Next up is the 2013 Honda Pilot, which hauls up to eight people and a 4,500-pound trailer, features a 250-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine and an automatic transmission.
As you can see, the competition ranges widely, as the Wrangler Unlimited really doesn’t have many direct competitors, only SUVs that are somewhat similar. With the shift toward people hauling and away from off-road capabilities in the SUV realm, can the Wrangler Unlimited keep up with its competitors?