There's nothing fancy about the Jeep Wrangler.

It's not as fast or sexy as a sports coupe. It's not as cargo-friendly as a hatchback or as comfortable as a sedan. And it's not as imposing as a full-size pickup truck.

But there's nothing else like the iconic Jeep, and that's what makes it truly special. Ask owners why they bought their Wranglers and the answer will be the same: no other vehicle offers the open-air thrill of the legendary Jeep. It's an American icon, a symbol of outdoor ruggedness, and one of the best off-roading vehicles to be found anywhere in the world.

If you want one, there's really only one question: how exactly do you want it?

In 2007, Jeep addressed the Wrangler's major shortcomings with the four-door Unlimited model. Riding on an extended wheelbase, the Unlimited adds useful rear seats and much more cargo space, and has proven to be a popular choice for Jeep owners requiring more practicality in their vehicle. It's still a Wrangler, but there's something decidedly mature and grown-up about it, in contrast to the carefree two-door. Perhaps the best way to describe the Unlimited is that it's the sports sedan of Jeeps: half fun-loving runabout, half family vehicle. It's not the classic Jeep that we know and love, but it's the next best thing.

Of course, the decisions don't end after you choose the number of doors. Do you want the Sunrider Soft Top, which can be folded open up front, dropped like a convertible, or removed completely? Or do you want the three-piece Freedom Top, which can be removed in pieces? Better yet, why not order both? All you need is a garage in which to store the extra pieces, and a friend to help you switch the tops every once in a while.

While you're at it, don't forget the removable full-height and half-height doors and the folding windshield. Add it all up, and there are roughly 60 different configurations for the Wrangler and 128 for the Wrangler Unlimited.

If you can imagine how much fun it would be coming up with your top-10 favourite setups, then a Wrangler might be in your future.

Design

Now in its third generation, the Wrangler was previously known as the YJ and TJ. As such, some owners refer to the current model by its "JK" body designation. Compared to the retired TJ, the Wrangler is bigger and noticeably wider, with a strong and planted stance and smoother exterior lines.

To make room for the extra doors, Jeep stretched the Wrangler Unlimited's wheelbase by 523 mm. Otherwise, the dimensions are nearly identical to the two-door model in every respect.

Equipped with a hard top, the Wrangler Unlimited is a rectangle on wheels. It looks great if you're a Jeep driver who needs the extra doors and cargo space, but may seem long and ungainly to everyone else. It looks best with the top off and the optional half-height, windowless doors, which give it the profile of a pickup truck.

For its part, the two-door Wrangler looks great in virtually every configuration. It's purposeful and well-planted, with throwback details such as the engine-hood clips and oversized fenders.

Inside, the Wrangler's upright dashboard gets the standard Chrysler control layout in rugged and sturdy plastic. It's not fancy and it doesn't need to be.

Performance

Under the hood the Wrangler features a 3.8-litre V-6 pushing 202 horsepower and 237 foot-pounds of torque. It's a reasonable powerplant, but doesn't duplicate the awesome torque delivery of the beloved 4.0-litre inline-six from the previous generation.

The standard six-speed manual transmission's shifter and clutch are light and relatively easy to operate. A nice function is the ability to disable the clutch-start interlock by pulling a fuse, which enables the Wrangler to start in gear. Anyone interested in serious off-roading will definitely appreciate this feature.

Compared to the retired TJ, the Wrangler has a much-improved suspension that provides a more stable and comfortable ride, though it's still not on par with a car-based crossover SUV. Turns are wide and understeer is noticeable, but in general the Wrangler navigates city streets without difficulty, delivering reasonable on-road performance.

Jeep's Command-Trac shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system is standard equipment, and top-end Rubicon models get the awesome Rock-Trac system for unparalleled off-road manoeuvring.

Environment

For quick, open-air goodness, the Sunrider soft top's front panel folds back to create a giant sunroof, and the hard-plastic Freedom Top's front panels can be removed separately or together. Alternatively, you might want to leave the front panels on while removing the back canopy...there are a ton of options to consider.

The front bucket seats are very firm, as are the rectangular headrests that are surprisingly uncomfortable. Set at odd (and unadjustable) angles, the headrests have a tendency to dig into the back of the occupants' heads.

Along with its extra doors, the Unlimited gains a three-person, 60/40-split bench in place of the Wrangler's two-seat bench, as well as a ton of cargo space. If you need to move lots of people or gear on a regular basis, there's really no question as to which version you need.

The cargo area is easy to access thanks to the side-swinging tailgate, but it can be hard to get at with the soft top installed, as the crossbar gets in the way. Both versions benefit from a useful underfloor storage bin.

Features

The Wrangler starts at a very friendly $19,095, while the Unlimited is $23,495. Both are available in Sport, Sahara and Rubicon trim levels, and the base Sport can be had with a Mountain appearance package.

True to form, the Sport is a basic Jeep with minimal standard features such as ABS, fog lamps, six-speaker CD stereo, cruise control, traction control, Electronic Stability Program, Hill Start Assist, and front/side airbags.

Options include the Trac-Lok and Tru-Lok rear differentials, Sway Bar disconnect, half-frame doors, side steps, air conditioning, power locks and windows, Media Centre stereo upgrades and side airbags. The Sahara and Rubicon add some of these and other items as standard equipment.

With the six-speed manual transmission, fuel efficiency is rated at 14.1 litres/100 kilometres in the city and 10.8 l/100 km on the highway.

Thumbs up

Top-down excitement; balanced on- and off-road handling; numerous configurations.

Thumbs down

Unlimited's ungainly exterior dimensions; uncomfortable headrests.

The bottom line

A Jeep for all seasons.

Competitors

Honda Element

The Element starts at $26,990 and is powered by a 2.4-litre inline-four with 166 h.p. and 161 foot-pounds of torque. It's not even close to the Wrangler when it comes to off-road capability, but is vastly superior for cargo-carrying applications.

Aside from ongoing styling tweaks (including ditching the ugly plastic fenders), little has changed about the Element over the years.

Nissan XTerra

Starting at $33,698, the XTerra features a 4.0-litre V-6 generating 261 h.p. and 281 foot-pounds of torque, and comes with either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission.

While it's not as fun-loving as the Wrangler, the XTerra is a more practical choice than the Jeep. Of course, if practicality is your goal, there are likely better choices than both.

Toyota FJ Cruiser

The FJ Cruiser can be had for $31,900, with a 4.0-litre V-6 producing 259 h.p. and 270 foot-pounds of torque. It's a solid off-roader that benefits from access-panel rear doors similar to those found on the Element.

Like the Wrangler Unlimited, the FJ Cruiser is intended for drivers who want to stand out on a city street or leave the road behind entirely.