I’ve driven Jeep Wranglers in the past, typically only for a few days at a time and seemingly always in Michigan’s cold, inclement winter weather. While that doesn’t sound like much fun, it’s the best time to test the vehicle’s all-weather capabilities. But part of the SUV’s unique appeal is its all-weather capability: It’s a four-season convertible, the only topless SUV on the market and the only vehicle in the world in which you can remove the doors in less than 5 minutes and drive around completely alfresco.
Related: Research the 2015 Jeep Wrangler
I’d never driven a Wrangler in the summertime; I’d only seen other people driving around in the open air, breeze blowing in their hair (and up their shorts), wearing smiles as wide as the Rubicon Trail is long. This summer, I had to see what the fuss was about and test a Wrangler in the summertime. Along the way, I learned a few things about what it’s like to drive one of the most iconic vehicles in history as a daily driver.
It Really Is as Much Fun as it Looks
My test vehicle was a 2015 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Hard Rock, a nearly $38,000 two-door soft-top model. It’s equipped with far more off-road goodies than most people will ever use, with electronic sway bar disconnect, super-low creeper gear, off-road performance suspension and heavy-duty Dana 44 axles front and rear. On the road, it is terrible to drive – bouncy, darty, loose and floaty, which is exactly like you’d expect a highly capable off-road machine to behave when not off-road. But frankly, none of that matters to buyers.