2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon

Those who've had a taste of Moab's infamous Hell's Revenge trail know that the ultimate test of one's driving skills (and one's 4x4) is making it out of the southern end of Hell's Gate--a steep, narrow V-shaped ravine carved into the sandstone escarpments that make this area of eastern Utah the ultimate playground for off-roaders.

Many a vehicle has suffered extensive damage as drivers try to climb the steep, technically challenging terrain out of Hell's Gate. A misplaced tire, a little too much power, a momentary loss of traction, or any combination thereof can result in rollovers, broken axles, or crushed body panels.

If you want a fighting chance of getting through, come with a vehicle that has thousands of dollars invested in a trick aftermarket suspension, deeply geared drivetrain, and locking differentials at both ends. Or ease your way through Hell's Gate in the 2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon without spending a dime on aftermarket upgrades.

This newest offering from the Jeep brand is the serious off-roader's dream ride, one that takes four-wheeling to a level never before offered by a vehicle manufacturer. As Jeep says, the Unlimited Rubicon is where "extreme out-of-the-box off-roader meets ultimate 4x4 versatility." A day on the trails around Moab proves there's no hype in that statement.

To the casual observer, the Unlimited edition of the Wrangler Rubicon looks like any other Wrangler. But put the two side by side, and the differences are glaring. The Unlimited is 15 inches longer; 13 added to the cargo area and the other two behind the front seats. This frame-stretching more than doubles the Unlimited's cargo capacity and greatly improves rear-passenger legroom and comfort. The Unlimited stands taller, too, thanks to the 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler LT245/75R16s mounted on five-spoke aluminum wheels.