A longer wheelbase is also meant to provide better road manners and a quieter, more refined ride. Jeep says that thanks to more carpeting in the cargo area, better dashboard padding, and sound dampening under the hood, the Unlimited is also 30-percent quieter. Towing capacity grows to 3,500 lbs. on long-wheelbase Wranglers, an increase in capability of 1,500 lbs.

The grunt responsible for that higher rating originates in a 4-liter PowerTech inline-6 that yields 190 hp. @ 4,600 rpm and 235 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,200. (Standard Wranglers also offer a 147-hp. inline-4 displacing 2.4 liters, but Unlimited models are only fitted with the larger engine.) Additionally, the only transmission offered is a 4-speed automatic with overdrive. A Dana 30 front axle and heavy-duty Dana 44 rear axle help maintain contact with whatever terrain you might tackle. Other off-road essentials include 15-in. aluminum wheels with 30-inch Goodyear Wrangler GSA tires, high-pressure gas shocks, a 3.73 axle ratio, tow hooks, and fog lamps.

Adding length could hamper off-road performance in some conditions, but Jeep has designed the Unlimited to perform as a Wrangler is expected. Aside from being Trail Rated, the Unlimited still maintains a 20-degree breakover angle, which Jeep experts feel is a minimum for serious off-roading. A "Trail Rated" badge indicates that Jeep has thoroughly tested the vehicle on many surfaces and found that it is capable of handling "any obstacle you're likely to encounter." Engineers even promise it will defeat some hurdles that one would never see.