The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Getting a Bad Rap

I recently read a review on a cars.com blog questioning why the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is so popular with families. The Kicking Tires blog post is a review on the Wrangler Unlimited by author Jennifer Geiger. I realize she is a professional automotive journalist with a job to recommend a vehicle that appeals to most people. But I have a different perspective I would like to share. I feel the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited deserves a 2nd opinion. 

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2013/04/why-is-the-jeep-wrangler-unlimited-popular-with-families.html

In the blog post several opinions are made. I would like to share my perspective of those opinions in my version of Counterpoint.  

Point - Counterpoint

"The Wrangler Unlimited is one of the most un-family-friendly SUVs on the market in terms of both comfort and safety."


COUNTERPOINT: "most un-family-friendly SUV" - This family disagrees. We love our Jeep and have shared a lot of wonderful family moments in our Jeep. 

I'm the mother of two boys who are involved in Boy Scouts. Our family loves the outdoors and we like to take our Jeep on camping trips. We also like to explore those rugged trails in the woods and mountains only a Jeep can take your family. We love the fresh air of the great outdoors and the ability to go beyond the paved roads to explore the majestic wilderness mother nature has to offer.

















Our favorite time is the summer (and spring and fall) when we are able to take down the top. Just recently we took the doors off and went for a spin. It was a memorable family experience to share. Although, I'm not sure it's a good idea to drive around the city with the doors off, but certainly on our next trip in the woods we will try it again. 

COUNTERPOINT: "Comfort (lack of)" I have heard this comment over and over again about how bouncy, rough and uncomfortable a Jeep ride can be. I would just like to say, of course it's a rough ride. IT'S A JEEP! It's suppose to be like that. That's why I bought it. And in all fairness -- it's all what you get used to. I don't even feel the rough ride anymore. 

COUNTERPOINT: "Safety" I will admit the Jeep isn't one of Consumer Reports safest vehicles out there. But with any vehicle as long as you use common sense and know the Jeep's capabilities you won't have to find out about the safety.

"The Wrangler Unlimited will not deliver a car full of happy campers: a weekend carting around my family made it clear that the SUV is much better suited for the mountains and mud than garages and grocery runs."

COUNTERPOINT: "Unhappy campers"  My Jeep is full of happy campers. Just recently a

group of boys at our campsite asked if they could have a ride in my Jeep. I also took my youngest son and his friends on an off-road adventure that they will never forget.

Of course the Jeep is better suited for the mountains and mud, it's what it was made for. As for the garage, my Jeep is just fine parked in our garage and there is plenty of room leftover for my husband's Chevy Avalanche as well. However, once I decide to finally modify my Jeep by adding bigger tires and a lift it might not fit into our garage, but the payoff will be well worth it. 

COUNTERPOINT: "Grocery Runs" My grocery store is less than 5 miles from the house which I suspect most people are in that same boat. I tend to run my errands to the grocery store, post office and bank by myself. I don't think it matters what vehicle you are in, if you take your kids on any of these trips you will most always have fighting and whining. So that problem is easy to solve. Do these grocery store runs by yourself with the top down and radio on full blast. It's a great stress reliever. 







"The Unlimited's two-piece lift gate is awkward to use when loading grocery bags and anything bigger. When parallel parked, the side-hinged bottom section of the tailgate is difficult to open without dinging the car behind you."

COUNTERPOINT: "Loading groceries" I have had no issues loading my groceries. Since I shop by myself I have plenty of room in the back seat and in the back of the Jeep. With the use of reusable grocery bags, the straps make for easy swinging of the bags into the back of the Jeep.





COUNTERPOINT: "Parallel parked... dinging the car behind you" I'm not sure where anyone parallel parks anymore especially when shopping. It seems small business has been taken over by the shopping mall and strip mall so parallel parking has gone away along with the rotary telephone.

"Some buyers are willing trade comfort for coolness. To my family, however, it's not a worthy trade-off."

COUNTERPOINT: "trade comfort for coolness" I didn't trade for coolness. I wanted something fun and adventurous for our outdoorsy family. As for trading in comfort I would say we did the opposite. We traded from the Dodge Journey for the Jeep. The Jeep offers more leg room and space for my boys in the back seat. 

COUNTERPOINT: "Coolness" It isn't a coolness factor but a "fraternity" factor. When you are the owner of a Jeep you become part of a very unique family of friends. You share a common love for something that no one else understands. You make friends for a lifetime you wouldn't with any other class of car. Like the saying goes "It's a Jeep Thing."

My Jeep has changed my life. It has opened up doors I would have never encountered. It has given me joy, adventure and a new appreciation for life. I look forward everyday to finding that new adventure to take with my Jeep whether it's to the grocery store with the top down or wheelin through the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania.


During the next 10 days I will reveal my Top 10 reasons why you should be a Jeep owner. It's been an amazing year and I look forward to the many years of adventure that await my family and I in my Jeep. 

           -- Simple Living! -- Enjoying Life! -- The Jeep Momma Way --