MORE OF THE SAME.(News)(Product/Service Evaluation)

Byline: NATALIE NEFF

For Jeep Wrangler lovers, the Unlimited lets you have your johnnycake and eat it, too

Jeep Wrangler owners know what it means to rough it. They spend their vacations camping and trail riding, brushing their teeth in the crisp mountain air and sometimes wearing the same pants for days on end. Oh, and they jamboree, which we think has something to do with many Wrangler owners getting together to wear the same pants for days on end.

It's an honest life, devoid of the big-city hullabaloo that dominates the rest of the year. That is why these owners prefer the Wrangler: It's an honest vehicle, purposeful and never superfluous. No power tops, no nav systems (a compass will do) and no fancy-pants styling.

Jeep, however, is about to throw these stalwarts a curveball. It is called the Wrangler Unlimited, and while it still doesn't have a power top, it does offer two ways to let the sunshine it. The Unlimited's soft top, called Sunrider, still allows you to unzip, unsnap and pry off the whole canvas shebang, but you can now fold back just the front section, giving your little off-roader a sort of sunroof effect.

The driver and front passenger enjoy a 45-inch-by-23-inch access to the elements with the Sunrider thusly deployed, while the rest of the passengers-and jamboreeing gear-remain sheltered.

Speaking of ...