Does the Jeep Wrangler Have Any Competitors?

We all know that the Wrangler is the obvious choice for off-roading fun, but perhaps that’s partly a result of not having anyone else in the running.

Sure, there are other vehicles to take off road, and there are other SUVs, but can you think of one currently on the market that comes with a removable top and doors? Neither can anyone else.

When asked about the Wrangler’s lack of competition, Jalopnik‘s Doug DeMuro recently offered two very good reasons: “Number one, you can’t topple the king. And number two, nobody really cares about this as much as Jeep does.”

Basically, DeMuro contends that every other automaker knows that the Wrangler can’t be removed from the throne, at least not without a ton of effort and money. When you’re trying to commit auto regicide, that’s just the rules of the realm.

And DeMuro’s second point is that no automaker cares enough to put up such a fight, or more importantly, to sustain such a fight. Because in the grand scheme of things, it really means nothing to Toyota if the FJ dies out, or to Nissan if the Xterra fails, but if Jeep doesn’t maintain the Wrangler’s position, where does that leave the brand as a whole?

It’s an interesting point, indeed. And the column is certainly worth a read. Plus, it’s kind of fun to think of all the so-called competitors who have since bowed down to the king: the FJ, the Xterra, the Geo Tracker, the Suzuki Samurai, the 2-door, open roof versions of the Kia Sportage and RAV4…

Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>

Via [Jalopnik]

Looking for a good deal on a new Jeep? Get insider information here.