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I was behind the wheel of a fully off-road equipped Jeep with an undulating open field stretching away in front of me, 4,000 rpm on the tach in third gear, three more cogs waiting in the box and the speedometer -- it was barely off its peg.

Well I didn't say it was exciting. In fact if I'd made it all the way into sixth gear I still likely wouldn't have reached a speed that would raise the ire of a nanny in a school zone.

A 2005 Jeep TJ Unlimited with its four-wheel-drive transfer case locked in low range isn't about speed; it's about applying multiplied torque to dirt in such a way as to give you the ability to get just about anywhere you might conceivably want to go.

This is what Jeeps were all about in the beginning, before they became "sport utility vehicles" and acquired such things as a comfortable ride, power windows and rear-seat DVD entertainment systems. Okay, even these versions can still get you into some unlikely places; they are still Jeeps after all. But if you're really serious about off-roading, the TJ is still the weapon of choice.

The TJ is the spiritual successor to those old GI Jeeps that formed the basis for the brand's legendary off-road performance and it remains an unabashedly rugged vehicle that makes few concessions to on-road civility.

The basic TJ was joined last year by an extended wheelbase model called the TJ Unlimited. The ultra-serious Rubicon version is named for the Rubicon Trail, a challenging Northern California track famous among the off-road fraternity.

The TJ Unlimited has essentially the same rugged ladder frame underneath as the basic model, but it's stretched 250 mm and with a wider track front and rear along with a few millimetres more ground clearance. Mounted on this is a two-door body that's 381 mm longer, providing 325 mm more interior room.

Where the TJ offers 258 litres of cargo space with the seat up and 1,209 litres with it down, the Unlimited provides 799 litres and 1,792 litres, respectively. The Unlimited can also tow trailers up to 1,588 kg, or 680 km more than the standard TJ.

Suspension is by Dana model 44 rigid axles (both fitted with air-operated Tru-lok locking differentials) front and rear, coil springs and gas shocks. It has skid plates under the fuel tank and transfer case.

Brakes are discs all round and steering is power-assisted recirculating ball. The 16-inch cast aluminum wheels are shod with gnarly-treaded, 245/75R16 Goodyear Maximum Traction/Reinforced tires.

Powering the Rubicon is a 4.0-litre inline six with pushrod-operated overhead valves that makes 190 hp at 4,600 rpm and 235 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm. This was backed by a six-speed manual gearbox in our tester, but a four-speed automatic is available.

The four-wheel-drive system is the traditional type that requires hefty tugs on a lever to shift the Rock-Trac transfer case from two-wheel-drive to four-wheel-drive high or low range, the latter delivering an ultra-low 4:1 drive ratio. In first gear, you're barely moving.

The Rubicon tested came with the soft-top, CD sound system, tilt steering, carpeting, wind-up windows, non-power mirrors, a console with cup holders, a padded roll bar, fog lamps and a full-size spare on an outside carrier.

Options included a removable hardtop, air conditioning, auto-dimming mirror with compass and outside temperature readouts, leather-wrapped wheel, traction control, and locking filler cap.

The base price for the TJ Unlimited is $33,250, but this one, including destination charges and A/C tax, was tagged at $37,530.

Think of the Rubicon as a TJ on steroids, with its familiar shape looking tall and blocky and requiring a very high step up and over a deep sill. Once in there, you find yourself in a seat that actually holds your body in place quite well.

The dash layout places a full suite of gauges ahead of a large-diameter wheel, with a separate centre stack to the right holding the radio and simple climate controls. It's all a bit rudimentary and this is the first vehicle I've been in for years that reveals a little bare metal -- down at floor level.

The upsizing also means there's a worthwhile 50 mm more rear seat legroom. Getting in there is awkward, but it will hold two. Highway sound levels are bearable with the windows up, but with them down it sounds like you're riding in an enthusiastically beaten bass drum with a loose skin.

Some vibration finds its way through the steering wheel, ride is not far short of brutally rough and those coarsely treaded tires produce an ululating whine as they squirm over the pavement.

The motor is smooth, but happier at lower engine speeds as the power and torque peaks suggest. Low-end grunt is its forte and I often used only first, third and sixth gears. Winding it up through the first three produces a 0-100 km/h run in a slow 11.5 seconds, and passing or merging from 80 km/h to 120 km/h, using fourth, requires a long 9.9 seconds.

Then there's, ahem, fuel economy. The EnerGuide numbers are a daunting enough 16.8 litres/100 km city and 11.7 highway, but the real world is much scarier. A 200-km drive at a "normal" Highway 401 speed required almost 30 litres of fuel, with the A/C off.

Its thirst aside, I couldn't help but like this vehicle. It's another of those dwindling few that have real character, and if you're heading off road, the perfect choice.

benglish@globeandmail.ca

Specifications

2005 Jeep TJ Unlimited Rubicon

Type: SUV

Price: $33,250 (as tested, $37,530)

Engine: 4.0-litre, DOHC, inline six

Transmission: Six-speed manual

Output: 190 hp/235 lb-ft of torque

Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 16.8 city/11.7 highway

Alternatives: Jeep Liberty, Ford Escape, Nissan Xterra

Like: Styling, obvious ruggedness, off-road capability

Don't like: Atrocious fuel economy