Until the Toyota FJ Cruiser arrived a couple of years ago, the Nissan Xterra was in a class itself, the only model appealing to young people who not only wanted off-road capability but an interior versatile and rugged enough for taking along equipment.
The FJ Cruiser is even more of a mountain goat off-road, but its interior is tighter and not as useful or versatile as the Xterra's.
The new Wrangler Unlimited is much larger than the model it replaces and upholds much higher standards of safety and refinement than the old one; with its very boxy, rugged styling, it's perhaps the main alternative to the 2008 Nissan Xterra.
Finally, for those who don't need rugged off-roading ability but still want a high-utility, easy-to-clean interior, the fuel-efficient Honda Element might just fit their needs.