2013 Best Resale Value Awards: Best Compact SUV/Crossover

Time and time again we've touted the Jeep Wrangler as the go-to vehicle for any type of off-road adventure, but we love that it's tame enough for the everyday drive as well. Have a mountain to climb? No problem. Need a ride to the mall? It can do that too. Want a vehicle that retains more of its value over five years than its competitors? Check.

With plenty of ground clearance, short overhangs, protective skid plates and a 285-horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, the 2-door Jeep Wrangler and its 4-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited sibling are unrivaled when it comes to off-road duty. The V6 can be mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic that garner an EPA estimated 16 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.

The Jeep Wrangler comes standard with a removeable soft cloth top, but those looking for greater isolation can opt for a removable hard top. And when it comes to cleaning up the dirt left over from a weekend of fun, the standard cloth seats help make it easy. As far as driving dynamics, the latest Wrangler is far tamer on-road than its more unforgiving predecessors, making daily errand duty more pleasant than its rugged looks might suggest. But the Wrangler shines brightest off the road, where the most iconic Jeep can easily traverse just about anything you put under it.

The Jeep Wrangler starts at around $23,000 and tops out at about $40,000, offering good resale value across the lineup.