I am not the Jeep type.

Except for hiking, I'm not much on roughing it, and driving off-road isn't one of my strong points. Camping as a fun getaway on weekends? Give me a five-star hotel and an architectural tour instead.

I thought about all that as I drove around town in a 2009 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited -- and I can honestly say I enjoyed it.

First, it's more comfortable than you might imagine. Sure, it's still bouncy on some Pittsburgh roads, but the ride is not that far removed from a conventional sedan. Second, the Unlimited has four doors, so that makes it more practical. Third, most of the accessories that make driving fun (such as a great sound system) are standard equipment or available on the Unlimited, so it's not a bare-bones, utilitarian driving experience.

Even if you don't go off-roading, Jeep's legendary off-road ability is a big selling point in soon-to-be snowbound Pittsburgh.

Prices for the Unlimited start at $22,215. The Rubicon, the model I tested, starts at $31,346. That price includes electronic roll mitigation, traction control, electronic stability program, a performance suspension, hill start assist, speed control and many other items.

When the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is equipped, as mine was, with options such as automatic transmission, navigation system, Sirius satellite radio, rear window defroster and other items, the price tops out at $36,120.

Mileage for the 3.8-liter, 202-horsepower V-6 is rated at 15 in the city and 19 on the highway.

While you might think the Jeep could be vulnerable in an accident, government ratings say otherwise. The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited has five-star ratings for front crash ratings and a three-star rating in the event of a rollover.

For 2009, there are two new colors (Sunburst Orange Pearl and Deep Water Blue Pearl), an upgraded emissions system, a drop-in bin with coin slots in the full center console and storage nets. But the big news is the addition of trailer sway control as an option and the hill start assist system as standard equipment.

Still, the new Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon looks every bit like a Jeep. There's that familiar seven-slot grille, wheel flares, exposed hinges and round headlights.

The interior is straightforward, with simple gauges and controls. There's adequate room in the back seat and considerably more legroom than what you find on the two-door Wrangler models.

But getting to those seats is something else again. You have a big step up from ground level, even with the running board. Because this car has removable doors, they are mounted on straps, and there are no stops to keep the doors from swinging back on you, especially if you're parked on a hill.

In terms of handling, the Jeep maneuvers well in traffic and is easy to park because of its squared-off shape, although the spare tire blocks rearward vision somewhat.

The Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon has all it needs to bring out the outdoorsiness in all of us.