The line forms where the growl echoes. We’re set up beside Camp Jeep at the Houston Auto Show, and the first thing you notice is the 30-degree hill and the calm voice of a pro driver explaining exactly how a Wrangler keeps its cool. We brought the track manager, Nick Hoy, into the hot seat to decode the six-obstacle course, the Wrangler 392’s idle climb, and why a single button for sway bar disconnect can be the difference between spinning and sticking.

From there, we open the hood on modern off-road tech without the buzzwords. Nick walks us through the electronic lockers, Off-Road Plus, and the front-facing camera that turns a blind crest into a confident line. It’s a clean progression from the old days of manual hubs and pliers in the mud to quick, precise controls on the dash. We talk Gladiator, poke at the Grand Cherokee’s air suspension and skid plates, and admit that not every model is meant to crab-walk a rock garden. Still, capability shows up across the Jeep lineup, and the indoor course proves it in minutes.

We shift gears into memory lane with Jeff’s Car Culture: a countdown of the best-selling American vehicles of all time. The Model T’s assembly-line revolution, the Chevrolet Impala’s long reign, Silverado and Ram solidifying the truck era, and the F-Series towering over all—each nameplate marks a chapter in how America drives and works. The list is a conversation starter, and yes, the Oldsmobile Cutlass earns its spot.

To turn inspiration into miles, we map five spring road trips that reward any capable car or SUV: the flowered overlooks of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Montana’s Going-to-the-Sun Road drama, the quiet curves of the Natchez Trace, shoulder-season serenity on Pacific Coast Highway, and a burst of Texas bluebonnets along the Willow City Loop. These routes pair perfectly with a fresh set of tires, a full tank, and a curious mind.

If you’re at NRG Center, follow the signs to Camp Jeep for a guided ride, then swing through the indoor display to poke around the screens and seats—including the head-turning TRX. Listening from afar? Tap follow, share the show with a fellow gearhead, and leave a review with your pick: which Jeep would you take up that 30-degree hill?

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