Oh, I love mudding.
Honestly having driven and riden in my cousin's in all type of weather, it's no more loud then my civic was with rear seat yanked out and exhaust droning like a whore on the highway.
Climate control, that's what windows are for. As for ride it is a 4x4 it will be stiff, I drove a Grand Cherokee with the off road package daily for about a year and a half.
As for gas mileage...it's not that bad imo if you drive reasonably.