Jeep Wrangler
The Ungentrified SUV |
By Rick Newman
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Nits: The rear liftgate is confusing, because the glass lifts up while the door swings open to the side, and you have to close the glass before the door to seal it tightly. I'm not always that coordinated.
G forces: For being tall and short, and prone by physics to considerable body roll, the Wrangler feels reasonably stable–better than I expected. You'll never want to attack curves, but the Wrangler can hold most comfortably at the speed limit. The Wrangler isn't fast, but a 202-horsepower V-6 provides decent power without an obscene amount of rumble from the hood.
Gizmology: There are few fancy gizmos in the cockpit. Air conditioning and power windows aren't even standard, a throwback to 10 or 20 years ago. Cargo area in the back is scarce, unless you fold the rear seat flat.
Kidmarks: Kids love Jeeps, but this is not a practical car for families. The back seat is small and a high climb, plus there are few of the basic amenities handy for kids, like cupholders in the rear center armrest.
Hot or not: Hot. No revolutionary design changes here; Jeep has retained the classic, boxy, rugged look. It still works.
Pain at the pump: Considerable. Mileage ranges from 16 mpg/city to 22 mpg/highway.
Crash course: Earns five stars out of five in the government's frontal crash test. Not tested for side-impact crashworthiness. The two-wheel-drive model earns a rollover-resistance rating of four stars out of five; the four-wheel drive model, three stars out of five. Details: http://safercar.gov/NCAP/Cars/4059.html
Standard safety gear: Advanced frontal air bags, antilock brakes, traction control, stability control.
Price points: Base prices range from $18,765 to $28,895. Price as tested: $31,010 (Prices include delivery fees.)
More info: http://www.jeep.com/en/wranglers
/compare/index.html
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$18,765 – $28,895
16 mpg/city – 22 mpg/highway
Model year tested: 2007
For a long time, it's been the coolest shabby vehicle on the road. The Wrangler, the core off-roader in Jeep's lineup, has required its owners to put up with uncomfortable seats, cramped space, chintzy controls, and roaring road noise, not to mention those flappy fabric doors with the zip-down plastic windows. But people put up with it, because Jeeps represent freedom and nonconformity. In a Jeep, you're not like other people. You've already escaped the mundane just by climbing in. You treasure not just the wind in your hair, but the rain too (because it's often dripping through holes in the soft top).
Now, the newly redesigned Wrangler lets you be your bohemian self a little more comfortably. The new Wrangler is quieter than prior models, with a stiffer frame, which means the tall, stubby SUV won't bounce and roll as much as it used to. The seats are supportive, once you've hauled yourself up into them, and the cabin, while plain, is cleanly laid out, with solid dashboard controls. There are even a few quasi-luxury upgrades, like a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a juiced-up Infinity sound system.
But this is still a rootin'-tootin' off-roader, and the emphasis is on mud and sand and snow. The base model doesn't come with air conditioning or power windows or cruise control, but four-wheel drive is standard, along with front and rear locking differentials for off-road control, underbody skid plates to protect the engine and chassis, and other wilderness-survival features. A variety of removable roofs prevent the installation of side-curtain air bags, but Jeep has added other key safety technology, such as antilock brakes and stability control, on all models.
In ordinary driving, this means the Wrangler is tolerable, even pleasant on occasion. It's no luxury sedan, but drivability is good enough for most people without physical ailments. It takes corners without tilting terribly, and is more maneuverable than many SUVs, since it's shorter. The 202-horsepower V-6 engine is a nice mix of torque, for towing and low-gear mud-romping, and smooth highway acceleration. The back seat on the two-door model is puny, and climbing in requires some agility, but the driver and one favored passenger will feel high and mighty. I didn't do any off-road marauding in the Wrangler, so I never felt the true bohemian buzz. But on local jaunts and occasional highway trips, the Wrangler holds its own. Now I just need to discover my inner nonconformist, and let him play.
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