No other auto manufacturer has come close to the Jeep Wrangler in capturing the essence of off-road capability. The Wrangler is a versatile all-terrain warrior, more at home rock-crawling than city-crawling. It comes in various special editions and trail-conquering combinations.
You can get the Jeep Wrangler with a V6 (285 horsepower), a turbocharged four-cylinder (270 hp), or a turbodiesel V6 (260 hp). It comes in two-door and four-door Unlimited configurations with soft top and detachable hard top options for up to five passengers. Jeep offers four-wheel-drive systems and several transmission options, including a six-speed manual and an eight-speed automatic. Models of the Wrangler Unlimited with four doors can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
Here’s what’s new:
– The Unlimited model gets the first diesel V6 engine.
– You can get the Sahara Unlimited V6 with an eTorque mild hybrid system.
– The options list expands to include Willys Edition, Freedom Edition, and Black and Tan packages.
Overall, it’s a nice vehicle to drive about town, and the eight-speed automatic gearbox is responsive and quick to change gears. The four-door Unlimited model’s interior impresses with its practicality, particularly its room for rear-seat passengers and baggage.
The Wrangler should also be praised for its sleeker design, more capable off-road performance, and more refined highway ride. It beats competitors on challenging trails, and the ride quality is leaps and bounds ahead of what it used to be.
Performance
A 3.6-liter V6 generating 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque is standard in the Jeep Wrangler. It may be mated to either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Models with two doors and this engine get 17/25 mpg city/highway in manual form and 18/23 mpg city/highway in automatic. Wrangler Unlimited versions powered with a V6 engine have somewhat worse highway MPG, but a mild-hybrid eTorque system is available on the automatic in Sahara grade for slightly better city MPG.
Almost every Wrangler gets the option of a 2.0-liter eTorque turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Two-door models get 22/23 mpg city/highway, while four-door models get 21/22 mpg city/highway. This model produces 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. For the first time, the Wrangler will be available with a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 engine that can be paired with an automatic gearbox and produces 260 horsepower and 422 pound-feet of torque.