Jeep Wrangler
Is latest version of legendary off-roader streets ahead?
JEEPS are made for off-roading. With the possible exception of Land Rover, the American brand’s rough-and-ready image is unrivalled in the car industry.
Accordingly, we spent more than a week and 1,000 miles testing the latest Jeep Wrangler in two-door Sahara trim. It’s the cheapest of three specs, and comes with a choice of two engines. The 197bhp 2.2-litre diesel version costs from £44,920, but for £15 less you can have this turbo petrol model – with a frankly ridiculous 268bhp.
This new Wrangler two-door will crack 0-62mph in just 7.3 seconds, but you won’t want to do so, because the utterly lifeless and alarmingly slow steering makes it a challenge to drive at low speeds. Things improve as you pick up the pace, but there’s no hiding the Jeep’s rudimentary ladder chassis. It shakes and shimmies over speed bumps, while the removable rear roof creaks as you traverse even small imperfections.
While the eight-speed auto shifts smoothly, it can send revs rocketing under hard acceleration. The driving position is awkward, with nowhere to rest your left foot. You’ll need to be a contortionist to clamber into the back, while the bulky sidehinged bootlid hides a tiny 203-litre load bay.
Yet none of this matters when you use the Wrangler as it’s intended. This is an off-road car that can be used on tarmac, and every version gets a low-range gearbox that helps the car effectively ascend loose rocks and slippery climbs, ford deep water and wade through thigh-high mud. You can sit in relative luxury while you’re at it as well. Our car featured the £1,300 Launch Pack, which adds sand-coloured leather, heated front seats, keyless entry and blindspot monitoring. The dash, door and centre console materials feel durable, too. You’ll pay about as much for a well laden Land Rover Discovery Sport, but every Wrangler has an 8.4-inch touchscreen with nav, DAB, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a ninespeaker Alpine stereo. Dualzone climate control, cruise control, LED lights and 18-inch alloys are also fitted.