ACTIVE SAFETY QUERY

The Wrangler’s anticipated one-star ANCAP safety rating is the elephant in the garage. ANCAP has yet to officially list the JL Wrangler on its website but Jeep Australia boss Steve Zanlunghi accepts they will adopt the rating applied by EuroNCAP.

That assessment criticised the absence of active safety equipment on all versions, particularly autonomous emergency braking, as well as structural defects in the footwell and windscreen pillar after the physical crash tests.

Zanlunghi says all model year 2020 examples, due in Australia late this year, will have AEB as standard gear, though he won’t commit to re-testing the local version with ANCAP, given that is unlikely to lift the Wrangler beyond three stars.

“The vehicles are ADR-compliant right now and it is unquestionably a safe vehicle. The previous (JK) Wrangler earned a four-star rating and this one is better in all areas. It meets or beats statutory regulations around the world and we know the Wrangler is a safe car.

“Many Wrangler buyers will consider the car’s capability as the key criteria and the JL is more capable on and off the road than ever before.”