Salute to a classic
Go retro, go off-road with Jeep Wrangler Willys Wheeler
The Jeep Wrangler is the only vehicle I can think of that doesn’t get bad reviews for keeping an exterior design that is completely unchanged year to year. Perhaps the enthusiasm for the Wrangler is special because it is all about what you cannot see.
I recently tested the throwback Wrangler Willys Wheeler, which pays homage to the Army CJ-2 from nearly 70 years ago. The flat-matte, moss-green hue was an instantaneous attentiongetter wherever I went. My tester featured exterior accents such as black bumpers, black front grille and retro decals — just in case someone failed to pick up on the DNA at work.
The Willys Wheeler is a Jeep from top to bottom, and therefore it is created to leave the pavement and eat trail for dinner. Featuring a Dana 30 front axle in addition to the heavy-duty Dana 44 rear axle (which is standard on every model), a 3.73 axle ratio and a limited-slip differential, the Wrangler is confident and downright professional in every aspect of controlling the loose gravel ground below the big, knobby tires.
The Willys Wheeler package includes heavy-duty springs and gas shocks (from Rubicon) and tough black wheel rims. A leatherwrapped steering wheel and satellite radio were an indulgence that seemed not to fit the rough-and-tough feel of the Willys but, truthfully, it made every trip on or off the road more enjoyable.
The Willys Wheeler package has a base of $28,895, though my tester landed at $32,480 with the aforementioned extras. Considering what you can do with a Wrangler year round — not to mention your immediate inclusion in the unofficial club of Jeep enthusiasts who often salute each other in passing — the Willy Wheeler is a guaranteed value.
Jeep owners understand that with all the great things the Jeep delivers, there has to be something it is not great at, and that’s comfort and fuel economy. With an EPA-estimated 17/21 mpg city/highway, the Wrangler’s fuel economy is low for the class as a whole but on par with that of other off-road-oriented SUVs.
This Jeep looks off-road capable at every angle. With its huge tires pushed way out to the far corners with imposing bumpers finished in a flat black, it is absolutely intimidating. All fenders come in a contrasting, scuff-resistant matte black, and heavy-duty rock rails come bolted to the frame. Additional touches include the “4 Wheel Drive” sticker on the rear gate — a callback to the original CJ-3A — and a Willys decal in Army-stencil font on either side of the latched-down hood.
The 3.6-liter, 285-horsepower Pentastar V-6 is perfectly mated to this Jeep. Power delivery is smooth with plenty of low-torque capability, which made it simple to power up hills without the need to resort to the “4Low” setting.
It’s a quiet, comfortable ride, with firm but comfy front-row seating. The rear seat is cramped (as expected), and some of the gauges and interior plastics hearken back to the days of far too many cheap, hard-plastic expanses.
The Wrangler’s mission is to provide fun. Get in the Willys Wheeler trim, and it gets even better. This is a machine designed to conquer the off-road while putting a happy face on everyone inside.