Wrangler Unlimited retains wild spirit
Redesigned Jeep with power windows, locks goes up against H3, FJ Cruiser
Anita and Paul Lienert / Special to The Detroit News
DaimlerChrysler
The Wrangler has standard stability control on all models, along with antilock brakes and traction control. See full image
It crawled over boulders with ease, felt sure-footed as we glided through a deep V-shaped concrete ditch and then onto a deeply rutted mud track.
But that wasn't really the key issue for this new, four-door iteration of the iconic American off-roader, which makes a big run for the family market this year. The main question for us, as we began our test drive, was whether the Wrangler can do stellar double-duty at the grocery store, the school carpool and the work commute.
The answer: The Wrangler, while a lot more warm and fuzzy, is not yet fully domesticated. For hard-core Jeep enthusiasts, that's probably a good thing.
Jeep engineers and designers walked a tightrope with the redesigned Wrangler, which goes up against the Hummer H3 and the Toyota FJ Cruiser.
They were careful to keep classic Wrangler cues, such as a fold-down windshield, removable doors, exposed hinges and solid front and rear axles.
But they also added new civilized features, including an optional navigation system, power windows and locks, and a standard iPod jack. Perhaps the biggest milestone is that you can now fit five passengers comfortably into a Wrangler because the Unlimited's wheelbase is 21 inches longer than the '07 two-door model.
As snow flurries dotted the Wrangler's windshield this late October day, we wondered aloud why Jeep didn't take it to the max and put heated seats on this model. From the back seat, Kevin Metz, Jeep marketing brand manager, sighed.
"Hey, our customers have to get used to the power windows and locks," he said. "We can't rush things."
The redesigned Jeep Wrangler comes in three trim levels -- X, Sahara and Rubicon -- and is on sale now.
The base two-door Wrangler starts at $18,765, including a $660 destination charge. The four-door Wrangler Unlimited starts at $20,410 for the two-wheel-drive model; the four-wheel-drive Wrangler Unlimited starts at $22,410.
We drove two versions of the vehicle Jeep calls the "only four-door convertible."
We went off-roading in a $33,730 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4x4 loaded with 10 options, including $825 four-speed automatic transmission, $490 front side air bags and a $1,585 options package with a 3-piece modular hard top. Then, we spent several days in a 2007 Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4x4 with a price tag of $29,540 and nine options.
Our Sahara was outfitted in one of the new paint colors -- Rescue Green metallic -- which looked something like Army green mixed with gold eye shadow. But it proved to have a magnetic draw and everybody we encountered -- especially men -- seemed to like it.
The Wrangler Unlimited is powered by a new standard 3.8-liter V-6 engine that makes 205 horsepower and 240 pounds-feet of torque. It is mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission or the optional four-speed automatic. Our test vehicles returned 16 miles per gallon in city driving and 19 miles per gallon on the highway, according to the EPA.
On paper, the Jeep doesn't seem as gutsy as the 2007 H3, which is powered by a 3.7-liter inline five-cylinder engine that makes 242 horsepower and 242 pounds-feet of torque. When equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission, the Hummer returns 15 miles per gallon in city driving and 19 miles per gallon on the highway.
However, the Wrangler Unlimited is considerably lighter than the H3 and feels much more responsive, with quicker acceleration, than the Hummer.
The FJ Cruiser also beats the Wrangler Unlimited in the powertrain department. The FJ Cruiser is equipped with a 4.0-liter V-6 engine that makes 239 horsepower and 278 pounds-feet of torque. Another area where the Wrangler Unlimited falls behind the competition is in safety features. Unlike the FJ Cruiser and the H3, which offer optional side curtain air bags that protect all outboard passengers, the Wrangler Unlimited does not offer side curtain air bags. On the plus side, it does have standard stability control on all models, along with antilock brakes, traction control and brake assist.
Side curtain air bags aren't the only puzzling omission. We couldn't understand why -- if Jeep took the plunge into power accessories -- it didn't include power side mirrors.
There is an all-new, three-piece hardtop, but that too, seemed to need a little more thought.
We watched as a Jeep engineer unscrewed part of the top and then threw the massive screw into the front cup holder -- because there is no designated place to store it. There is no natural place to stash the roof panels, either, unless you spend the extra money to get a special Mopar holder.
The rear cargo hold in the Wrangler Unlimited is spacious, with a small, under-floor storage compartment. There's lots of room for groceries and other gear.
Like most midsize SUVs, the Jeep is a bit of a challenge to climb in and out of, even with running boards. And its bulk makes it somewhat of a beast to park. But the command seating position gives you a sweeping view, even when you're climbing a steep hill and there's nothing in your windshield but sky.
And while Jeep was humanizing the Wrangler, it didn't forget off-roaders. New for '07 is a toggle switch that electronically disconnects the front sway bar; you had to crawl underneath the vehicle with a wrench to disconnect the old one.
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