2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
MSRP $22.00
“For off-road enthusiasts, there is no other car in the showroom that can beat the Wrangler. As a daily driver, family wagon, it still leaves a lot to be desired – especially for the price.”
Avg
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Field ability
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Blocky, masculine body lines
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Improved V6 power
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Peaceful interior
Against
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It’s hard to keep it in a straight line
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Poor fuel consumption
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It seems cheap
Update 11-19-14: This review originally covered the 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. The 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is in dealerships now. No major changes have been made to the car’s body or design, but the latest model features several interior updates and additional package offerings. All changes are listed below.
- An all-new eight-speaker audio system with an enhanced soundbar is standard equipment
- An all-new Premium Alpine nine-speaker audio system with amplifier and subwoofer is available
- A new standard Torx top, door and bumper end cap removal tool kit is included on all models
- The new Black Steel and 31-inch Dueler Tire Package available on Wrangler Sport models includes 16-inch low-gloss black steel wheels and Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo2 tires
- The special edition Wrangler Rubicon Hard Rock enhances off-road capabilities with special features and a unique new look
- The Freedom and Willys Wheeler editions return for 2015
introduction
The Jeep Wrangler is one of those iconic American cars, on par with the Mustang and Corvette, that anyone on the planet can look at and instantly recognize and appreciate.
There’s no arguing that the Wrangler is one of the best out-of-the-box SUVs at any price point.
The Wrangler’s lineage stretches back to World War II as an invincible 4×4 small car. And while the world has changed a lot since the 1940s, the Wrangler carried the prestige of its predecessors. It combines new modern high-tech electronics and old-world mechanical machismo.
There’s no arguing that the Wrangler is one of the best out-of-the-box SUVs at any price point. What if you’re not buying a Wrangler as a weekend toy, but as a daily driver that you also take to the trails? How is it then?
It is a very strange beast indeed.
Under the bumpy hood
A few years ago, Jeep tweaked the Wrangler a bit and dropped Chrysler’s family-owned 285-horsepower, 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 under the hood and upgraded from a four-speed automatic transmission to a five-speed. This made the Wrangler much more powerful, more livable, and should also make it more fuel efficient.
The EPA rates the Wrangler Unlimited at 16 mpg city, 20 highway, with a combined score of 18 mpg. I averaged 15 mpg over my time with it. I drove it most of the time in 2×4 drive and mixed city and highway driving.
In cars like the Chrysler 300, the Pentastar V6 is an impressive powerhouse. Under the skin of the Wrangler, it’s not quite as stunning. But I’ll admit it’s a better sight than the minivan engine that used to power the Wrangler. All in all, it’s a win.
The biggest improvement comes from the five-speed automatic. I wish Jeep had mated its eight-speed transmission to the Wrangler. I assume that this – and the diesel engine – will be offered in the next generation.
Door on or off?
I’m a big fan of both box cars and 4×4 SUVs. So the Wrangler is firing on several cylinders for me. I think that – in its ‘Unlimited’ form with four doors – it is one of the most beautiful 4×4 SUV trucks on the market. Only the Mercedes G-class is close to it.
However, I step inside and my admiration fades a little.
Spend much more than a few minutes in a pre-mid-2000s Jeep and you’ll be ready to send home Jesus, too.
The interior of the Jeep, like the rest of the Chrysler family, used to be downright dreary. Wrapped in thin, crappy gray plastic, the Jeep’s interior left occupants feeling like they were on death row. Spend much more than a few minutes in a pre-mid-2000s Jeep and you’ll be ready to send home Jesus, too.
Ever since Chrysler went belly up, pulled out of warranty and bought by Italian auto giant Fiat, Jeep interiors have improved exponentially. The Jeep Grand Cherokee, for example, is a wonderful place to be, with natural wood and leather throughout.
The redesign of the interior also carried over to the Wrangler. Unlike the Grand Cherokee, Jeep has left the Wrangler much more useful. The dashboard looks better and the parts fit together much better than in any previous generation. But unlike the Grand Cherokee, things still feel cheap. The instrumentation is still done in classic American blue-green lighting from the 1980s. Even the Wrangler’s Uconnect, which is a big step forward, isn’t all that great.
What separates the Wrangler from the rest of the SUV market – aside from its trail-taming abilities – is its ability to remove the doors and roof. Heck, you can still even fold down the windshield on the hood, though I don’t know why you’d even do that. Bugs and wind hitting your face at speeds over 20 mph really hurt.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Despite its removable parts and cheap interior, the Wrangler is shockingly quiet on the road. I don’t just mean silence for the Wrangler, but silence throughout the automotive industry. I’ve driven for example in much louder BMWs.
On the road
The two-door Wrangler rocks and twists down the road, as the front and rear wheels are so close together that the big mud tires allow it to squirm. With the four-door Unlimited, that evens out a bit, pulling the front back a few inches. But that doesn’t solve the problem at all.
Since the Wrangler is built for extreme off-road driving, the ride quality is shockingly good. It suffers a bit from body roll in corners, but not as bad as you might think, especially given the lack of refinement of the whole package. Hit a bump, though, and the big tires and deft suspension soak it up with ease. It’s an incredibly comfortable ride … in a straight line. If you can put it in one.
Let’s stop and think about this
I was giving my best friend Peter a ride in the Wrangler and while we were having fun, Peter decided that the Wrangler was unacceptably cheap.
“How much does this thing cost?” He asked.
“Currently, $36,050.”
“That is too much.” He laughed.
“Yes, but this Unlimited Sport starts at $26,195.” I replied.
“Oh my God! What does an extra $10,000 buy you?”
“Other than a few little things, it’s mostly an automatic transmission and a black wheel package.” I said studying the sticker on the window.
Peter was on to something, something I had overlooked while feeling supremely manly cruising around town in a bright red 4×4: the Wrangler is actually a very bad car by 2014 standards, especially for the money.
I was taken by its bossy looks, its quiet interior, its smooth ride and its ability to – the moment you notice – shed its skin and head for the hills.
Admittedly, I didn’t participate in any of those doorless 4×4 adventures. In my mind, though, knowing I could was all I needed to get romantic and wistful behind the wheel of a Wrangler.
Shocked back to reality, I was a bit horrified by the thing as well. This does not mean that it is a wash. I still recommend the Wrangler for those who want a fresh 4×4 in the showroom. Honestly, you can’t beat him for the money.
But if you’re going to get one, get the most basic model you can. The few upgrades that Jeep offers are way overpriced and don’t add anything to refinement or safety. That’s why I say skip them. Get $27,000 Unlimited and pretend every day is a safari. Otherwise, you could spend an extra $2,000 and get a Mercedes CLA. You know, a car that your friends and family won’t be ashamed to see with more than a modicum of safety and refinement.
Tall
- Field ability
- Blocky, masculine body lines
- Improved V6 power
- Peaceful interior
Falls
- It’s hard to keep it in a straight line
- Poor fuel consumption
- It seems cheap
Editor’s recommendations
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn