Jeep Wrangler review _ Consumer Reports

The Jeep Wrangler: An Iconic Vehicle with Its Fair Share of Limitations

The Jeep Wrangler is an icon that has been keeping on living, thanks to continual updates that have made it more and more civilized over the years. We purchased this particular model to test its performance in The Daily Grind, and we were eager to see how well it would handle various road conditions.

One of the biggest reasons why Jeep sells a lot of Wranglers is its styling, which is nothing short of unique. With numerous options available, you can get your Wrangler in various configurations, such as two-door or four-door models, unlimited top styles, and even a four-door convertible. The latter option allows for quick open-air fun with the hard top, where you simply pop off the front two panels. While dealing with all these different tops can be fussy and time-consuming, it's worth it for the freedom to enjoy the great outdoors.

However, despite its iconic status, the Wrangler is not without its limitations. One of its well-known features is its excellent off-road capability, which includes superior ground clearance and axle articulation. However, our tested Sahara model struggled on Rock Hill, with traction only being "so-so." In fact, if you want top-of-the-line Rubicon models with more advanced off-road equipment or many owners who extensively modify their Wranglers from the factory, you'll find that this particular Wrangler finally gets a modern engine – a 3.6L V6 – which provides excellent power and better fuel economy.

Despite its impressive capabilities, the Wrangler is not exactly known for its comfort on paved roads. The biggest problem with driving the Wrangler is its steering, which is vague and slow. When you turn the wheel, there's hardly any feedback, making it difficult to gauge your turns or navigate tight corners. Additionally, the standard stability control system helps keep the Wrangler secure but fails to address the low handling limits that make it feel unconfident in emergency situations.

Moreover, when driving on wet or dry pavement, stopping distances are quite long, which is a significant drawback for this vehicle. This, combined with its ride quality, makes it less than ideal as a comfortable Highway Cruiser. The Wrangler's constant jolts and bounces make the ride feel more like a rough terrain excursion than a smooth drive on the highway.

While the Wrangler does have some features that are common in everyday cars, such as heated seats, power mirrors, and automatic climate control, these comforts come at a premium price. In fact, our tested model came with an astonishing $366,000 price tag, which is certainly not what one would call a cheap weekend toy.

When it comes to the interior, you'll find that this particular Wrangler has undergone significant updates. The nicest features include heated seats, power mirrors, and automatic climate control – all standard equipment in everyday cars. However, the dashboard has seen some "neat touches" such as cool metal vents and Allen bolts, which are reminiscent of Jeep's off-road heritage. Nevertheless, the interior is designed to be partly taken apart and assembled again, with visible bodycolor metal on doors and floors around seats.

One interesting observation about this Wrangler model is that it has an unusual wire loom running into the doors. This system seems incomplete at times, which may lead to some minor technical issues during assembly or maintenance. The control layout can also be a bit confusing, especially with power window switches located in the middle of the dashboard.

In terms of overall design and user experience, this particular Wrangler model has made significant strides towards meeting everyday expectations but falls short in areas where it counts the most – comfort, performance, and reliability.