Jeep Wrangler — another lumberjack
SUVs have their own rules. We do not expect from them what we expect from luxury limousines, quite the contrary. A real roadster is like a guy who shaves his beard with an ax and chews bees instead of honey. And what is the good old Wrangler?
view Jeep Wrangler it looks like a big closet - but such a cool closet that brings back fond memories of the cookies hidden in it. An angular body has nothing to do with subtlety or delicacy. He is a rough workhorse, but at the same time resembles a teddy bear. However, in his restless nature, he is incredibly sweet. A new generation of the world's most recognizable SUV has just debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show. In the meantime, we took his predecessor for a walk.
The variant we are testing is the version Unlimited 1941, which was created on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the model. Yes, “Grandpa Jeep” is currently 76 years old. The heritage of the model is remembered not only by its silhouette, but also by the numerous “Since 1941” badges in the cabin and on the body.
Since we are at the body, the Jeep Wrangler can be dismantled almost to the broth. We can remove not only the roof and engine cover, but also all doors. Removing the roof and turning the Wrangler into a convertible isn't that hard. Just watch your fingers and even a small woman can handle it. A convenient solution is the fact that we can easily fit both halves of the roof in the trunk. And this one opens in an interesting way. The lower part opens to the side like a typical door, taking the spare wheel with it and lifting the glass up. These doors have 498 liters of space, which will increase to 935 liters when the rear seats are folded down.
Jeep Wrangler it is a "angular fibroid" with a cute look. The case is dominated by flat surfaces and almost right angles. We will not find any extra embossing or details that make the Jeep more beautiful. And very well! Due to removable elements, it is difficult to talk about excessive sound insulation of the car. We will feel it not only at high speeds, but also at ... low temperatures. Getting into the car on a cold day, we will not feel much difference between the temperature in the cabin and the outside temperature. Although warm air blows from the air distributor when the engine reaches the right temperature, the interior warms up rather slowly, but due to the lack of any thermal insulation, it cools down very quickly.
interior
Inside, it is like a typical SUV. We sit high, and climbing into the driver's seat is like climbing a mountain. If we were making dirty trips a moment earlier, we shouldn't expect to still have clean pants after a few "get in and out" maneuvers. There is no step on the threshold on which we can stand. So a day in a dirty Wrangler means the pants are washable. It's also a matter of the lack of mudguards. Thanks to this, the car looks much better, and when driving into the mud, it joyfully “falls” in it. Even if we drive slowly through the mud, acceleration on the pavement will end in a spectacular "fountain of shit" that gracefully clings to the sides of the car, including the door handles.
When we get so dirty behind the wheel, we will see a rather handmade dashboard. In this car, everything is simple, even old school, but at the same time made from very well-fitted quality materials. Interior elements do not creak, and the solidity of its manufacture suggests that it can withstand even a grenade explosion. Looking at the interior elements, you can see that this is a “fool-proof” car that is difficult to break. The off-road character is also emphasized by the rear rubber mat, which resembles the tread of an off-road tire in texture.
The heated seats are very soft and comfortable. It feels like sitting in a soft home chair. However, it is the perfect compromise between softness and comfort, as well as lateral grip. The leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel is thick and feels good in the hand. Through it, we can control, for example, cruise control, which - I have no idea why - was in an SUV. In front of the driver's eyes is a simple analog clock with an unintuitive on-board computer display in the center.
There is a small multimedia center screen on the center console, which works rather reluctantly. We have two USB inputs - one on top and the other in a deep compartment in the armrest. Standard door lockers have been replaced with mesh pockets. A similar solution can be found in front of the gear lever. Thanks to this, small items such as a smartphone or keys will not hang out in the car even during off-road trips.
Under the screen are large and ergonomic switches. No buttons the size of a pinhead. Thanks to this, it is very easy to control all the options in the car (air conditioning, traction control, hill descent assistance or heated seats). The only thing that is difficult to get used to is the control of the power windows from the very center of the dashboard. This allowed the electrical harnesses in the door to be contained, making them easier to remove. However, while driving, we will instinctively look for the window open button near the driver's door.
Fine details
In addition to the 1941 emblems that are clearly visible at first glance, there are several details in Jeep that we will only discover over time. Above the rear-view mirror, on the windshield, there is a characteristic Jeep grille. The same motif can be found in the middle tunnel between the two coasters. We can also see a small jeep in the lower right corner of the windshield, bravely climbing a scenic hill. It's the little things, and they make me happy.
We Wranglers a very good Alpine sound system was installed. The sound from the speakers is very pleasant to the ear, and when driving through the mud, it makes you want to listen to loud rock. In addition to the speakers in regular places, two are additionally located in the ceiling, behind the backs of the front seats. Combined with a woofer purring in the trunk, this makes for a really interesting acoustic experience.
Soldier's heart
It was under the hood of the tested Jeep Diesel engine 2.8 CRD 200 hp However, the culture of human labor is reminiscent of pouring coal into the basement. Turning the key in the ignition, it seems that someone next to us has activated a jackhammer.
Peak torque is 460 Nm and is available at the very beginning of the 1600-2600 rpm range. Thanks to this, it is ideal especially in swampy areas, because even at low speeds it lacks vivacity.
First moments behind the wheel Wrangler You may get the impression that the car is dirty. However, this is not the fault of the unit itself, but of the progressive characteristics of the gas. When we gently press the gas pedal, the car is not very lively. However, the Wrangler is not overly gentle. Pressing the accelerator pedal with dubious subtlety, the car will surprise us with its dynamics. In city traffic Debater It copes well with dynamic acceleration up to speeds of about 80 km / h - to such an extent that on dry surfaces it can even break the clutch. Once this speed is reached, the tachometer settles down to 1750 rpm.
Appetite in the city Wrangler about 13 liters. And it's really hard to make him "eat" more or less. The catalog data shows an average city consumption of 10,9 l / 100 km, so this result does not differ much from the manufacturer's data.
The engine was assembled from five-speed automatic with overdrive. From 0 to 100 km / h, the Wrangler accelerates in 11,7 seconds, and the speedometer should rise to 172 km / h. However, in practice, any speed above 130 km/h results in noise in the cabin and a significant deterioration in steering feel. This one was set up in a rather stubborn way. It takes a little effort to turn the wheels, but it's hard to speak of surgical precision.
In "ordinary life" we are rear-wheel drive. If necessary, we can force the Wrangler to disguise with all four legs, and in a crisis, use the gearbox. It takes some time to attach it. Vaicha does not always immediately jump into place and sometimes requires the use of force. However, then it is enough to roll back a few centimeters forward or backward for all the mechanisms to work properly.
Troublemaker
Although asphalt rubber did not move you to explore the forests, even there Jeep he did great. He walked like a battering ram during the passages through the puddles, which caused slight anxiety. However, when driving through extremely muddy puddles, you feel unsatisfied with tires. Asphalt tread "lapped" in place, struggling to maintain traction, and sticky slurry stuck to everything around. A similar situation was after reaching the sandy areas. Probably on some nice MT Wrangler, instead of "unlimited" you should say "unstoppable".
Despite the wrong tires Jeep Wrangler very well behaved in the field. This is one of the few cars that, roughly speaking, behaves quite “pathologically” on the roads. It's hard to bury yourself. The palpable difference between off-road driving in XNUMXWD and XNUMXWD is great fun. Not to mention the inclusion of the gearbox! Then the car will go through everything. The only drawback is low bridges, so when driving on tank tracks, you need to be careful not to rub the bottom.
An elephant in a china shop?
No need to cheat Jeep Wrangler it's a huge machine. The car has a length of 4751 1873 mm and a width of mm. The high driving position provides good visibility far ahead, but is a little worse if we want to see what is in the immediate vicinity. As befits a true lumberjack, the Wrangler does not contain unnecessary decorations or gadgets. There are no reverse sensors either. Although I felt uneasy after I picked up the car, after a few moments behind the wheel it didn't matter anymore. I have no idea how it works, but the size of this giant is so-so. And the table-shaped hood with a bumper reminiscent of the stairs at Versailles and square wheel arches protruding to the sides do not make life in the urban jungle any easier. However, the large side mirrors help us maneuver, so with a little effort we can park literally anywhere.
In city traffic, it is important not only to quickly accelerate Debater boasts, but most of all he has braking. This American hooligan weighs almost two tons (1998 kg), while he has excellent brakes, allowing him to stop at a very short distance.
Jeep Wrangler he is not only a woodcutter who is not afraid of dirt, but also a very good friend. This is a car that you sit in with a smile. And the dirtier, the wider this smile. And the fact that it is large and not very comfortable does not matter, because this small tank drives perfectly. This is not a delicate car, but its unique atmosphere does not allow you to get rid of a big smile at the wheel.
