Test drive Jeep Wrangler: General's grandson

A slightly different take on the latest version of one of today's most iconic SUVs

It hardly needs to be explained in detail why the Jeep Wrangler is a machine that fully deserves to be featured in a special series dedicated to current and future classics. It suffices to mention two simple reasons.

Firstly, the number of full-fledged SUVs in the modern automotive industry is so small that almost any such model deserves to be called a modern classic, and secondly, because the Wrangler has been considered a legend of the white world since its inception.

And it could not be otherwise, because no other model in the world can boast a direct relationship with the legendary Jeep Willys, created during the Second World War and considered one of the symbols of invincible SUVs.

For the privilege of going anywhere

One of Wrangler's very interesting features has to do with how his character has developed over the years. Since its inception, it has been designed primarily as a vehicle for more or less extreme pleasure and entertainment, and not as a workhorse designed to help its owner in the most difficult situations.

It is for this reason that this car is rarely found in the jungle, in the desert, in the savannah, in the tundra, high in the mountains or in any other place where endurance is most important. Unlike other iconic SUVs such as the Land Rover Defender, Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Hilux, and more, the Wrangler is rarely the only possible motorized vehicle that can get anywhere at all. Rather, the idea behind the Wrangler is to guide you through the hard-to-reach places you went to on your own.

Or, more simply, a toy for adult boys who sometimes want to play in the sand. Or in the dirt. Or somewhere else where they are drawn to adventure. At the same time, it should be noted that specifically on the basis of the first edition of the YJ model, which debuted in 1986, various extreme developments were created, successfully operated, for example, by the Israeli and Egyptian armies.

Rebel Evolution

In the next release of the TJ, and its successor, the current generation JK and JL, the Wrangler concept increasingly targets people who see SUVs as a way to get closer to nature and a sense of freedom. The fact that starting from the third generation of the model it can be ordered even in an absolutely family version with five doors, five seats and a large trunk, eloquently testifies to the increasingly clear departure from the militaristic character of its distant predecessors.

The current Wrangler has been on the European market for about six months and offers a choice between a three-door version and a short wheelbase or a long five-door body, as well as between the Sahara and Rubicon versions.

Sahara is the more civilized face of the car, so to speak, and the Rubicon can take you where you would probably be afraid to walk even on foot. And also where you will be surprisingly difficult to get out, but this is painfully familiar to any off-road risk enthusiast.

It doesn't matter where the road ends

The car in which we drove quite a few kilometers on native highways and mountain roads, and especially on dirt roads, had a short base and characteristics of the Sahara, that is, it was approximately equally well prepared for both asphalt and moderately heavy rough terrain.

The interior is an interesting mix of Spartan style, geometric shapes, playful retro elements and a fairly opulent comfort equipment, including an impressive array of infotainment equipment.

Positioning behind a near-vertical windshield is probably perceived by many as a charming anachronism in the modern world - it feels like it is possible in a real Jeep, but with additional comfort (for example, the soundproofing is quite decent, and the front seats are comfortable for long-distance travel).

At higher speeds, aerodynamics begins to speak for itself, and the sounds from the meeting of air currents with the characteristic figure of a cubic body become clearer and clearer with increasing speed. It's also a lot of fun to watch throwing the gas pedal on the highway slows the car down almost as quickly as if you hit the brake.

However, objectively, on asphalt, the model behaves even too well, taking into account its design features - the chassis is quite acceptable, the same applies to behavior on the road and handling. The 2,2-litre turbodiesel delivers powerful low-end traction and pairs perfectly with the eight-speed automatic transmission with hydraulic torque converter supplied by ZF.

We have already talked about off-road capabilities more than once, but perhaps it would not be superfluous to mention a few numbers on this matter: angles of attack front and rear are 37,4 and 30,5 degrees, respectively, the minimum ground clearance is 26 cm, the draft depth reaches 760 millimeters . We remind you that this is a "road" version of the car, that is, the parameters of the Rubicon are much more dramatic.

However, even with the Sahara, a well-trained guide can effortlessly tackle major challenges by getting as close to nature as he wants. In this regard, one cannot ignore the possibility of dismantling the roof, which makes the Wrangler a real convertible.

Someone can say that to give about 600 USD. or more for driving a car down a goat track with the roof down is not the smartest thing in the world. But for fans of modern classics, this does not matter - for them, only the feeling of freedom is important, that they can go wherever they want.