Test drive here is the updated Jeep Wrangler legend!
The Jeep Wrangler somehow "appeared" back in 1941 when the then US military was looking for a vehicle for their needs. They needed a reliable car with all-wheel drive and room for four people. And then Willis was born, Wrangler's predecessor. But at that time, no one yet imagined that such a vehicle would also be made for public use. However, after the end of World War II, soldiers and everyone who was in contact with Willis at the time looked for similar solutions, drove military vehicles, and even then remodeled them. That is why the family Willys Wagon was born, from which the success story began. The first Jeep Wrangler, designated YJ, hit the road in 1986. It was succeeded nine years later by the Wrangler TJ, which lasted ten years when it was replaced by the Wrangler JK. Now, 12 years later, it's time to give the new Wrangler the factory designation JL. And if you still think the Wrangler is quite a niche car, it has so far been chosen by more than five million buyers along with its successors.
The novelty presents a rather fresh image, complemented by many details from the past. Highlighted are the seven-grill front grille, round headlights (which can be fully diode), larger wheels, and even larger fenders. The Wrangler is still built with the idea that the owners want to improve, rework, or just add something of their own. This is one of the reasons why there are already over 180 different original accessories available, which the Mopar brand cares about.
But already serial, without accessories, the customer can use it in several ways. In addition to being able to remove both the hard and soft roofs, Jeep put a special effort on the doors. They are, of course, also removable, only now they have been made so that they are easier to remove and even easier to carry. Thus, the inner hook used to close the door is designed in such a way that if the door is removed, it is also suitable for carrying, since it is also machined on the underside. It is all the more pleasant that special grooves are installed in the trunk, where we store the door screws.
The new Wrangler will, as usual, be available with a shorter wheelbase and a pair of doors, as well as a longer wheelbase and four doors. The equipment Sport, Sahara and Rubicon off-road are also already known.
Of course, the new Wrangler is brand new on the inside. The materials are new, more pleasant to the touch and also more durable. In fact, the Wrangler is no longer a spartan-equipped car, but the person in it feels pretty decent. The Uconnect system, which now offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, has been meticulously refined and customers can also choose between five-, seven- or 8,4-inch center screens. They are, of course, touch-sensitive, but the virtual keys are large enough to be quite easy to operate while driving.
The latter is still the essence of the car. The novelty will be available with a 2,2-liter turbodiesel or a two-liter petrol engine. Where they prefer larger units, outside of Europe and the Middle East, a larger 3,6-liter six-cylinder engine will be available. The diesel unit, which offers about 200 "horses", was intended for test drives. For everyday use, of course, more than enough, but the Wrangler is a little different. Maybe someone will even be horrified when they look at the technical data and, for example, the maximum speed is 180 kilometers per hour, and in the Rubicon version it is only 160 kilometers per hour. But the essence of the Wrangler is off-road driving. We also saw it at the Red Bull Ring. A wonderful natural polygon (which is privately owned, of course) offers a chic field experience. I don't remember ever driving around a landfill for more than an hour, but according to those who do it, we haven't even recycled half of it. Exceptional climbs, terrifying descents, and the ground is menacingly muddy or terribly rocky. And for the Wrangler, a little snack. Obviously also because of the chassis and transmission. All-wheel drive is available in two versions: Command-Trac and Rock-Track. The first for the basic versions, the second for the off-road Rubicon. If you list only four-wheel drive, which can be permanent, with a reduction gear on the rear or all four wheels, special axles, special differentials, and even the ability to limit the oscillation of the front axle, it becomes clear that the Wrangler is a natural climber.
Already the basic version (we tested Sahara) coped with the terrain without problems, and Rubicon is a separate chapter. A heavily reinforced chassis on which we lock the front or rear axle while driving and of course big off-road tires are the dream of every off-road enthusiast. The car climbs where a person would definitely not go. First of all, where you would not even think that it is possible with a car. At the same time, I (who am not a fan of such extreme rides) was surprised that I only slipped on my stomach once on a dirt surface in an hour of extreme off-road driving. No matter, this Wrangler is indeed a caterpillar, if not a grasshopper!
Of course, not everyone will ride it in extreme terrain. Many people buy it simply because they like it. This is one of the reasons the new Wrangler could be equipped with a range of safety aids, which include, among others, blind spot warning, rearview warning, an improved rear camera and ultimately improved ESC.
