America loves it and so do we for its off-road capability, but is the Jeep Wrangler worthy of all the praise? We drove it to find out
As a kid, I was fascinated by Jeep because of the aura that it had. The whole minimalistic theme of this rugged vehicle had a certain appeal that is very difficult to describe. Getting behind the wheel of a Jeep was a childhood dream of mine. And thanks to FIAT, who have a tie-up with Chrysler who own Jeep, my dream was finally fulfilled. FIAT’s decision to bring this iconic American brand to India will definitely go down well with many off-roading enthusiasts, including yours truly, who have been longing for this hardcore off-roader for aeons now. I recently drove the famous Jeep Wrangler to find out why it is regarded as one of the most capable off-road machines in the world.
The moment you see the Jeep Wrangler for the first time, you realize the fact that Americans like everything to be big. And there is no better vehicle to define that than the Wrangler. It is a true piece of Americana. The design is quite intimidating and, honestly, we Indians too like things that stand out in a crowd. There is nothing on this off-roader that can be termed as simple. Although boxy, it’s not boring. The front end, with its trademark grille, round headlamps, protruding fenders and bumpers and a solid bonnet, takes you 70 years back in time. Of course, Jeep has made everything according to today’s liking, but it still retains the old-world charm.
Like every legend, the Wrangler has also received very few design changes over the years. That is because people loved it for what it was. And there is no point in changing or radicalizing something that is already appreciated by millions the world over. Its angular doors with huge windows, a boxy design that looks very rugged and muscular and the trademark spare wheel mounted on the rear tail-gate hold a very special appeal to many people, even first-timers. The solid build and character of the Wrangler clearly defines the off-roader’s roots. It was meant to be minimalistic and that is the reason you don’t really see a lot of intricately detailed stuff on the outside. It is basic and that’s the way a true off-roader should be.
Inside, however, the interior has been designed to look more modern and appealing even though the cabin is still very basic and to the point. A neatly laid-out dashboard with very few elements on it does the given job quite well. The most intriguing feature inside, however, are the huge, round air-conditioner vents that dominate the dashboard. There is also a music system and steering-mounted controls for audio, Bluetooth and cruise control. Apart from these, there is very little that can be mentioned. But one thing that I did not like about the interior was the space. I mean, the Wrangler looks huge from the outside and one can easily assume that there will be plenty of space inside it, but once you do get inside, you will be disappointed. The front seats have to be pushed all the way back to sit comfortably and doing so takes up the rear knee-room. Furthermore, the black theme of the interior gives the Wrangler a very claustrophobic feel. The big seats may be comfortable, but the lack of proper knee- and leg-room is disappointing. The driving position is also a little weird as the steering wheel comes pretty close to your chest. However, all-round visibility is a plus-point in case of the Wrangler.
Powering this mammoth beast is a humble 2.8-litre inline four common rail diesel motor that produces 200 PS of power and a healthy 460 Nm of torque, which comes in at 1,600 revolutions per minute. All this power is delivered to all the wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission. And just like any other off-roading machine, you can select two-wheel high, four-wheel high or four-wheel low to get out of any situation with case. I first thought that the engine would be a loud and unrefined unit, but the moment I started driving, the Wrangler felt calm and fairly refined. Jeep engineers have worked hard to achieve this and their hard work has paid off to some extent. In our performance testing, we got more than we’d expected. The Wrangler sprinted from naught to 100 km/h in just 10.03 seconds. Quite commendable for a heavy, off-roading machine. The roll-on timings were also impressive as it took only 8.2 seconds to go from 40 to 100 km/h. It may be an off-roading legend, but the acceleration of the Wrangler is quite good considering its weight and boxy design.
