Close your eyes and think of the word Jeep and what comes to mind? Typically it’s the Wrangler which has been the poster child for Jeep since the time when the original military vehicle was being used and designated as the GP (General Purpose) vehicle which eventually became the name of the brand Jeep. There are three different trim levels to enjoy on the Wrangler, the Sport, the Sahara and the Rubicon and all are capable of be the right vehicle for you to full enjoy the ride, especially when you take them off road, where the Wrangler continues to be completely unmatched in performance.
If you have chosen the Jeep Wrangler then you will probably always want to have one in your arsenal of vehicles. The go anywhere aspect of this vehicle continues to make it one of the most sought after vehicles on the planet with a cult like following that certainly calls for celebration . For the 2016 model the changes are limited to the trim and colors. This includes a new Black Bear Edition to the Sport that adds off road rock rails while the Sahara adds some appearance updates that bring in new wheels a body color bumper and an Olive Green interior look.
What makes the Wrangler so special? This is a vehicle that really does go back a long way. The unmistakable shape of the square body that sits up high and has jutted out wheels under flared out fenders is easy to recognize. Spotting a Wrangler is the easy part but what makes it a great off roader is the high ride and the short wheelbase that seem to offer the perfect entry and exit angle for getting into and out of trouble with a rocks and boulders. It’s this shape and the powerful engine with the right amount of low end torque that has made this the perfect vehicle for off roaders everywhere.
There is only one engine on the Wrangler but it’s one that can really handle the job. This engine is a 3.6-liter V6 engine that offers 285 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. This torque is achieved at 4,800 rpm which is easy to achieve making it powerful at the right revs for slow riding up and down cliffs and trails. The engine is mated to either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission in order to be ready to do the off roading that is needed. This powertrain gives you fuel numbers that come in at 17 city/21 hwy mpg for the base manual, 17 city/20 hwy mpg for the Unlimited automatic and 17 city/21 hwy mpg for the Unlimited manual.
You might think a vehicle as utilitarian as the Wrangler would not be comfortable at all, but this one certainly is. The best part of the interior is the durability of the equipment found inside which are made to handle everything throw their way. When you opt for the four-door model you have seats that will fold flat to allow you to carry more gear or stay up so you can haul more people. All controls are within easy reach and if you do get a lot of dirt inside the Wrangler you can simply hose it out, pull the plug and let the water drain out, making it the perfect utility vehicle for everyone.
The list of standard features for the Wrangler is a pretty short one. This SUV features the powerful engine, four-wheel drive, a low range transfer case, stability control with roll mitigation, hill start assistance, trailer sway control and removable doors. What you don’t see are things like power windows and locks or air conditioning as this is a vehicle that is made to be a great choice for the outdoorsman in all of us, giving us the ability to invite the outdoors in.
When it comes to the optional features the Wrangler comes with a very impressive list. These typically are part of the fourteen different packages that are offered with some of the most popular being the Wrangler Rubicon Hard Rock Package, Willys Wheeler Package, Sport S Package, Connectivity Group, Power Convenience Group, Trail Kit, Trailer-tow Package and the Dual Top Group. With a variety of options and groups you can have the Wrangler you want by simply building it up and creating the group you want. There are of course tons of great aftermarket parts that you can find for your Jeep Wrangler as companies have been making it easier and better for off roaders for many years.
One of the most attractive features of the Jeep Wrangler for those off roading enthusiasts that know they will be outdoors a lot is the price. The base Wrangler Sport starts around $24,500 with the four-door Unlimited Sport model coming in at $2,800 more. Adding packages and features you can see yourself in a fully loaded Sahara or Rubicon model that can cost you well over $40,000 and at that you will have an awesome Jeep Wrangler to drive that has plenty of great equipment that is all under warranty for a period of time. This is typically the smarter choice over going through a lot of aftermarket parts and dealers and then having to juggle a ton of different warranties.
The drive in a Wrangler is one that is amazing as the body on frame layout of the Wrangler takes you down paths and trails in the great outdoors. On or off the road this is a vehicle you will love to drive as long as you enjoy the knowledge that driving it on the road during the week will lead to a great outdoor adventure on the weekend. The suspension is perfect for the outdoors and the steering is precise yet forgiving to make for some of the best driving on and off the road. If the Jeep Wrangler is the vehicle you have dreamed of driving in order to have a great ride in the outdoors, its time you joined the cultish group of Jeep owners and learned why driving a Jeep Wrangler is different and better than any other vehicle on the market.
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