Ride in the four-door is acceptably smooth over rough surfaces - 2018 Jeep Wrangler Review
1Overview
The Wrangler is the quintessential Jeep. A charming anachronism with roots dating back to World War II, it virtually started the SUV craze. Like the wartime Jeep it’s descended from, today’s all-new Wrangler, code-named JL in this generation, will go just about anywhere. Wranglers come in two- and four-door body styles and are equipped with a 3.6-liter V-6—a turbocharged four-cylinder and a diesel V-6 are joining the lineup soon—that powers all four wheels through a variety of available all- and four-wheel-drive systems. There are comfier, roomier, and more fuel-efficient SUVs, but no others that offer the freeing feeling of popping the entire top on a sunny day. And few others that can conquer terrain like a Wrangler.
What's New for 2018?
Although it may not look like it, everything about the Wrangler is all-new for 2018, and it wears a new model designation—JL—to differentiate it from the outgoing Wrangler JK that will be sold alongside the new Wrangler for 2018. Designed to honor the Wrangler’s ancestry and off-road capability while also improving passenger space, comfort, and on-road performance, the JL is much improved over the last generation. The two-door model is simply called the Wrangler, while the four-door is named Wrangler Unlimited.
Pricing
Original MSRP:
Sport: $29,440
Unlimited Sport: $32,640
Sport S: $32,640
Unlimited Sport S: $36,140
Rubicon: $39,440
Unlimited Sahara: $39,790
Unlimited Rubicon: $42,940
Unlimited Moab: $52,695
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The standard 285-hp 3.6-liter V-6 from the previous-generation Wrangler makes its way under the hood of the new JL and can be paired with a six-speed manual gearbox or a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic. Wranglers are born off-road ready, so part-time four-wheel drive is standard across the range and is controlled by a lever on the center console. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder will join the lineup later in 2018 and will make 270 horsepower with the help of a mild-hybrid setup that Jeep calls eTorque. Sport, Sport S, and Sahara trims come standard with a part-time four-wheel-drive system. Sahara models also can be spec’d with a full-time all-wheel-drive system—a Wrangler first—called Selec-Trac. Performance at our test track shows that the Wrangler JL is much improved compared with the previous model, but it’s still truck-like in comparison with today’s refined SUVs and pickups. The ride in the four-door is acceptably smooth over rough surfaces, but the shorter two-door delivers a rougher ride. While the Wrangler JL offers vastly improved on-road performance compared with the vehicle it replaces, it still wanders in its lane and requires frequent steering inputs to keep it tracking straight.
Fuel Economy
EPA fuel economy testing and reporting procedures have changed over time. For the latest and most accurate fuel economy numbers on current and older vehicles, we use the U.S. Department of Energy's fueleconomy.gov website. Under the heading "Find & Compare Cars" click on the Compare Side-by-Side tool to find the EPA ratings for the make, model, and year you're interested in.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Seated close to the upright windshield, the driver and front-seat passenger face a narrow, squared-off dashboard punctuated by round air vents and chunky switchgear for the climate-control system, power windows (if equipped), and infotainment. The seating position for the driver is high, allowing for a panoramic view of what lies ahead, but climbing in and out of this high-riding SUV requires some muscle and a good jump. Large grab handles on the front roof pillars are there for assistance, and Jeep offers optional running boards to aid ingress and egress. Rear-seat passengers have few amenities in the base Sport and Sport S trims, but in the back of our Unlimited Sahara four-door test vehicle we found a bank of USB ports, a flip-down center armrest with cupholders, and enough space for two adults or three kids; two-door models offer far less space for rear-seat passengers. Stash spots throughout the Wrangler’s cabin should satisfy most users, and the glovebox and center-console armrest storage bin are lockable to help keep valuables safe when the top is down. The Wrangler’s swing-out tailgate opens up to a low cargo floor, so loading your gear takes less effort than it would with some competitors’ cargo areas.
Infotainment and Connectivity
All Wrangler JLs are equipped with touchscreen infotainment systems of varying sizes running Fiat Chrysler’s intuitive and quick-responding Uconnect interface. Base Sport and mid-level Sport S trims come standard with a 5.0-inch color display. A 7.0-inch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is part of the optional Technology Group package ($995) on the Sport S and standard on the Sahara and the Rubicon. If in-dash navigation is important to you, select the Electronic Infotainment System Group package ($1495 on Sahara or Rubicon models),