2013
• AUTO TRENDS
A Rugged Rig Auto expert Greg Rubenstein takes on the 2013 Jeep Wrangler Sahara. The Jeep Wrangler is an icon. It’s a purpose-
built vehicle that has withstood the test of time, tracing lineage to the early 1940s Willys MB military 4x4.The latest iteration remains true to that heritage and is capable as ever, offering off-road prowess without parallel, though with more creature comforts now available and just a touch of its roughness smoothed out. Among the devoted following of Jeep loyalists, the mantra “It’s a Jeep thing” continues to ring true.The Wrangler’s ride quality, modest fuel economy, and problematic reliability are of minimal concern. What matters is the capability to drive from showroom to rock crawling, a feature Jeep readily promotes through its Trail Rated program. The Trail Rated label isn’t mere marketingspeak. The trademark badge means the vehicle excels in five crucial off-road standards: traction, ground clearance, maneuverability, articulation, and water fording. Of course, every performance standard is a trade-off of one sort or another. For the Wrangler, superb off-road ability translates to uncomfortable and somewhat unruly on-road behavior. Basic on-road driving dynamics amount to a jittery, unstable straight-line performance coupled with mediocre cornering
54
AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2013
and braking abilities. The cabin is noisy and cramped and does little to prevent an invasive cacophony of tire, wind, and engine sounds, particularly at moderate to hard acceleration and highway cruising. While it doesn’t easily serve as family transportation—the tight rear compartment does hold a pair of child seats, provided the front seats aren’t positioned too far back— there is an undeniable charm imparted to the driver. The Wrangler, particularly in the tested Sahara trim and generously loaded with options, offers unanticipated creature comforts and some luxury appointments. At a base price of $28,790, the Wrangler Sahara gets a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine rated at 285 horsepower, 18-inch alloy wheels, high- and low-range four-wheel drive, antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, hill-start assist, and a six-speed manual transmission. Optional equipment includes heated leather seats, five-speed automatic transmission, a three-piece removable hardtop, and navigation with integrated voice-command infotainment system, along with remote start. The total price came in at $35,360, which
seems like a good chunk of change for such a primitive ride. This is, however, a specialty vehicle every bit as purpose-built as any exotic sports car—only with an entirely different focus. Like a high-performance sports car, fuel economy is a secondary consideration in the Wrangler, evidenced by its EPA-rated 18mpg combined estimate; observed economy over a week’s worth of mixed freeway and surface street use was 16.8-mpg. At least the fuel tank is relatively large—with 18.6 gallons, a range of 300 miles per tank is easily achieved. As a weekend getaway toy or a snowbird vehicle or towed behind a motorhome, the Wrangler is without challenge—if your goal is to get far off the road without investing thousands of dollars in aftermarket equipment. The competitive set includes Toyota’s FJ and the Nissan Xterra, though neither exudes the insider-status and camaraderie of Jeep ownership. Perhaps the Jeep thing is your thing—if so, the Wrangler delivers.