Perhaps the most iconic SUV of all time, the Jeep Wrangler is a modern-day legend in its own right. Right off the dealer's lot, you won't find a more capable vehicle off the beaten path. Canadians have also come to love the Wrangler for its sense of adventure and fun - the new Evoque Convertible aside, you won't find another open-air SUV on the market.
Now in the final year of the current generation, the 2017 Wrangler is now available with a LED Lighting Group package that adds auto on-off LED headlamps and LED fog lamps. There's also a new Cold Weather Group which is available on Sport S and Rubicon trims, which adds all-terrain tires, an engine block heater, all-weather floor mats, heated seats, remote engine starter, and the Convenience Group.
The Wrangler is also available in several new colours, including Acid Yellow, Gobi (sand beige), Chief (bright blue), and Xtreme Purple.
All Wranglers come standard with a 3.6-litre V6 engine that develops 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, which is quite a bit of power for a vehicle with dimensions as small as this. A six-speed manual transmission is standard; a five-speed automatic is optional.
With solid axles front and rear, and styling that we doubt has ever seen the inside of a wind tunnel, the Wrangler is hardly the most practical or refined vehicle on the market. The cabin is narrow and cramped, and in two-door form, it has precious little cargo space. A high ride height and upright glass do make for good visibility. Buyers can upgrade the Wrangler's cabin to include leather upholstery, all manner of power accessories, and a weather-proof Alpine stereo system. Due to the Wrangler's age, certain modern amenities such as a reverse camera, or modern active safety features like radar cruise control, collision warning, or emergency autonomous braking aren't available.
The Wrangler is available in a number of trims ranging from the basic Sport and Sport S, to the off-road oriented Willys Wheeler, to the luxury Sahara and the ultimate Rubicon.
The Sport is about as basic as modern vehicles come - no power locks, no power windows, no air conditioning - but it does get a cloth roof that can be fully retracted and doors that can be removed. 16-inch steel wheels come standard, but can be upgraded to 17-inch alloys.
The Sport S adds 17-inch silver alloy wheels, air conditioning, leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, leather-wrapped shift knob, satellite radio, and solar tinted glass.
The Willys Wheeler adds gloss black finish wheels, 3.73-inch rear axle, anti-spin rear differential, trip computer, Bluetooth, off-road tires, performance suspension, underbody protection, tire pressure monitor display, and black exterior decals.
The Sahara adds a 115-volt power outlet, 18-inch alloy wheels, auto-dimming rear-view mirrors, automatic headlights, power exterior mirrors, body-colour fender flares, bright interior trim, bright grille and headlamp accents, heavy-duty suspension, standard hardtop, power windows, alarm, tubular side steps, 6.5-inch touchscreen display with navigation, and remote keyless entry. If equipped with the optional automatic, remote engine start is also included.
The Rubicon features 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in off-road tires, black bumpers and fender flares, Dana 44 heavy-duty front axle, electronic front sway bar disconnect, performance suspension, upgraded front and rear axles, part-time 4x4 system, rock rails, and the Sunrider soft top system which can be folded back like a sunroof or fully lowered.
Pricing for the Wrangler starts at $28,445 and tops out at $40,845 for the Rubicon.
