2009 Jeep Wrangler Review

Specifications

What can we say about the Jeep Wrangler - it is an icon of American heritage. It has gone to war with our troops, slogged through disaster areas to bring relief to victim’s of earthquakes and flooding and traveled thousands of miles to bring first aid supplies to areas in need. It is synonymous with off-road travel and may the closest thing to extreme adventure that many people will experience in their lifetime.

The Jeep Wrangler is available in four models - the X, the X Right Hand Drive, the Sahara and the Rubicon. All have the distinctive seven-slot grill, fold down windshield, single round headlights, wide fender flares, trapezoidal wheel openings and open-air driving experience.

Personalizing a Wrangler is easy - there are many configurations to choose from and the decisions are almost impossible to make. Choose from full doors or half doors, wheel configurations, soft-top and three-piece hardtop. Side steps are standard on the Sahara and the X models.

A big complaint of the older Wranglers was an engine to big, powerful, thirsty and heavy for the vehicle. The 3.8-Liter V6 overhead valve 60-degree engine is smaller, quieter, lighter and drinks less fuel. Producing 202 hp and 237 ft-lb of torque, the new engine is a huge improvement over the V8s of previous years and at 15mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway, the Wrangler is still thirstier then other vehicles in its class but better then it was a few years ago.

Standard on all models is the six speed manual transmission. Geared for off-road ability in the lower gears and topping out for highways in the last few throws, the transmission gives incredible control as you crawl over slick rock or through traffic jams. The four speed automatic is standard on the X Right Hand Drive and is available in all other models. Like all vehicles developed for primarily off-road driving, the handling and comfort of the Jeep Wrangler can seem stiff and uncompromising.

The interior of the Wrangler is utilitarian for the most part, although anyone who has driven in an early model, the new Wrangler will seem like a Cadillac in comparison. Jeep has beefed up the axles to match the larger drive shaft, stiffer housing, larger pinion bearing and above-center pinion mounting the Wrangler to handle greater load and torque when off-roading.

For off-road driving, all Jeep Wranglers come with Tru-Lok® Locking Differentials while the X, XRD and Sahara models can come in two-wheel drive or with the part-time Command-Trac® a four-wheel drive system. The Rubicon comes standard with Rock-Trac®, a two-speed transfer case that allows the vehicle to crawl at even slower speeds but with an increase in torque at the wheels - perfect for rocky terrain or traversing fallen logs.

True to Jeep heritage, the YES Essentials Fabric is stain, water and odor resistant and if they get too dirty, take the garden hose and soak them down. A newer feature of the driver’s seat adjusting up and down as well as front to back is a welcome addition to those of us that are vertically challenged. Features such as the hidden bin in the cargo area, glove box and center console keep items hidden from curious eyes. Power locking doors and power windows are a step up from the older Wranglers but don’t worry, the doors are still easy to remove even with the addition of all the electronics.

The addition of the optional MyGig® Multimedia System w/ GPS Navigation allows you not only know where you are going like every other GPS system, it also allows you to take your favorite music, photos and DVDs along for the ride. Inside is a 30 gb hard drive so you can upload over four thousand of your favorite songs or a few thousand photos through either a disc or a USB 2.0 port. Movies, Sirius TV and photos can be played on the dashboard nav screen when the vehicle is in park. Bluetooth technology allows for hands free calling and each Wrangler comes with a one-year subscription to Sirius Satellite Radio.

The Jeep Wrangler will always play a special part in American history and remains a fun vehicle for daily driving or weekend adventures.