2010 Jeep Wrangler

Review

If you’re drawn to a vehicle as rugged as the Jeep Wrangler, it’s probably for the right reasons…you enjoy off-roading, you like the tough Jeep image, and you want an SUV that walks the talk. If you meet that description, you’ll love the 2010 Wrangler. The Wrangler is unrivaled in its off-road prowess and offers an impressive array of body styles and trim levels. Of course, every authentic SUV has its shortcomings, and the Wrangler’s include poor fuel economy, laggardly acceleration, and questionable safety scores. Read our review of the 2010 Jeep Wrangler for the complete results of our road test.

Improvements from the 2009 Jeep Wrangler

For the new model year, the Jeep Wrangler gets a soft top that’s easier to remove. Tow hooks, foglamps, and a compass are also now standard equipment. Cloth upholstery replaces the vinyl in the base-model Wrangler Sport, and Jeep adds a leather upholstery option on the Rubicon and Sahara models for 2010.

Performance

Critics agree that the 2010 Wrangler is virtually unstoppable off the beaten path. No other compact SUV comes close to the Wrangler in terms of off-road performance. The Rubicon is especially well-equipped for off-road adventures, and the two-door Wrangler is much more maneuverable than the larger Unlimited on tight paths. It’s when you return the Jeep Wrangler to the asphalt jungle that it begins to fall short. With a bumpy ride, sluggish acceleration, and substantial body roll, the Wrangler is not an ideal daily commuter. The 3.8-liter, 202-horsepower V6 is great for rough terrains, but it makes for an uninspired highway ride, particularly when passing. Although the Wrangler lacks grip, the steering is surprisingly communicative. The brakes are another shortfall, stopping the 2010 Wrangler from 60 mph in a disturbing lengthy 137 feet.

Exterior Features

The 2010 Jeep Wrangler is a convertible compact SUV offered in two- and four-door (the Unlimited) body styles. Each body style is available in three trims: the Sport, Rubicon, and Sahara. True Jeep enthusiasts will love the Wrangler’s uncompromising boxy styling, removable doors, and folding soft stop. Drivers can also opt for a three-piece modular removable hardtop for $1,625 extra, which most car reviews say provides substantially less road noise. Check out our gallery of photos to view both body styles of the 2010 Wrangler. Standard exterior equipment includes foglamps, 16-inch wheels, and the folding soft top.

Interior Features

Auto reviews are ruthlessly harsh on the Jeep Wrangler’s minimalist interior, which is full of hard plastics and lacking in comfort and convenience features. Buyers should remember, though, that the 2010 Wrangler is designed to cruise through filth, dirt, and mud. Although hard plastics might not be that aesthetically appealing or inviting, they are easy to clean and functional. The seats are not particularly comfortable, and the two-door Wrangler only holds four passengers. The four-door model holds five. Standard interior equipment includes a tilt steering wheel, cloth upholstery, a six-speaker stereo with CD player, an auxiliary audio jack, and a one-piece flip-and-fold removable rear seat.

Safety and Specifications

The crash-worthiness of the Jeep Wrangler varies widely depending on whether the SUV is equipped with the optional side airbags. Without the side airbags, the 2010 Wrangler earned the worst rating possible, “poor,” in side-impact crash tests conducted by the car insurance industry. On the other hand, in government crash tests, the Jeep Wrangler did well in front-impact tests, earning a perfect five-star score. The two-door Wrangler has a significant rollover risk, though, earning only three out of five stars on the rollover crash test. Standard car safety equipment on 2010 Wranglers includes hill-start assist, anti-lock brakes, and stability control with a rollover sensor. An overview of the Jeep Wrangler’s specs is offered below.

• Car pricing: $21,165 - $32,050 MSRP; $20,614 - $30,186 invoice
• Engine: 3.8-liter, 302-hp V6
• Transmission: six-speed manual standard; four-speed automatic optional
• Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 9.7 seconds with automatic-transmission Wrangler Unlimited

Upgrade Options

Virtually all of the upgrades available on the 2010 Jeep Wrangler come only with packages or certain trim levels. For example, the Rubicon includes 17-inch alloy wheels, electronically locking front and rear differentials, rock rails, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, and a premium Infinity stereo with a subwoofer and satellite radio. Other packages add options like a larger fuel tank, air-conditioning, power accessories, a security alarm, keyless entry, and 18-inch wheels. Any Wrangler trim can be outfitted with an iPod interface and a six-disc CD changer. On the Sahara and Rubicon trims, drivers can include a navigation system that offers real-time traffic updates, a hard drive, digital music storage, and Bluetooth.

How the Wrangler Compares to Other Compact Pickup Trucks

The 2010 Wrangler is priced competitively for its segment, but it falls short on safety, reliability, and fuel economy. In fact, the Jeep Wrangler has the worst fuel economy in its class, with a city/highway rating of 15/19 mpg.

New car guide websites estimate the 2010 Jeep Wrangler’s Intellichoice 5 year cost of ownership at $34,529, which is average for a compact SUV. The 2010 Wrangler earned a less-than-desirable score of 5.0 out of 10 on the J.D. Power Quality Ratings for predicted reliability. If you are an excelling pupil of an educational institution, then you will be able to qualify for cheap student car insurance, although this varies with each insurance carrier. The Jeep Wrangler offers average warranty protection, including a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Conclusion: Is the 2010 Jeep Wrangler a Smart Buy?

The 2010 Jeep Wrangler is a classic no-nonsense SUV. Its rugged, outdoorsy image and stellar off-road performance are unrivaled in the compact SUV class. The Wrangler is also fun to drive, although its on-road chops are nowhere near what it is capable of on rougher terrain. Drivers pay a price for the Wrangler’s off-road toughness, however, in the form of poor fuel economy, questionable safety ratings, and a low-quality interior. Still, Jeep did what it set out to do with the 2010 Wrangler, which is create a rough-and-tumble SUV that could conquer any terrain and do justice to the Jeep brand.