Jeep Wrangler 2.8 CRD

Car type	SUV/truck
Curb weight	1835 kg (4045 lbs)
Introduced	2008
Origin country	United States

Performance

0 - 100 kmph	11.4 s
Top speed	172 kmph (107 mph)

Powertrain specs

Engine type	Inline4 16V Turbo Diesel
Displacement	2.8 l (171 ci)
Power	177 ps (174 bhp / 130 kw)
Torque	400 Nm (295 lb-ft)
Power / liter	63 ps (62 hp)
Power / weight	96 ps (95 bhp) / t
Torque / weight	218 Nm (161 lb-ft) / t
Transmission	5 speed automatic reduction transmission
Layout	front engine, all wheel drive

Powertrain

There's only one engine placed on the Wrangler in the United States which has a 3.6-liter V6 rated at 285 HP and 400Nm of torque. As one would expect all Jeep Wranglers come with 4 wheel drive plus high and low range gearing for those inevitable off road excursions after all, unpaved trails are why you would buy a Wrangler in the first place. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission with hill start assist while a five-speed automatic with both hill start assist and hill descent control is optional. The V6 engine makes a quick Wrangler (0-60 mph in just 6.9 seconds), but it has a combined fuel economy which is disappointing (18 mpg). In Europe, the default engine choice is a torquey and more economical 200 PS (197 hp) 2.8-liter four-cylinder unit.

Handling

No one expects the Wrangler to offer thrills on the road, but the off-roader will disappoint even those with low expectations when it comes to handling. Negotiating turns at reasonable speeds results in plenty of body roll and highlights the fact that the steering is very vague and slow. Higher-speed maneuvers are outright scary. When the movement disappears the Jeep Wrangler rules though. The high ground clearance, short overhangs, competent 4WD system, and rugged suspension make it almost invincible on off-road trails – particularly the shorter-wheelbase, two-door model.

Safety

With opposite to its rugged appearance, the Jeep Wrangler is not the vehicle you should be in when a crash occurs. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tested both the 2016 Wrangler and 2016 Wrangler Unlimited and issued some painful conclusions. The Wrangler offers "Marginal" protection in small overlapped front impact and "good" protection in moderate overlapped front test and "poor" protection during the side impacts with the head restraints and seats offering a "marginal" protection. The Unlimited does better, achieving "Good" ratings for both overlap front impacts and "Marginal" ratings for side impact and head restraint & seats. Neither the NHTSA nor Euro NCAP crash tested the Wrangler.

Comfort

It is easy to see that Jeep Wrangler was not designed for asphalt. The ride quality is rough, but the off-roader deals with road irregularities in a decent manner for a body-on-frame SUV, at least. It's not a car for long trips, though. The amount of road, wind, and engine noise perceived in the cabin is ridiculous for modern car standards. Because of the high ground clearance, getting inside is difficult, although access is easier on models fitted with side steps. To sum it up Jeep Wrangler is not a comfortable vehicle.

Quality

The looks and feels of Wrangler's cabin is rugged. But Jeep is trying to install Atleast a minimum of style to it with optional metal look accents. Function prevails over form, with the old-school vertical dashboard featuring clear gauges and intuitive controls. The Jeep Wrangler is as basic as it gets – sure, you can spec it with a 6.5-inch touchscreen-operated infotainment system, but what's the point? If you actually need more technology and luxury you are clearly looking at the wrong Jeep.

Practicality

Although it's a reasonably-sized vehicle, the Wrangler does offer surprisingly little room for its occupants. The driver and front passenger lack legroom and shoulder room while in the back things are even worse. Rear seat passengers have little legroom and foot room because the floor is sloped and not completely flat. There's more space in the back in the Wrangler Unlimited (the bench can seat three people), but not by a significant amount.The access to Jeep Wrangler is better due to the extra set of doors. As for the trunk, the Jeep Wrangler has offered a disappointing cargo volume of 12.8 cubic feet with all the seats in place. Once again the Unlimited saves the day with 31.5 cu-ft.

Infotainment

The Wrangler comes as standard with a modest Radio 130 audio system that features a dated LCD, an AM/FM radio with CD player, MP3 format capability, and an audio jack for music playback. If you want something more modern, the optional Radio 430N infotainment system comes with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Garmin navigation, an AM/FM radio with CD player, MP3 format capability, an audio jack for music playback, a USB port+ for uploading files, and a hard drive for media file storage. Our advice is to stay away from it because it's dated and frustrating to use.

Efficiency

Predictably, a 3.6-liter V6 gasoline engine fitted to a car shaped like a brick does not return an ideal fuel economy. Both Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited are EPA- rated at 18 mpg combined (17 mpg in city and 21 mpg in highway) regardless of transmission. In Europe, the Jeep Wrangler is equipped with the 2.8-liter diesel capacity and a 6-speed manual transmission. Jeep Wrangler averages 7.1L/100 km, which will be equivalent to 33.1 mpg. The longer Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is with an identical powertrain averages 7.4L/100 km.

Equipment

The 2016 Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited are available only in three trim levels (Sport, Sahara, and Rubicon) with additional models based on some grades. Both the 4 door Wrangler and the 5 door Rubicon come with a standard vinyl convertible roof. But Jeep also offers an optional hardtop with removable panels above the front seat. Standard equipment for the base Wrangler Sport includes 16-inch steel wheels shod with on/off-road tires, skid plates, tow hooks, removable doors, fold-down windshield, cruise control, cloth upholstery, a height-adjustable driver seat, and a tilt-only steering wheel, among other things. The Unlimited adds a bigger fuel tank, air-conditioning, and a 60/40-split rear seat.

Acquisition

Prices for the 2016 Jeep Wrangler start from $23,895 for the base Sport model, excluding destination. The Wrangler is in a class of its own, really, as the competition has been reduced to a single model, the much more expensive Toyota 4Runner. The Toyota FJ Cruiser and the Nissan Xterra are no longer in production while the Land Rover Defender is not sold in the United States. Our advice is to go for the base Sport trim level and spend some additional dollars on custom modifications from Mopar or independent tuners.