It’s all about the wave. If you get it, you get it. The Jeep wave, that is, the one Jeep Wrangler driver’s offer as they pass by each other. It’s a fraternity of sorts, one with like-minded off-road adventurers who know and respect what a Jeep brings to their off-road excursions. There’s a lot to like about Jeep Wranglers. If you’re considering joining the club, here’s a closer look to help you understand why Jeeps are so popular.
Off-Road Style
The Wrangler’s unique, open-air ability is one of the longest-running signature features on any automobile. A removable top, doors, and a fold-down windshield continue to please a growing number of Jeep owners. Plus, it makes it easy to throw that Jeep wave out there. Tops today run the gamut from the easy to lower Sunrider soft top, to the one-piece Freedom Top hardtop, to the Sky One-Touch power-folding top that stores neatly in the rear cargo area.
Over 80 years of Jeep Wrangler production hasn’t significantly changed the Wrangler’s iconic style, only modernized it. Jeep’s signature grille remains framed by round LED headlights, daytime running lights, fog lamps, and its high bumper completing a bold front fascia.
Wheel options include stylish 17-inch Tech Silver aluminum wheels, 18-inch Granite Crystal wheels, and 20-inch fully-painted Gloss Black aluminum wheels. The Wrangler’s flared fenders can fit up to 33-inch factory-installed all-terrain tires for some serious performance.
Twelve trims are available, each with a signature look, like the Sahara’s dessert-themed style to the Freedom’s adventurous style, to the Rubicon’s rugged profile, to the High Altitude’s premium upscale touches. New for 2021 is the Jeep Wrangler 4Xe, a plug-in hybrid Jeep with incredible power.
Off-Road Capability
No one does off-road better than the Jeep Wrangler. Jeep’s legendary 4×4 systems are churning out an off-road performance like never before. Every Wrangler proudly displays Jeep’s Trail Rated badge. For Wrangler to earn this badge, it had to pass a series of rugged, off-road scenarios testing its traction, maneuverability, ground clearance, articulation, and water-fording to prove itself capable in the harshest conditions, inclement weather, and the roughest terrain.
Jeep’s Rock-Trac 4×4 system operates in full-time 4×4 and part-time 4×4 for incredible control and the most torque ever in a Wrangler. The result is outstanding off-road performance. An electronic sway-bar disconnect system works with the push of a button to drop the front wheels for superior articulation over challenging terrain.
Wrangler’s precision steering systems, exceptional ground clearance, and high-performance wheelbases allow for better maneuverability in tight situations, crawling over logs, or working around large obstacles. A high air-intake system, unique water-sealed electrical systems, and a moisture-resistant body let the Wrangler cross rivers and streams up to 30 inches deep.
Powerful Engines
Five engines are available on the Wrangler lineup, plus the plug-in hybrid. The legendary Pentastar V-6 engine with start-stop technology comes standard and gives you 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. It can tow up to 3,500 pounds and has a 17 mpg city rating and 23 mpg highway rating.
Jeep offers a modified version of the same Pentastar V-6 engine. It comes with eTorque, a mild-hybrid system that adds low-end torque for exceptional rock crawling ability and impressive starting power. The V-6 with eTorque delivers 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque and improves the mpg ratings to 19/24 city/highway while still towing up to 3,500 pounds.
A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with start-stop technology is available. This powertrain delivers 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This 2.0-liter engine improves efficiency with 21/24 city/highway mpg ratings without sacrificing towing capacity.
Blending efficiency with power to perfection is the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 engine. Its low-end power is perfect for off-roading and its diesel platform has a more extended driving range. It puts out 260 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque.
The Rubicon 392 trim features a 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 engine that impresses on and off the road. The engine puts out an incredible 470 horsepower, 470 pound-feet of torque, goes from 0-60 in 4.5 seconds and clocks a 13-second time in the 1/4-mile.
Interior Style
Jeep designed the Wrangler’s interior with modern features that remain true to its heritage. An available nine-speaker premium Alpine audio system comes with an overhead soundbar, an all-weather subwoofer, and a 552-watt amplifier for theater-quality sound no matter where your adventure leads.
You have four places to stow your gear securely. A Trail Rail system is available for the rear cargo area. You can use the removable cargo floor storage. Smaller items are locked away in the center console or the glove box.
Jeep knows you’ll be getting your Wrangler dirty. That’s why they equip every Wrangler with water-resistant, removable carpets and drain holes in the floor for easy cleanup. The available heated front seats and heated steering wheel warm you up on those cold days.
A dual-zone climate control system keeps you and your co-pilot in your comfort zones. The premium cloth interior is standard on the lower trims, while McKinley or Nappa leather is standard on the higher trims. Both materials come in various styles and colors.
Wrangler Technology
The 2021 Wrangler is the most technologically advanced ever, with features like an available forward-facing off-road camera that sends a live feed of the road ahead to your 8.4-inch touch screen showing you obstacles you can’t see through the windshield.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto let you sync your smart devices for hands-free operation. Your favorite home assistant, Alexa, can start your Jeep, give you fuel levels, and receive navigation information with simple voice commands using your home Alexa device. Your Wrangler turns into a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, so no matter where you go, you and your friends can stay connected.
Jeep Wrangler sales’ steady growth continues to prove there’s a loyal fan base that appreciates what Jeep is doing with the Wrangler. At Huffines Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Plano, Texas, we have one of Wranglers’ largest inventories in the region. For a closer look at a Wrangler, you can browse our inventory online or visit our showroom, conveniently located at 4500 West Plano Parkway.
Image via Flickr by AlBargan