Jeep Wrangler 2019 Review

The all-new fourth-generation Jeep Wrangler has loads of new tricks under its butch sheet metal and while the V6 petrol engine is not on that list – using the carryover donk – much has been done to make this a smoother, quieter, more comfortable everyday drive.

Cruising around the mean streets of Perth, the new model is easier to pilot thanks to more precise steering and more responsive acceleration thanks to the adoption of an eight-speed automatic.

Sitting 10-feet off the ground also gives you a better view of your surroundings (and an overblown sense of superiority) and upright windows provide clear lines of sight. The D pillar is chunky but if you've got a spare 10 minutes you can use the included toolkit to take all the panels (and doors!) off.

Blind-spot problem solved.

Replacing the old (and tired) five-speed auto of its predecessor, the JK-series Jeep Wrangler, the new model not only motivates with more rapidity but is also smoother in operation and more efficient too.

There's no way a 3.6-litre Pentastar petrol V6 (209kW/347Nm) is going to be particularly frugal around town, especially when it's pushing around 1900kg of mass. But a new engine-idle stop system that turns off the engine when stopped at traffic lights and whatnot helps reduce fuel consumption.

Claimed fuel consumption is 9.7L/100km across urban and highway but by the end of the review, with about 1000km on the clock (80 per cent highway/country, 20 per cent urban/city) I was looking at 12.9L/100km.

Despite using an agricultural ladder-chassis frame, the same sort of basic ladder-shaped platform that underpins utilitarian dual-cab pick-ups like the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger, the Wrangler is a decent tourer.

This type of chassis is ideal for off-roading, for which the Wrangler is a virtuoso with its live axles, coil suspension and immense ground clearance. But with a sensible suspension tune that reduces body roll in corners, improved sound damping materials tucked into the body work and improved powertrain refinement levels, the Wrangler is a much better highway cruiser now, matching its urban improvements.

After a couple of days Cruising around Perth I headed south on a 270km journey to Margaret River for a hot date with a Brazilian pro surfer (I kid you not, stay tuned for more!).

The 209kW petrol engine is particularly perky on the open road, the eight-speed auto dutifully dropping a few cogs to make quick work of overtaking and speed limit changes. I honestly didn’t expect the boxy 4WD to be so responsive when jumping on the throttle.

At higher revs it doesn’t feel too raspy or wheezy either and has a subtle thrum a middling revs, adding a bit of character.

At 100km/h the Wrangler's V6 engine ticks over at 1500rpm and by my calculation uses around 8.0L/100km on the flat and level with a gentle right foot, but averages a bit more when elevation changes and traffic are factored in.

Adaptive cruise control is standard on this Overland model and is a welcome and effective feature.

I won't go into too much depth about how the Wrangler tackles off-road tracks, as my good mate Rod Chapman has already done so in his write-up of the range-topping Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.

However, I did have a chance to traverse some sandy, rocky bush tracks along the coast near Margaret River – and even a cheeky blast on the beach at Joey's Nose. Thoughts? Absolutely unstoppable. With good approach and departure angles and easy-to-engage 4L mode, I never felt out of my depth. It just eats up whatever comes its way.

Overall, it's mission accomplished for Jeep's new Wrangler, whose on-road manners have improved dramatically but not at the cost of off-roading.

The cabin of the Wrangler is much improved over its predecessor with higher quality materials in use, better ergonomics but enough legacy features to keep the loyalists happy.

There's no other cabin like this in the car world – although Suzuki Jimny comes close. There's no mistaking what this vehicle is built for and it's the kind of car you can fill with water and not really worry too much about.

There's also loads of Easter eggs in the car, little homages to the brand and its heritage, and I remember one Jeep exec telling me there's about 40 of them in total.

Harking back to the previous Wrangler, the electric window controls, for example, are still clustered in the middle of the central control stack, underneath the large 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

Pairing an iPhone was easy and there's a high level of functionality to the infotainment system, including very good with step-by-step instructions and some cool off-road functions that provide real-time data on approach and departure angles.

The dashboard looks great too; there are two large dials, orange highlights on this test vehicles, with a large LCD trip computer in the middle. The latter has loads of options from the usual fuel used, trip distance to adaptive cruise control distances and even a graphical display of the drive train that shows when the diffs are engaged and tyre pressures.

All the controls are sensibly placed on the centre console and while the cabin is more elevated than pretty much any SUV you can think of, there's loads of grab handles that improve entry and exit – and also come in handy for passengers on bumpy bush trails.

The heated seats are finished in black McKinley leather and straddle a line between comfort and support that doesn't upset the tooshie on longer drives.

Steering wheels controls are pretty tidy, if numerous, and there's a pair of cup holders split by a handy-dandy phone holder. There are three inputs sockets up front, AUX, USB and USB C and although the handbrake is on the wrong side it's not a deal breaker.

Incidental storage areas are suited to off-roading with a non-slip rubber mat underneath the central armrest, good for securing phones and hunting knives, while the door pockets are covered with elastic netting which makes them fit for purpose, as they stop things rattling about.

The view from the driver's seat is dominated by the huge bonnet with its tough-looking vents, curved retro flanks and security clips. It makes every drive feel little bit special and different – this is not your regular off-roader.

There are a few negatives when it comes to the interior, such as the lack of a foot rest to the left of the brake pedal which makes the footwell a bit cramped. Back seat room is adequate but not amazing for a 4880mm-long mud-plugger.

The other issue – apart from a one-star ANCAP safety rating, which I'll get to in a second – is the high-security fuel cap. You have to slot your key into it every time you fill up. I get that it's good to be secure, but I reckon this'll get annoying over the long-term.

The boot is pretty deep, with a claimed 898 litres of space (measured floor to ceiling), expanding to 2050 litres with the 60:40 split rear seats folded down. This model has the optional 'trail rail' management system ($350) in the boot, which is pretty handy.

It comprises eight lockable, push-button sliding luggage tie-down points recessed into rails which our photography and videography guys were swooning over. Securing odd/multiple objects? Easy done.

Jeep has doubled down on its warranty offerings after facing criticism over the reliability of some models like the Jeep Grand Cherokee and now offers a five-year/100,000km factory warranty. This is paired with lifetime roadside assistance when serviced at an official Jeep dealership.

Intervals for capped-price services are 12 months or 12,000km, whichever comes first. This petrol model is capped at $299 per service, so over five year's it'll cost $1495 to service which is reasonable.

When the Jeep CJ was re-branded the Wrangler in 1987, it created a nameplate that would become a cultural icon whose seven-slot grille, circular headlights and curved bonnet haven’t changed much.

But now it finally feels as though the Wrangler has come of age. Purists will still appreciate its go-anywhere 4x4 setup with its solid axles and low range transfer case, while urban weekend warriors won't be off-put by short-comings in comfort and convenience.

The Wrangler has gone up in price by around $10,000, it has a poor one-star ANCAP safety rating by virtue of its removable body roof panels, doors and fold-down windscreen and certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea.

But compared to any other tough off-roader, such as a LandCruiser 200 Series, Nissan Patrol, Mitsubishi Pajero or even Land Rover Defender, it not only represents relatively decent value, but is light-years ahead in terms of tech, connectivity and convenience features.

Now, where did the Jeep Gladiator ute get to?

How much does the 2019 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Overland cost?
Price: $62,950 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.6-litre six-cylinder petrol
Output: 209kW/347Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 12.9L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 225g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: One-star ANCAP (2019)