When it comes to off-roading there are only a handful of vehicles that truly do justice to the “go anywhere” attitude. And the Jeep Wrangler probably sits on top of the list. But I have always wondered why the Wrangler has been hyped so much. Well, I now understand why.
Jeep has introduced the facelifted Wrangler in India. Now, it isn’t all-new, but for me it does feel very new because it was my first time on a Wrangler. So what are the changes and what makes the Wrangler legendary. Let us find out.
2024 Jeep Wrangler: Same looks with minimal changes
The Wrangler’s design has been one of its key USPs which harks back to the days when functionality stood at the top of the priority list. Good thing Jeep hasn’t tinkered with the design barring a couple of minor updates. For instance, the 7-slat front grille is now surrounded by black bezels with grey or silver inserts depending on the variant you choose.
Another change is the new star-pattern dual-tone, machine cut alloy wheels available in either 17-inch or 18-units for the Rubicon or Unlimited variant. The former is also devoid of a side step which doesn’t compromise on its break over angle. The Rubicon now gets the hard-earned ‘Trailrated 4×4’ badge on both sides of the fenders.
The 2024 Wrangler now gets a gorilla glass windshield up front for better protection and scratch resistance. Another neat addition is the integrated wireless antenna which is invisible to the naked eye. Overall the design, as mentioned above, remains unchanged with the same boxy silhouette, tall pillars, flat roofline, round headlamps, a tailgate-mounted spare wheel, rectangular tail lights, and a set of very traditional chunky bumpers at the front and rear.
2024 Jeep Wrangler: Refreshed interiors, more features
Changes inside the cabin, in comparison, are a lot more significant. The entire dashboard layout is different with a larger and a more advanced 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display embedded with the latest version of the UConnect 5 interface taking centre stage. The round air con vents in the previous model have made way for sleek vents underneath the central touchscreen whereas the side vents remain circular in shape.
I like the fact that Jeep has carried on with a semi-digital instrument cluster retaining the analog dials of tachometer and speedometer. The digital MID is different and packs in more features this time. I also like the fact that Jeep has retained the physical buttons and not replaced them with touch-sensitive panels which would just kill the feel of a good old-school rugged SUV.
There are plenty of cubby holes inside the cabin to store one’s knick knacks. Practicality is enhanced by a plethora of charging options including USB, C-type as well as 12V and 230V sockets at the front and rear, respectively. The dashboard wears a new PUR wrap which is dust and smudge resistant. The seats too are now wrapped in Nappa leather which are now washable, therefore, removing the muck after a full day of off-roading is not a worry anymore.
Watch video: 2024 Jeep Wrangler review
Other novelties include a 9-speaker Alpine audio system with a subwoofer, a 12-way adjustable front seats, heating functionality for steering wheel and front seats, keyless entry on the go, and an in-built navigation system with voice assist to name a few. That said it misses out on some very common features like a headlamp washer, ventilated front seats, and wireless phone charging, which should be standard offerings for vehicles of this segment.
2024 Jeep Wrangler: On-road giant
After checking out all the nitty gritties of the spec sheet, it was time we took the Wrangler out. We started out on the roads for a brief 20 km stretch on tarmac, mostly driving it on B-roads surrounding the forest reserve near Chandigarh where we stayed put for the media drive. For such a long and wide car, the Wrangler did an impressive job thanks to its predictable steering even though it felt a little heavier than usual modern SUVs
It will also take the user a bit of time to get hold of the Wrangler’s size especially in sharp turns on such narrow village roads. As expected from a ladder-on-frame SUV there is noticeable sideways movement while taking these turns, but nothing alarming. For a pure off-road vehicle, the suspension on the Wrangler has been tuned to find the right balance. Although I found it slightly on the softer side, it gobbled up large potholes at high speeds without transferring any considerable movement inside the cabin.
Speaking of the cabin, while it was my first time on a Wrangler, I was told by my senior industry colleagues that the in-cabin experience is a lot more pleasant than before with improved NVH levels. I also spent some time on the back seat and the on-road comfort is comparable to any modern urban SUV.
One thing which left me disappointed was the engine performance. Now, for a car weighing easily above 2 tonnes I don’t expect it to be a hustler, although it takes an awful lot of time to build up speeds. On paper, the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol motor churns out a substantial 270 horses and 400 Nm of peak torque but lacks the surge needed to push such a big vehicle to triple digit speeds.
The motor isn’t one of the smoothest out there, which one wouldn’t notice if the windows are pulled up, thanks to good noise insulation, but it does get noisy when the rpm needle shoots around 5000-6000 rpm mark. Further, there is noticeable turbo lag between 1500 and 3000 rpm but the effect is amplified by the slow responses of the 8-speed automatic gearbox. The torque converter unit, though seamless in nature, takes a bit of time to downshift on pressing down hard on the gas. That said, the Wrangler isn’t meant to shine on the road, is it?
2024 Jeep Wrangler: Off-road legend
The Wrangler is meant for hardcore trailbashing and in this area it didn’t disappoint me one bit. It can pull off unimaginable stuff with so ease that it will put all the modern SUVs to shame. We were driving the top-spec Rubicon which benefits from some additional hardware over the Unlimited trim, giving it the hard-earned trail rated badge.
For instance, the Rubicon gets an additional Rock trac feature with the option to disconnect the sway bar, which not only makes the articulation tests a breeze but a visual treat for the bystanders to witness the Wrangler’s flexibility. Driving the vehicle on a sandy river bed and slushes was an equally fun activity for us thanks to the mud-terrain tyres wrapped around the 17-inch machine-cut alloy wheels.
However, what left me personally in awe was the Wrangler’s river-crossing ability. With a towering ground clearance of 237mm and a massive water wading capacity of 834mm, I literally drove into the Sutlej river without any fuss. For a vehicle of this magnitude, the descent from the steep slope was a walk in the park. I wish I had more time with the Wrangler to explore the inner adventure enthusiast in me.
2024 Jeep Wrangler: Verdict
The Wrangler is an off-roading behemoth and it encapsulates the true essence of adventure. It can overhaul obstacles with so ease which other so called “SUVs” wouldn’t even dare to attempt.
In on-road scenarios, the body on frame SUV shows its limitations with a heavy steering and body roll, but the overall in-cabin experience remains decently comfortable. Jeep has made an honest attempt in bringing a bit more premiumness to the package but the good thing though it still sticks to its roots. The “go anywhere” attitude hasn’t died and it continues to prosper in full glory.
That said, the Wrangler is definitely not everybody’s cup of tea and will only find itself parked inside the garage of a true off-roading enthusiast. Although such vehicles are not bought seeing the price tag, the Jeep Wrangler is definitely more pocket friendly when compared to its closest rivals from luxury brands like Land Rover and Mercedes Benz.
