With the Land Rover Defender out of the picture (for now), there’s only one car fans of boxy utilitarian SUVs can seriously consider buying: the Jeep Wrangler (although the new Jimny isn’t a bad call either).
Luckily, a new generation Wrangler has just rolled into showrooms and we’ve rounded up all you need to know about this right-angled off-roader.
Familiar but fresh styling
Looks-wise, this is the Wrangler we all know and love, with styling remaining faithful to what has come before.
Jeep’s designers haven’t been slacking off though and several subtle touches have kept things fresh.
New LED headlamps and rear lights update the exterior and inside, there’s a new 8.4-inch touchscreen system and increased storage capacity.
Safer than ever
The Wrangler is safer than ever before, thanks to the introduction of blind-spot monitoring, rear cross path detection, a reverse camera, electronic stability control with electronic roll mitigation and four airbags as standard.
New engines
The engines are all new too, with buyers able to choose from a 2.2-litre MultiJet II turbo diesel or a two-litre turbo petrol.
The 197bhp 2.2-litre MultiJet II turbo diesel engine delivers 450Nm of torque and features second-generation MultiJet technology, four valves per cylinder, belt-driven double overhead camshafts, 2,000-bar common rail injection system, solenoid injectors, a variable geometry turbocharger, and stop-start.
Meanwhile, the 268bhp two-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder petrol option churns out 400Nm of torque. This petrol won’t be available in the UK from launch but should join the range before the end of 2018.
Both the petrol and diesel come mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard.
Roof-down off-roading
Not many SUVs let you get the roof down, but the Wrangler does.
Jeep says the Wrangler is ‘the only authentic full open-air 4×4 SUV on the market’, which is a comment the Evoque Convertible might take issue with.
Buyers can choose from three roof options: the sky one-touch powertop, new zipperless premium sunrider soft top and the freedom top – a removable, three-panel hard top.
‘Go anywhere, do anything’
Jeep also says that the ‘go anywhere, do anything’ Wrangler blends excellent on-road performance, legendary off-road capability, and outstanding value for money.
They add that it’s ‘the most capable Wrangler ever and is just as happy on city streets as it is off the beaten path’.
The critics seem to be won over too, with Autocar awarding the new Wrangler four stars, labelling it ‘unflappable, unstoppable and “a playground for adults” kind of car’.
Ten colours
Buyers can choose from ten exterior colours: firecracker red, billet silver metallic, bright white, granite crystal metallic, hellayella, ocean blue, punk’n metallic, mojito, sting gray and plain old black.
Pricing
To buy outright, you’re looking at £44,495 on the road.
That’s for the two-door base-level Sahara model, driven by a 2.2-litre MultiJet II engine with 197bhp and all-wheel-drive, mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
For the Overland or Rubicon model, OTR prices climb to £46,495 and anyone who wants four doors can add an extra £1,500 to those prices.
Every new Wrangler comes with a five-year warranty, a three-year servicing programme and five years of roadside assistance.