I grew up with a father who loved the outdoors, and while we only had a 4x4 during a small portion of my boyhood, we

A great looking SUV, the latest Wrangler Unlimited is the perfect long distance travel companion. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

always took to the hills in whatever was available. Whether it was my Dad’s ’66 VW Beetle 1300, Mom’s ’61 Pontiac Strato Chief station wagon, or one of the old Fargo vans or cage-enclosed flatbed trucks from my father’s workplace (with me riding in the back for hundreds of miles), or later on in his rear-drive Datsun pickup truck, the weekends were for camping or staying at our family cabin, and summer holidays weren’t complete without extended trips into the bush.

We would have loved to have had Jeep’s Wrangler Unlimited for these many forays into God’s country, and my guess is that if one was available to us at the time my Dad would probably have bought it. After all, at $25,495 money isn’t exactly the issue, and then factoring in the outrageously generous discounts that have been available to new car shoppers for the last few years, only more enticing now, sliding behind the wheel of a new Wrangler isn’t so economically challenging.

And it’s a pretty cool vehicle for the price. I mean, can you think of another new car, truck or SUV that offers as much style, substance and capability at just a hair over $25K? Didn’t think so. Still, the Wrangler isn’t for everyone. It’s a rugged

Body-colour fenders look nice. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

vehicle without the types of refinements car buyers are used to, such as a soft compliant suspension with zippy handling, or in base trim, a regular roof. That’s right. It comes with a soft-top, making it one of the lowest priced convertibles on the market. It’s sounding better all the time, no? For a little more money you can purchase a three-piece composite roof with front quarters that can easily be taken off and stowed in back for open-air driving. The roof can be completely removed too, and a variety of soft-top designs (some from Jeep and others by myriad aftermarket suppliers that offer accessories for Wranglers) can be purchased to make it more fun in the summer.

And while it’s not refined in the way that most cars are, the latest Wrangler is the nicest ever offered. Its dash isn’t the body-colour metal slab that it once was, power windows and locks, mirrors and other luxuries can be had to make it almost civilized, and its seats are comfortable and supportive, while in Unlimited trim rear seat occupants truly have room to move around.

I have a friend who lives with a previous-generation Unlimited, which ironically was much more limited due to its two-door body style. Certainly it offers more room in back, but he gets pangs of jealousy every time I pull up in one of the more recent models. This one in the photos is equipped with the most popular Sahara package, making it a cut above the standard Unlimited X but not as pricy as the off-road-biased Rubicon. It’s funny to say that the Rubicon (named after the famed Rubicon Trail where Jeep tests all of its Trail Rated product and where I first drove this newest generation of Wrangler) is the off-road biased model, because even comparing the regular short wheelbase version or Unlimited to anything other than a Jeep makes it look off-road biased too. But you can feel the difference in the ride, the Rubicon being much

A full assortment of luxury appointments inside. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

harsher over the bumps than the X or Sahara. So, being a realist and therefore realizing that my Jeep would be used more often in the city than out in the wild green yonder, I would opt for the more comfortable Sahara setup.

While I like the standard odor- and stain-resistant YES Essentials fabric, my tester came with two-tone leather seating surfaces that looked positively rich. Adding to the ambiance was the Infinity audio system with satellite radio, an auxiliary plug and a booming sub in the cargo area. You can get a nav system as well, and the MyGig Multimedia Infotainment System which adds a USB slot for connecting up an external MP3 player.

The Sahara also features fully painted fenders compared to the black matte plastic of the X and Rubicon, for a more finished look, and a standard hardtop,

Plenty of back seat... (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

amongst other things. All Wranglers get a V6 now, the days of the four-cylinder engines a thing of the past for this model. It’s a 3.8-litre mule, pushing out 202-horsepower and 237 lb-ft of torque for fairly quick acceleration from standstill and decent passing power, although fuel economy is not this engine’s forte at an optimistically estimated 14.4 L/100 km in the city and 11.1 on the highway, despite its six-speed manual transmission. I’ve been calling for Jeep to re and re a diesel into this truck for years, mostly because I’d be the first to run down and buy it, but the company doesn’t seem to having much trouble selling it the way it is, so I suppose it doesn’t make a heck of a lot of sense for Chrysler to expend money on something that’s hardly broken in these brutal economic times.

Out on pavement the Sahara offers up a pretty good ride, considering its off-road prowess,

.... and cargo capacity compared to the regular Wrangler. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

and complements that with skillful handling if you don’t get silly and forget you’re driving a top-heavy SUV. Jeep equips it with standard traction and stability control, so no matter the conditions it maintains its course, unless again you forget what you’re driving and tempt the laws of inertia, physics, etc.

The shifter is a bit balky, but didn’t put up a fight when swapping gears and the clutch is heavier than some people like, but again it never posed a problem for me. Overall, for a person who likes trucks or truck-based SUVs, the Wrangler Unlimited will feel right at home.

My dislikes are the same as they’ve always been with this vehicle. First and foremost is a rear cargo door that swings sideways via hinges hung on the wrong side for the North American market, or most other markets for that matter. If a car is positioned directly behind while parallel parked it’s difficult to access

Still brilliant after all these years. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

the rear cargo area, especially if you’re carrying something large and awkward. I know that tradition is important to Jeep faithful, but this is one tradition we can all do without. Other than that I can’t really complain, as it does what it’s been created for in superb style.

Yes, the Wrangler’s image hasn’t changed much since it was enlisted into military duty in 1941. The old CJ (Civilian Jeep) that ushered out the Willys body and replaced it with something more akin to the latest design, followed up by the TJ (and I’d rather forget the rectangular headlamps), the YJ that brought back the familiar familial face, and now the JK, have a distinct character that no rival comes close to matching. Hummer has tried, and although its vehicles are very capable and a tad more upscale, it hasn’t enjoyed the success of America’s 4x4 brand, and while Toyota is trying to revive the legendary FJ40 with its fun loving and totally off-road-able FJ Cruiser, it’s simply not a Jeep. It’s like comparing a Honda Shadow to a Harley-Davidson. They’re both good machines, but one is the original. The only difference with the Jeep is that it costs thousands less than all the imitators, and that’s a winning formula that should keep the Wrangler and this most popular Unlimited version selling well for years to come.

Specifications (2009 Wrangler Unlimited):

• Price Range (base MSRP): $25,495
  
• Body Type: 2-door convertible SUV
• Layout: front engine, 4WD
• Engine: 202-hp, 237 lb-ft of torque, 3.8L, 12-valve, OHV V6
• Transmission: 6-spd manual (optional 4-spd auto)
• Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS, EBD
• Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 4,404 / 1,877 / 1,801 / 2,946 mm (173.4 / 73.9 / 70.9 / 116.0 in)
• Curb Weight (max): 1,919 – 2,062 kg (4,231 – 4,546 lbs)
• Tires: P225/75R16 (opt. P255/70R18 for Sahara, LT255/70R17 for Rubicon)
• Ground Clearance: 221 – 257 mm (8.7 – 10.1 in)
• Cargo Volume (seats up/down): 1,314 / 2,322 L (46.4 / 82.0 cu-ft)
• Towing capacity: 1,588 kg (3,500 lbs)
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 14.4 / 11.1 L/100 km
• Warranty (mo/km): 36/60,000 comprehensive - 60/100,000 powertrain
• Competitors: Hummer H3, Nissan Xterra, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota FJ Cruiser
• Web Site: www.jeep.ca

Interior

Exterior

Mechanical

Safety

Dimensions

Misc

(J005) Standard Gloss Paint

(J004) Standard Black Paint

(HAA) Air Conditioning

(AWS) Smokers Group

(J003) Standard Metallic Paint

(VKX) Jeep Freedom Top - Black

(MRK) Tubular Side Steps

(WFF) 17 X 7.5 Aluminum Wheels

(DME) 3.73 Axle Ratio

(EGT) 3.8L V6 Engine

(DEH) Transmission: 6-Speed Manual

(TUF) Tires: P255/75R17 OWL On-Off Road

(ALB) Black Appearance Group

(23S) Quick Order

(DGV) Transmission: 42RLE 4-Spd Automatic

(24S) Quick Order

(CJ1) Front Seat Side Air Bags

(AHT) Trailer Tow Group

(RSC) Sirius Satellite Radio

(RC9) 6 Infinity Spkrs w/Subwoofer

(REQ) Media CTR 230 6CD/DVD/MP3 Radio

(DSA) Anti-Spin Differential Axle

(AEM) Dual Tops

(AEE) Mopar Chrome Edition Group

(24B) Quick Order

(23B) Quick Order

(AAQ) 32" Tire & Wheel Group

(GCH) Half Metal Doors w/Locks

(AJP) Power Convenience Group