The venerable Jeep Wrangler returns with improved specification and a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Does it still offer enough to remain relevant?
Looking for a new set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag.
Jeep Wrangler Fast Facts
- Price: R1 299 900
- 0 to 100 km/h: 9.19 seconds
- Top speed: 159 km/h
- Power: 200 kW
- Torque: 400 N.m
- CAR Fuel index: 14.3 L/100km
- CO₂: 278 g/km
Introduced in 1986 as the spiritual successor to the legendary CJ-Series, the Jeep Wrangler’s success, especially in its US home market, can be attributed as much to its reputation for rugged off-roading ability as to its maker’s stubborn commitment to maintaining one of the most recognisable design templates in automotive history. Even with the mild facelift handed to the current (JL-Series) fourth-generation product, the Wrangler’s stance – including an update to its famous seven-slot grille – remains as bold and confident as the Willys-branded vehicles that shaped this US car maker’s legacy.
Now offered exclusively in a five-door body shape (and sold alongside its Gladiator double-cab sibling), the newest Jeep Wrangler Unlimited portfolio comprises three derivatives: Sport, Sahara and Rubicon. While the stance of the latter flagship model is enhanced via the standard fitment of 255/75 R17 BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres, this derivative is also available in up to ten exterior colours, compared with six in the rest of the range. As you may have guessed, the “High Velocity” finish on our test unit forms part of the Rubicon colour palette.
While it’s a pity the exterior colour isn’t continued on the inside of the Wrangler’s removable roof; the inclusion of an optional electrically operated sliding canvas section proved a welcome touch. This allows for open-top driving without having to leave the more secure solid roof at home. Of course, this being a Wrangler, owners have the option to remove all the vehicle’s panels, including the doors.
Related: All of the CAR Magazine Top 12 Best Used Buys for 2025
Among the updates applied to the Wrangler are improvements to existing safety systems – including the introduction of curtain airbags – and a new 12.3-inch infotainment system complete with modern conveniences like smartphone mirroring, though a TomTom onboard navigation system is also included. Also introduced are several auxiliary charging solutions, including USB, USB-C and a 230 V plug point in the second row. The team appreciated the presence of myriad physical buttons and switches, not least the “old-school” second transmission lever for switching between 2H, the two 4H driving modes and low-range.
While the clamber into the relatively narrow cabin of a Wrangler remains just that, the reward is generally comfortable seating for up to five adults, with outward visibility from a commanding driving position acceptably compromised by this vehicle’s famously shallow glasshouse.
Related: 2025 Toyota GR Yaris Pricing Unearthed
In a significant move that caters to ever-stricter emissions regulations, Jeep has replaced its ageing “Pentastar” 3.6-litre V6 powertrain in the Wrangler range with a new 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, we assumed this force-fed 200 kW/400 N.m solution would add a level of engagement and even sprightliness to proceedings, but our test data indicated near-identical performance figures compared with the V6-powered Wrangler Sahara tested in December 2020. This included fractionally slower acceleration times from a standstill to 140 km/h and on-par in-gear performance compared with the V6 model. Indeed, only the average braking time improved with this update, with the Wrangler now needing 48.47 metres to come to a complete stop from 100 km/h, compared with 50.01 metres.
Curiously, even with all-terrain tyres and a generous amount of Mopar equipment, including a winch fitted to the older car, on our scales, it weighed just 12 kilograms more than the updated Rubicon with its four-cylinder drivetrain. Another anomaly we encountered was an average fuel consumption in the newer car of 14.0 L/100 km, compared with 12.9 L/100 km recorded in the six-cylinder Wrangler on our standardised fuel route.
While the flagship Rubicon gains several nice-to-have interior upgrades compared with the Sahara, also noteworthy is this flagship product’s enhanced off-roading ability. This includes electrically detachable front sway bars for improved wheel articulation and a new full-float rear axle design. This Dana 44 HD setup improves reliability and, indeed, makes repairs in extreme conditions simpler by unburdening the rear axle shaft – the vehicle’s weight is transferred to the axle tube instead.
A vehicle designed with trail conquering in mind, driving a Jeep Wrangler in everyday conditions remains an exercise in patience and unapologetic presence rather than precision. That said, while the combination of this vehicle’s laughably upright stance, the Rubicon’s standard all-terrain tyres, and the optional canvas roof fitted to our unit meant NVH levels were abysmal, yet this was somehow offset by the inherent character of this otherwise charming brute.
One of the best-selling products in the Stelantis Group’s portfolio, while the decision to introduce a turbocharged 2.0-litre powertrain to the range doesn’t appear on paper to have added any real-world benefits (while hurting fuel consumption), the Wrangler remains a product that’s impossible to stay angry at. In many ways, much like the popularity of the Suzuki Jimny, it’s the underlying promise of off-the-beaten-track voyage adventure that we suspect keeps the order books of Jeep’s oldest idea brimming.
Find the full feature in the May 2025 issue of CAR Magazine.