Jeep Wrangler 2008

April 2008

Introduction

The Wrangler, which harks all the way back to the original General Purpose vehicle of 1941, is one of the few bright spots in the Chrysler product lineup at the moment. With the introduction of the four-door (a first for the Wrangler), five-seat, long-wheelbase Unlimited for the 2007 model year, sales took off—in 2007, Jeep sold 119,243 Wranglers.

All Wranglers got a substantial redesign for the 2007 model year, including a stiffer frame and a new 3.8-liter V-6 engine making 202 horsepower. The standard transmission is a six-speed manual with the option of a four-speed automatic. The four-door Unlimited, which rides on a 116.0-inch wheelbase—an increase of 20.6 inches over the stock Wrangler—seats five in comfort, with room for their luggage, whereas the classic two-door model has room only for four, with little space for their chattels. Short-wheelbase models have all-wheel drive as standard, whereas Unlimiteds are rear-wheel drive, with the option of all-wheel drive.

Verdict

The Wrangler is hardly a great vehicle to drive, since it’s a little crude, but it is a lot of fun. All Wranglers have softtops as standard, so they are among the cheapest convertibles on the market. Venture off-road, and the Wrangler, whether you opt for the long- or short-wheelbase version, will prove itself the mountain goat of the automobile world: An Unlimited beat a Hummer H3 Alpha in a comparison test that was designed to sort out the ultimate off-road SUV. The Unlimited addresses the lack of interior and luggage room that made the original Wrangler very much a cult vehicle.

Click here to read our full review of the Jeep Wrangler.

Click here to read our latest comparison test involving the Jeep Wrangler.

What’s New for 2008

The regular Wrangler and the Wrangler Unlimited add a Sahara Appearance package that features 18-inch wheels and tires and bright interior accents, and remote start becomes available. On the two-door Wrangler, there’s now a standard Sunrider softtop on the Sahara and Rubicon models as well as a right-hand-drive model suited to tasks such as rural mail delivery.

Trim Levels

The base Wrangler is the X. The short-wheelbase model is a bare-bones piece that starts at $19,360. The Unlimited adds air conditioning to its standard equipment, along with the Sunrider softtop, at a base of $21,280 in rear-drive form and $23,280 with all-wheel drive.

The X RHD (right-hand drive) is $22,320. The Wrangler Sahara costs $24,815, rising to $26,190 for the rear-drive Unlimited and $28,190 for the all-wheel-drive Unlimited. This model adds features such as premium cloth seats, an upgraded audio system, a temperature and compass gauge, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. On the Unlimited, power locks and windows and remote keyless entry are also standard.

The most uplevel Wrangler is the Rubicon, which starts at $27,920 and rises to $30,235 for the Unlimited, which is available only in all-wheel-drive form. Niceties such as 17-inch alloy wheels, electronically locking front and rear differentials, and an electronically disconnecting front anti-roll bar make this the rock hopper supreme.

Optional Equipment

The Wrangler X is so basic that even air conditioning is an option ($895). An automatic transmission adds $825, a better Infinity sound system costs $395, and a hardtop adds $945 to the bill. (If you want to use a Wrangler year-round and live anywhere that gets snow, we’d recommend the hardtop.) Items such as the electronically disconnecting anti-roll bar ($750) and the locking rear differential ($295) are desirable options for off-roaders. An S package on the two-wheel-drive model adds $2840 to the price and includes the Sunrider softtop (it has a sunroof!), air conditioning, 17-inch aluminum wheels, and cruise control. On the Unlimited, the same package costs $1815 and includes the wheels, cruise control, and a heavy-duty suspension.

On the Wrangler Sahara, there’s a Power Convenience package that adds power windows and locks for $585. Side airbags are now added to the options list for $490, along with the MyGIG infotainment system ($1275) and the so-called $1585 Dual-Top group that consists of soft- and hardtops, the latter with a rear wiper. A six-CD in-dash CD changer is $350.

The Rubicon essentially has the same options but adds tinted windows for $300.

Safety

All Wranglers have anti-lock brakes, front airbags, and a stability-control system with roll-over mitigation. Should you wish to add front side airbags, these are optional on the Sahara and Rubicon models.