Jeep Wrangler - Can the boxy car really have the go-anywhere capability?

If you’re an off-road junkie or remotely interested in cars that go the extra mile when it comes to dirt tracks, the name Jeep will not have eluded your mind. That is unless you live under a rock or have been hibernating. Jeeps are renowned world over for their off-roading capability. In fact, a couple of magazine and organisations have accorded the Jeep cars as having the best off-road capability. While there are many Jeep vehicles available including the CJ, Wrangler, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and Compass to name a few, it is the Wrangler that is the preferred choice. It looks properly old school but at the same time is decently modern inside as well. So, does the boxy Wrangler have the go-anywhere capability? Let’s find out.

When we first drove the Jeep Wrangler, a lot of us were enamoured with the SUV’s tyres. Massive 20-inch wheels with a knobby tyre pattern will intimidate even the best of puncture mechanics. These have an awesome grip off the road, however on-road the dynamics are a tad rocky. The Jeep Wrangler will struggle if there are crosswinds coming your way. This is because of the slab-sided profile of the SUV with aerodynamics similar to a huge lump of brick.

Keep that aside and you will notice that the windscreen is attached by means of four bolts and like you have seen with the CJ, even these can be removed to tumble the shield ahead. This is another form of open-top motoring, something that oldies or purists enjoy. Go off-road like this and you will notice all the bugs inside your mouth, branches spoiling your hairstyle or perhaps the contour of your face and clothes will look like they have not been washed for a few months. The bonnet of the Jeep Wrangler sits high and with the windshield on top of it, someone with a short stature will have a tough time looking at the edge of the vehicle. It is advisable for such folks to keep the windshield at its place then.

The 285 PS of power and 380 Nm of torque 3.5-litre V6 Pentastar petrol engine is revised and can be tuned either to a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox. There are diesel powered variants as well but these too are torquey and adequately help the performance of the SUV.

The massive ground clearance of 237 mm means one will easily clear off the rocks or boulders. We attempted to do it and not once did the Jeep grimace. In fact, it happily took everything we threw at it including a very slippery river crossing. The best part is while even if the water were to come inside the cabin, the mats and even the floor can be washed without the fear of rust seeping in. The newer lot of Jeep Wranglers feature electronic locking front and rear differentials, heavy-duty Dana axles, improved transmissions for the crawl ratios. These live axles are truck strong and in fact, manoeuvring the Jeep Wrangler around in town will be a workout for your arms. Underbody protection is available on all Jeep Wrangler models and this helps while traversing the off beaten path. Side rock tails too are provided and these being the hard plastic that they are, will not even have an effect if one were to scrape them on trails.

The charm of a Jeep Wrangler is that there are no electronic nannies. At least for the off-road section. While many modern-day SUVs will have all sorts of fancy air suspension as well as different modes depending on the terrain, the Jeep Wrangler has a full time four wheel drive and four low or high is engaged mechanically by the driver himself. So, unless one knows what he/she is getting into, the Jeep Wrangler doesn’t make sense. If you are learning the tricks of the off-road trade, then you will be better off in SUVs that have the electronics to back you. Jeep Wrangler is for proper off-road enthusiasts who know what they are doing or getting into.

So, back to the question if the Jeep Wrangler is the best off-roader out there or not? It is. But with a few ifs and buts thrown-in. If you aren’t an experienced hand, we suggest you stay off the Wrangler and if throwing your SUV off cliffs is your bedtime coffee, the Wrangler beckons you to try it.