WRANGLER GETS A BOOST

TURBOCHARGED ENGINE AND UPGRADED SAFETY KIT FOR THE MY24 JEEP WRANGLER RANGE

- MATT RAUDONIKIS

THE Jeep Wrangler is the one model in the Jeep range that pays true homage to its WWII ancestor, the original Jeep. Throughout eight decades T of evolution it's been a slow progression but the Wrangler has stuck to its roots as a proper, go-anywhere 4x4 vehicle. So much so that in Rubicon spec it remains the most capable off-road vehicle you can drive off the showroom floor.

This year brings some significant upgrades to the JL model Wrangler, which was originally launched back in 2018. The big change is the switch from a naturally aspirated V6 engine to a turbocharged 4-cylinder one, but there are also some new safety and infotainment tech additions amid a model-range refresh.

The Wrangler range in Australia now starts with Sport S replacing the Night Eagle variant, followed by the high-spec Overland model, with the off-road champion Rubicon at the head of the pack. All three models are available as four-door vehicles with only the Rubicon offering both two- and four-door bodies.

As always, all Wranglers have a removable roof with multiple options for soft- and hard-tops, and even a powered soft-top.

The new 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder petrol engine backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission is the only powertrain offered, while the Pentastar V6 is on its way out altogether.

For off-road use the Sport S and Overland models retain the Selec-Trac 4x4 system, that gives part-time low and high range, and high range full-time on-demand 4WD. The hardcore Rubicon models come standard with the unrivalled Rock-Trac System, offering a 4:1 low-range reduction and 4.11:1 diffs resulting in a 77.2:1 crawl ratio. Front and rear differential locks and an electronic front swaybar disconnect combine with the Rubicon's standard BF Goodrich KO2 Mud-Terrain tyres to endow it with impressive off-road capability.