The open-bodied, two-door four-wheel-drive Jeep earned iconic status in World War II. The Jeep Wrangler two-door SUV has been the closest thing to that wartime Jeep and mainly is known for its off-road prowess and retro look and features.
So what's this -- a
2007 Jeep Wrangler with four doors, a modern engine and comfort and safety features found in cars?
Sure enough, it's the new Wrangler Unlimited four-door, which is not to be confused with the longer-wheelbase two-door Wrangler Unlimited, introduced in mid-2004.
The Unlimited four-door also is the first Wrangler with a modern V-6 engine, besides new, optional power windows and locks with remote keyless entry.
The Unlimited four-door also has newly standard anti-lock brakes and a new anti-skid system with rollover sensors. It's got a soft top or removable three-piece modular hard top. It might be called the only 2007 four-door convertible, although most consider it a "topless SUV."
There's also an updated version of the traditional, shorter two-door Wrangler with removable doors. It was the last 2006 two-door SUV (Sept. 11 AutoTimes).
Both the new Wrangler two-door and Unlimited four-door share improvements, including the new V-6, optional side air bags, optional power windows and door locks and a navigation system. Surprisingly, the power windows and door locks are designed so that doors may still be removed with those features.
The power windows are a good idea because manual window cranks in my test Unlimited four-door took a long time to move the windows down or up.
Both Wrangler versions are wider by about 5.5 inches than their 1997-2006 predecessors.
Gone is the Wrangler's inline (not V-shaped) 190-horsepower six-cylinder engine, which seemingly dated back to the era of vacuum-tube radios. It's been replaced by a 3.8-liter, 202-horse- power V-6.
Performance is good in town, but acceleration on highways is average because Wranglers are heavy, weighing about 3,800 to 4,100 pounds. Still, once up to speed, the Unlimited cruises at 65 mph at an easy 2,000 rpm with the automatic transmission.
The engine comes with a six-speed manual transmission or a responsive four-speed automatic.
The power steering is quick but some might find it overly light. It has a numb on-center spot that allows the Jeep to wander a bit in lanes. Lower suspension spring rates provide a softer, more comfortable on-road ride, but the Unlimited's ride gets a little jittery on some area expressway surfaces at cruising speeds. Brake action is good, although the pedal feels a little soft.
Four-wheel-drive Jeeps have legendary off-road abilities. Two-door models come only with four-wheel drive with low-range gearing for severe, confident off-road use, while Unlimiteds come with rear-drive or the four-wheel-drive system.
Estimated fuel economy is 17 mpg in the city and 21 on highways for the manual-transmission Unlimited rear-drive model, which gets 16 and 19 with the automatic and four-wheel drive.
The Unlimited has a 116-inch wheelbase (distance between axles) and is 20.6 inches longer than the 2007 Wrangler two-door, although both have goatlike off-road abilities. The previous Unlimited two-door (no longer offered) had a 103-inch wheelbase. The Wrangler two-door had a 93-inch wheelbase, which has been increased 2 inches.
Both are immediately identifiable as Wranglers with the retro World War II Jeep design, but styling is crisper. Remaining are such things as Jeep's signature seven-slot grille, upright rectangular windshield, round headlights, boxy "greenhouse" area above the door line, jutting fenders and exposed forged hinges. This is the first Wrangler with a rounded windshield, but it still folds flat.
I tested the Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon with four-wheel drive, which is the most expensive Wrangler, at $28,235. The base two-door "X" convertible model is $18,105, and there also are Unlimited X, Sahara, Unlimited Sahara and Rubicon versions.
The Wrangler Unlimited can seat five adults, but four such folks are more comfortable because the center of the rear seat is hard for the fifth occupant. The new instrument panel contains slightly undersized gauges, but they aren't all that difficult to read.
Radio controls are small, but set high to facilitate usage. Climate controls are large and easily used. Switches for off-road driving, such as for the locking differentials and other off-road aids, are too low on the dashboard for easy use.
The front bucket seats are supportive, but rear seats are stiff, upright and need more thigh support. There isn't an abundance of leg room back there, although front and rear head room is above average. If you want a quiet interior, order the Limited with the removable hard top, not the soft top.
Doors open wide, but extra effort is needed to get into this tall SUV. Occupants sit high.
Cargo room is impressive. It can be greatly expanded by flipping forward the rear seats, which have headrests that automatically fold out of the way to clear the front seats. Nice touch.
The cargo floor is high but wide, and the swing-out tailgate has a handy separate-opening upper glass area. But the tailgate carries a 75-pound full-size spare tire that can make it awkward to open, and partially blocks a driver's rear vision.
Large, square outside mirrors enhance rear visibility but are only manually adjustable. The swing-out tailgate's hinges have no detents to keep it open on slanted surfaces.
The Wrangler Limited is tightly built but seems most comfortable for off-road motoring or easy open-cockpit cruising on warm, sunny days.
2007 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED
PRICE: $18,105-$28,235
LIKES: First four-door Wrangler. New engine. First power windows. Rugged. Superb off-road prowess. New safety features.
DISLIKES: Average highway acceleration. Occasional jittery ride. Tight back seat.