It’s an indication of the altering instances when a big V6 will get changed by a smaller four-cylinder engine in an American automobile. For a few years the Jeep Cherokee caught to the “ain’t no displacement for displacement” mantra with its 3.6l usually aspirated Pentastar engine, and the transfer to a 2.0 turbo unit represents a philosophical shift.
The brand new engine is a part of a midlife replace to the American off-roader, which features a gentle facelift and up to date infotainment system. The three-door variant has additionally been discontinued and the newest Wrangler vary in SA includes a trio of five-door fashions: the Sport, Sahara and Rubicon.
All are powered by a 2.0l four-cylinder petrol turbo, which guarantees higher gas economic system and produces outputs of 200kW and 400Nm, which is down 9kW in energy however gives a hefty 53Nm enchancment in torque.
It’s paired with an eight-speed computerized transmission and has a fuel-saving stop-start operate. Jeep claims the brand new engine will burn 11.1l/100km in contrast with 11.7l for the outgoing V6, however we’ll inform you proper off the bat that the brand new Wrangler doesn’t impress with its frugality. The 2.0 Rubicon check automobile we drove for per week consumed 12.7l / 100km in an urban-freeway combine in two-wheel drive mode, and burnt by about 15l when off-roading. It was greater than the 12.1l we achieved within the outdated 3.6l Wrangler, although that was the lighter three-door mannequin.
It is usually fairly a vocal engine with out the heartier six-cylinder sonic attraction of the outdated V6.
The place it fails in gas economic system and sound, the new turbo Wrangler at the least compensates for in efficiency. It feels robust and accelerates robustly, with the 0-100km/h time quoted as a reasonably sporty 7.6 seconds. The dual-scroll, low-inertia turbocharger minimises lag and makes for a pleasantly responsive energy supply all through the rev vary.
This additionally makes it helpful when off roading on gradual, bumpy trails that decision for low-revving grunt.
There isn’t an off-road state of affairs that appears too difficult for the Wrangler Rubicon and its chunky 17” mud-terrain tyres, elevated floor clearance and stable entrance and rear axles. The motive force has four-wheel drive and low vary on name on the thrust of a lever when the turf will get extra testing, and entrance and rear diff locks might be engaged with a dashboard change when the circumstances get even harder. Rubicon fashions have an digital entrance sway-bar disconnect to offer further wheel journey on harsh terrain, and likewise a Dana 44 HD full-float rear axle, a stronger and extra strong design sometimes discovered on heavy-duty business vans.
All of this {hardware} ends in the Wrangler Rubicon breezing by dongas, axle-twisters and muddy trails that may cease lesser 4x4s of their tracks. The settings are managed with old-school gear levers and chunky switches, and there’s no twiddling with digital icons. To guard the underside whereas on the path, the Wrangler options 4 skid plates.
An off-road digital camera with entrance and rear views gives digital eyes on the environment.
