TUCSON, Ariz. �� Why is it that the things we desire most come with a curse?
Famously, there's the Hope Diamond, which has caused its owners no end of trouble as they endured disgrace, divorce, suicide, imprisonment, torture, financial ruin, lynching, and decapitation. Similarly, James Dean's Porsche 550 Spyder not only killed him in 1955, but also later fell and crushed a mechanic. A doctor who bought its engine was killed in a car accident, as was the buyer of its transmission. All four tires blew simultaneously, sending their buyer to the hospital.
But it's not unusual to discover that the things we desire most bring us misfortune.
Consider Jeep. This iconic brand outlives the companies that produce it, including Bantam, Willys, Kaiser Jeep, American Motors, and Chrysler Corp. Not convinced? Consider the Jeep Wrangler. Since it was last redesigned, three companies have owned the Jeep brand: DaimlerChrysler, Cerberus, and Fiat.
Despite the bad luck Jeep brings its corporate owners, it remains a crown jewel, albeit one that can ford 30 inches of water. And it's that amazing capability that draws in its lucky drivers.
Which brings us to the 2018 Wrangler, the redesigned version of the classic off-roader. Known as the JL in Jeep parlance, it may not look all that different from what's come before, but there are notable changes. The grille draws it design from the CJ, while its windshield is angled rearward for better aerodynamics. Every piece of glass is larger, including the windshield, which is 1 { inches taller. Meanwhile, the vehicle's beltline has been lowered, as has the rear-mounted spare tire, allowing for better outward visibility. And yes, the windshield can still be folded flat.
Of course, this wouldn't be a Jeep if the doors weren't removable (they are), and the top didn't fold (ditto). But it's the Wrangler's newfound civility that is the biggest headline here.
That's not to say that it's lost any of its off-road prowess; in fact, it's better than ever. But the Wranglers on-road behavior is significantly improved. There's little of the excess body motions of previous Jeeps, allowing you to fling it through corners with greater confidence while keeping the shiny side of the vehicle up. That's remarkable given its specs.
The Wrangler is still built by attaching the body to the frame rather than using unibody construction, which is far more common among SUV posers these days. So the Wrangler boasts a fully boxed frame for strength, yet it uses lightweight aluminum on its doors, hinges, hood, and fenders, and magnesium on its swing gate to improve fuel economy.
The suspension is still solid axle front and rear, although the fronts now have an electronic sway bar disconnect for better wheel articulation off-road for tackling the tough stuff. They're attached using a five-link rear suspension; throw in revised shocks and spring rates and you get a Wrangler with far better ride comfort and body roll control than any Wrangler in recent memory. Even while boulder bashing, you'll find the revised handling makes for an exemplary ride. Overall body stiffness is impressive, with negligible flexing over challenging terrain. That said, the two-door's 96.8-inch wheelbase is 21.6 inches shorter than the four-door's, making the shorter Jeep's ride a bit more reminiscent of prior models. Steering is ideally suited for the task at hand, and returns a welcome amount of road feel.
All of this good behavior makes it the perfect setting for the Jeep's powertrains, all of which are thoroughly modern _ something that couldn't always be said of a Wrangler.
The Wrangler's standard powertrain consists of Chrysler's 3.6-liter dual overhead-cam V6 rated at 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque mated to a six-speed manual transmission. An eight-speed automatic transmission is optional.
Initially, buyers can also choose a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder mild hybrid system mated to the eight-speed automatic transmission. While it only has 270 horsepower, slightly less than the V6, it possesses more torque, at 295 pound-feet. Come 2018, buyers will also be able to select a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, rated at 260 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque with an eight-speed automatic, but it will only be offered on four-door models.
If you'd rather not use diesel fuel, keep in mind the gas-powered V6 uses regular unleaded, while the turbo four requires premium for best performance and fuel economy, although regular unleaded can be used. Gas models also feature automatic stop/start, which shuts off the engine during long stops, such as at a traffic light, to conserve fuel. The engine restarts when the driver releases the brake pedal.
Power from the V6 is effortless, and the exhaust note sounds great. But the turbocharged four provides equal performance, although its power delivery isn't quite as smooth as the V6, and its engine note is unimpressive, if such a thing matters to you.
Two-door models are offered in Sport, Sport S and Rubicon trim; four-door models are fitted in Sport, Sport S, Sahara and Rubicon trim. And while any driveline can be ordered on any trim, there are differences in four-wheel-drive systems.
Sport and Sahara models are equipped with the Command-Trac part-time four-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer case and a low-range gear. A new full-time Selec-Trac four-wheel-drive system is optional on the Sahara model, as is a limited-slip rear differential. Rubicon models get the Rock-Trac 4x4 system with a two-speed transfer case with a 4:1 low-range gear ratio, front and rear Dana 44 axles, Tru-Lok electric front- and rear-axle lockers, and electronic sway bar disconnect.
And should bad luck come your way, rest assured you're covered you the latest safety technology, including a rear view camera, electronic stability control, trailer-sway control, electronic roll mitigation, brake traction control and hill-start assist.
Of course, the interior features the sort of amenities you'd never expect in a Wrangler, such USB and USB-C ports, heated seats and steering wheel, an 8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Best of all, you can still remove the carpets, and the electronic doodads have all been moisture tested.
That assumes that you drive in inclement weather. If you do, you'll find the Wrangler's soft top has been thoughtfully re-engineered, and is now remarkably easy to raise and lower quickly. If you do opt for a hardtop, at least consider the four-door's new power fabric roof, which gives you much of the feel of the removable roofs without any of the hassle.
In fact, this Wrangler is remarkably free of hassles.
It all adds up to a superlative iconic off-roader, one that's sure to bring you good luck no matter what the climate. The same can't be said with any certainty of the company that makes it.
