Jeep Wrangler SUV (2023 - ) review

While it’s true you could have three Dacia Dusters for the cost of a Wrangler, its price is in line with competitors like the Ineos Grenadier and the Land Raver Defender 110. The Wrangler is now only offered with one petrol engine in longer four-door form, so your choice is whether to go for Sahara or Rubicon trim. The latter is in the highest band for VED payments based on CO2 emissions, but it’s worth noting you’ll save a few extra pounds by choosing Sahara trim, which falls into the penultimate tax band. Additionally for the next five years you’ll have to pay the extra tax applied to all cars over £40,000. Costs will add up even before you’ve taken your Wrangler on the road. Once you do put those wheels in motion you’ll be doing well to get over 20mpg, which is to be expected for a car of this type.

Jeep as a brand has a mixed reputation for reliability, with the Wrangler’s rough and tough image, you would hope it would be fairly solid. Though the model has been updated, underneath it’s still using the same foundations as the one launched in 2017 so there’s been plenty of time to iron out any niggles. For extra peace of mind, you can pay to extend the initial three-year warranty and Jeep owners are automatically enrolled into the Jeep Wave programme with roadside assistance and a direct customer helpline.

Given you can strip the Wrangler right down by removing the roof and the doors it’s not a huge surprise to learn safety has not always been its strong point. However, the latest model now comes with all the driving assistance systems you’d expect from any other new car, including driver drowsiness detection, lane departure warnings, traffic sign recognition and adaptive cruise control. Blind spot warnings with rear cross path detection and forward collision warnings are also included as standard. Additionally, the Wrangler now gets side curtain airbags for the front and rear passengers adding to the front and side airbags it had previously. You also get a handy reversing camera as well as front and rear parking sensors.

The Wrangler is no luxury limousine, but it does have more creature comforts than you might expect. Both Sahara and Rubicon levels get eight-way adjustable powered front seats with four-way lumbar support. These along with the steering wheel are heated and there’s also dual-zone climate control, so you’ll be toasty warm as you climb up mountains or ford streams. Off-road is where the Wrangler is at its best and while it’s not the most refined on-road, comfort levels are manageable. However, even with the latest updates there’s still nowhere for drivers to put their left foot, making it less suited to longer drives. Travelling over uneven surfaces can feel a bit like being on a rollercoaster and while it’s tempting to drive over every pothole and puddle, less hardy passengers may start to tire of hanging on to the grab handles. They’ll have plenty of space wherever they are sitting though. Removing the roof and door panels can be done by simply undoing a few bolts, but Jeep now offers an even easier one-touch powered soft-top to make wind in your hair motoring accessible at the press of a button. While access to the side-hinged boot can be a bit awkward, the boot itself is large with the boxy shape helping you ace advanced level three-dimensional Tetris.

The Wrangler gains a new 12.3-inch infotainment screen which follows the shape of the dashboard and integrates nicely into the overall design. This has an off-roading screen showing you the pitch and roll angles as you negotiate obstacles, and it will also link to your phone with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Despite the updated screen, the Wrangler hasn’t lost any of its satisfying physicality, and you’ll still need to pull a heavy leaver to knock it into all-wheel drive and lock the differential. This alone sets it apart from your average SUV. Extra protection rails now come as standard along the side skirts, and you’ll get extra side steps on a Rubicon. Each trim has its own unique wheel designs to choose from but if Barbiecore is your thing, we recommend you go for a Rubicon in deep ‘Tuscadero’ pink.

Behind the wheel of a Wrangler, you’ll feel like the world is your oyster. You could take the direct route to the shops or take a detour over a mountain. Off the beaten track is the Wrangler’s happy place and it will pull like a train up a steep hill without a second thought. On the road it’s a little sluggish, rumbling as it picks up speed, but it will get you there eventually. There’s no manual option, so you can let the car take most of the strain while you work the steering. The clearly defined corners make for good all-round visibility helping you to place the Wrangler where you want it. It does lean in the corners and bounce you down the road, but a Wrangler offers a much more engaging experience than any regular SUV.