Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2.8CRD Sahara – Urban Commando

By Lawrence Minnie 

The Jeep brand has been around in some form since the late 1930’s. Before it was called Jeep, it was the Bantam Reconnaissance Car and then the Willys MA, and these two were instrumental in winning the Second World War. After World War II, with little further mass use in the military, Willys-Overland tried to push the utilitarian nature of the CJ (Civilian Jeep, as it had become known) on rural farmers, but the craze just never took off and Jeeps languished in dealerships.

Skip ahead a few decades and the Jeep brand has changed hands numerous times. During this time, the craze for SUVs and genuine off-roaders has taken off, turning Jeep into a hugely profitable subsidiary for their various owners through the years. Since 2014, Jeep (and its erstwhile parent company, Chrysler) has been under the control of the FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) group, which has put a lot of effort into keeping the brand alive and keeping its millions of owners and fans on the road.

One of the longest running model ranges in the brand’s history is the Wrangler, and it is without a doubt still just as recognizable as it was all those years ago. With its trademark round headlights and straight up and down seven slot grille, the Wrangler really is an icon.

Jeep has recently released an updated Wrangler (although there’s an all-new one coming very soon), and I was quick to jump on board and sample this machine. Admittedly, I was one of those kids that played in the dirt and climbed trees, and I was totally enamored with TV heroes like the A-Team that cruised around in US Army Jeeps, so I was quite excited to drive this Sahara variant.

Exterior

The Wrangler strikes quite a pose. It’s a big, beefy, square chunk of steel with flared wheel arches that looks as if it could conquer any terrain - and the truth is that it absolutely can.

The Sahara Unlimited comes equipped with a fiberglass roof shell complete with targa-style roof panels, with a glass rear window which flips up to enlarge the load aperture. This shell is removable too (a job that requires two people), and the accompanying soft top can then be erected from its mounting behind the rear seats. The doors are also removable for easy access when doing what the Wrangler does best.

This gives the Wrangler a host of appearance options to choose from, and with 241mm of ground clearance and the huge wheel wells able to accommodate tyres up to 33-inch in size (as well as a burgeoning aftermarket of spares and fitment available), the options are endless to make your Jeep totally unique. 

Interior

The interior is pretty spartan with a straight-edged dashboard design which contains the audio system, manual air-con, and a few switches that activate the drive systems and electric windows. The seats are covered in a hard-wearing cloth, emblazoned with the Sahara logo, and although comfortable, don’t offer a lot of support for extended drives, and aren’t great at keeping the driver in place while off-roading either.

The infotainment system is also a strange affair. While the audio system has excellent sound quality, it is completely useless when it comes Bluetooth connectivity, or attempting to play music from a USB source. The head unit requires you to download your music onto the onboard hard drive (via the USB port), and does not give you the option to connect your phone for audio streaming or handsfree calling.

This aside, the interior is well bolted together, and feels like a high-quality place, although one or two panels could do with some leather trim. I also enjoyed the moment of discovery every time I found one of the small Jeep icons located around the interior.

Engine and Drivetrain

The Wrangler is powered by a 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder, turbo charged diesel engine which is mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. Power is transferred to all four wheels through an incredibly capable four-wheel drive system which is equipped with low range, but misses out on locking differentials in Sahara trim.

It’s not the end of the world though, as the combination produces a useful 147kW and 460Nm, while the drive system (including the clever traction control) is so capable that you only need to engage 4WD when things get very hairy. You will really only need low range if you get into serious trouble.

This does affect the speed though, and while Jeep claims a top speed of 172km/h, I only managed to max out at 138km. The aerodynamics just don’t allow for high speeds, but I get the impression that the Wrangler was never meant for the freeway (or the city for that matter) anyway.

The Drive

With that being said, I don’t advise attempting any high-speed antics, as the steering all but disappears at speed. While driving down to the Free State on the freeway, I was able to swing the steering wheel quite far from left to right, and it did absolutely nothing to the direction of travel. The NVH levels also increased as the speed did, as a result of its blocky profile and huge side mirrors.

It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it wasn’t wholly enjoyable either. The fun started when we left the tar, where the Wrangler came into its own.

We decided to make our own road, and aimed for the top of a hill littered with rocks and crevices. The pace was slow and steady but the Jeep never faltered, and in no time at all we had made the summit – without even engaging the 4WD system. Our test route covered a substantial distance, and once we returned home I did the cursory fuel consumption check, where the Wrangler managed a commendable 8.1l/100km. The engine felt peppy and pulled well when it was required, and never really felt wanting for urge.

Verdict

The Jeep Wrangler is an incredibly capable vehicle off road, but I find it hard to reconcile its extreme off-road abilities with a city lifestyle. It is big and bulky, the extremities are hard to gauge, and the turning circle (or rather, the lack thereof) makes maneuvering it around town very difficult. It’s not fast or particularly well-equipped, and the lack of luxury items in the interior also makes it hard to stomach the price tag. In short, the Wrangler is an off-road commando trying to live an urban lifestyle, and falls a little bit flat in that role. The Jeep heritage helps project a certain image, and if it’s the one you’re going for, the Wrangler is spot on. But if you are wanting the best of both worlds, rather buy a Range Rover.

Model and Price

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2.8 CRD Sahara  -  R 789 900

3 Year / 100 000km Warranty

3 Year / 100 000km Maintenance Plan