2016 Jeep Wrangler Review

Source: 2016 Jeep Wrangler Review

The 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is incredibly capable off-road, and our Jeep Wrangler test vehicle has a few other amenities that improve on-road driving as well.

A Jeep Wrangler isn’t the perfect vehicle for everyone, but for many drivers it’s the best vehicle on the road — or off-road.

As you read this Jeep Wrangler review, you might see some downsides that make you wonder how anyone could choose this as a daily driver. That’s where the phrase “It’s a Jeep thing you wouldn’t understand” comes in.

The 2016 Jeep Wrangler is ready to go anywhere.

There are some things that seem impractical, but the benefits outweigh these issues for most Jeep buyers.

After driving a 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara with the 75th Anniversary Package ($48,530 as equipped) hundreds of miles and taking it to an off-road park, it’s clear that the Jeep Wrangler is the right vehicle for many buyers is.

Even without modifications, the 2016 Jeep Wrangler excelled in off-road situations, scaling huge sand dunes, navigating mud, sand and wet gravel with ease, thanks to all-wheel drive and a rear locking axle.

We’ve even taken the Wrangler on a trip down the creek and back with no issues. More than just a badge, Trail Rated means you’re ready to go off-road as soon as you step out of the parking lot.

The 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited we tested is capable on and off-road.

The 4×4 system is easy to activate and has proven capable on every surface we have been on, even in a lot of mud after a big downpour. Under the Wrangler is a skid plate to protect vital parts of the vehicle. We heard skid plate contact twice during our ride, but had no mechanical issues.

Exploring the Badlands off-road park in Attica, Indiana, sitting in the 2016 Jeep Wrangler felt like we were living in a Jeep commercial. The Jeep aftermarket is full of upgrades, but I’m still impressed with what the Jeep offers straight from the dealer.

The 75th Anniversary Edition adds steel bumpers ready for a winch, but also upgrades the Jeep with a more aggressive look. Two hooks on the front and back allow you to pull out others or get a pull when you get stuck.

Aggressive bumpers and air intakes on the hood add to the look, which is complemented by the Sarge Green color.

We also tested the 2016 Jeep Wrangler on highways, back roads and through too many small Indiana towns to count on the 460-mile, 8-hour round trip to Badlands Off-Road Park.

On the road you’ll find that steering requires a little more attention than the average car and braking distances are a little longer than other vehicles we’ve driven, but driving long distances wasn’t a chore by any means.

Opening the throttle doesn’t deliver the instant burst of speed I’m used to from my Ford Fusion, but I had no trouble picking up speed when merging onto a freeway.

The 2016 Jeep Wrangler is big on gas, getting around 20-21 miles per gallon on the highway and a tough 18-19 mpg around town. There is no doubt that this vehicle will require more money while you own it. Luckily, the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited includes a 22.5-gallon fuel tank, so you don’t have to keep stopping to refuel.

Go almost anywhere in this 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with the 75th Anniversary Pack.

On the road, you’ll notice a few downsides to the 2016 Wrangler. When you transition from a car to the Wrangler, there are major changes in the way you travel, some of which require small lifestyle changes.

There’s more road noise than most 2016 vehicles, but that’s a tradeoff we’re happy to make for the ability to remove the Jeep’s roof. The street noise is noticeable but didn’t stop us from chatting with another passenger, communicating with another car using walkie-talkies, or listening to the radio. It’s there and you need to be aware of it, but that shouldn’t be a deal breaker for most buyers looking at the Wrangler.

One of the best parts of a week in the 2016 Jeep Wrangler in the summer is taking the top off. Our Wrangler came with a hard top and a freedom top. It’s very easy to remove the two front panels to open the driver’s and passenger’s seats to the sun with the Freedom top. You can do that yourself.

Removing the entire hard top from the back of the Wrangler takes about 5 minutes to remove eight screws, but it takes two people to lift the top off. It’s not heavy, just awkward to lift and move by yourself.

Taking the top off the Jeep Wrangler is one of the best parts of driving this car.

Driving with the top fully open is worth the time it takes to remove the top and is an integral part of the Jeep Wrangler experience. When you take the top off and start driving, you’ll find that what you can do while driving changes in important ways.

You don’t have to spend a long time on the phone while driving with the top down. I usually plan my daytime driving time around phone calls, but I gladly gave up that for the fun of open-top driving. You’ll think about what you bring and the order in which you go to the shops because using a top or driving with the top down leaves you with only two places to lock stuff. You’ll quickly learn to keep some bungie cords handy to hold bags in your back when you hit freeway speeds.

The interior of the 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited isn’t as spartan as Wranglers of the past. The dashboard and interior are functional but also pleasing to the touch and look, and our model came with a leather-wrapped steering wheel with controls for the radio and cruise control. Our 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Safari 75th Anniversary Package includes heated front seats wrapped in leather with a 1941 badging.

The Jeep Wrangler features a powerful stereo system, including a 6.5-inch touchscreen that supports Bluetooth streaming, phone calls, Sirius XM radio, and a hard drive to store your music.

The uConnect system supports the basic connectivity features you’d expect in a 2016 car, but you won’t find Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. It’s not the best infotainment system on the road, but it handles the most common tasks.

In addition to streaming, a USB connection and an audio line can be used. With the optional Alpine 9-speaker stereo upgrade, which includes a weatherproof subwoofer, the music sounds great – even on highway trips with the top down. There are several places to plug in phones and other devices that are powered off by 12v and there is a standard plug that can charge a laptop or other device.

There is no option for a backup camera or other parking aids on the 2016 Jeep Wrangler. A 360-degree camera view would be helpful when off-roading, and while I miss a rear camera, it’s not essential on this vehicle.

IIHS Jeep Wrangler safety tests are well suited for small and medium overlap front crash tests. Side impact is moderate, and the headrests and seats are also moderate.

The 2016 Jeep Wrangler starts at $23,895 for the 2-door Sport, and special editions with extras go all the way up to $37,995 before you start ticking option boxes. The Jeep Wrangler has a very high resale value, which is something to consider when making your purchase.

Choosing a Jeep Wrangler is more of a lifestyle choice than buying most vehicles if you plan on using it like a Jeep. Yes, you give up some features inside and have to adjust some of your habits, but at the end of the day, you get a lot from the 2016 Jeep Wrangler.

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