Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2018: test, data, price

Mud, everywhere mud. Where it sank up to the knees in the ground, the Wrangler Rubicon searches like a mole on speed. The big Stollenreifen brings 200 horsepower to diesel with 450 Newton meters of torque – well, not on the road. From time to time, there is a tree root or a rock on which the tires can support each other, otherwise it must be the enormous hold of the judge "Rock Trac" -Allradsystems. If you want to play safely, activate both differential locks. Already knows the Wrangler despite its sumptuous weight of 2.1 tons barely natural limits.

The Jeep still looks

So all the same in the new Jeep? Not really. Visually, the car remains faithful, with the typical six-legged grille – which is no longer straight but slightly curved, barely noticeable. Rather already the LED daytime running lights and the new headlights. Inside this is primarily the big infotainment screen, which makes the new Wrangler really modern. In addition, the robust interior, which can quickly be sprayed with the pipe in the floor if necessary, and – unfortunately – the lack of storage space

There are some gadgets such as data from colorful terrain – angle of inclination, temperature in the differential and so on – and especially a reversing camera. Even the navigation and infotainment system with smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay / Android Auto) is now up to date.

Video: Short Explanation – New Four-Wheel Drive System for the Jeep

Also new, at least in part, is the four-wheel-drive Wrangler system (see video). With a modified transfer case, you now have the choice in permanent all-wheel drive mode between a fixed energy distribution as before or a variable, more suited to the distribution of the force of use of the road without tension in the driveline.

Better on the Road

On the tarmac, the Jeep is getting better now. By the way, still with diesel engine – but for the last time: Jeep will be completely out of diesel technology until 2021. Before there is for the US but still a diesel V6 (a scandal of the year). exhaust there is in the US therefore only German builders – ahem).

Video: The predecessor in the test

For the Europeans meanwhile have four rich cylinders. After all, the 2.2-liter diesel with 147 kW / 200 hp harmonizes very well with the new eight-speed automatic transmission. Due to the reduced wind noise, the interior is pleasantly quiet. Oh yes: The engine meets the Euro 6 d emission standard and therefore now swallows next to the diesel and AdBlue cleaning additive.

In the jeep we can easily bear the biggest bullshit

Hamburg – while the old, three times more fuel-efficient Polo diesel stays there. So much haggard green nonsense can be better tolerated by the cockpit control of a big Jeep Friend.

For the highway, the Friend is only conditionally appropriate. After 9.6 seconds, the mark of 100 km / h is reached and already at 180 km / h is over. On average, the new Wrangler is satisfied with 7.6 l / 100 km – according to factory specifications, so in reality probably quite rare.

But: Especially in the four-door 4.88 meters, suspension comfort improved compared to the third generation on. The two-door makes the wheelbase shorter by almost 55 centimeters compared to the long clearly visible version: the short Wrangler reacts significantly on the bumps and the chassis is constantly moving.

Video: With the Jeep in the Kali Mine

It will not be long before a sedan becomes a sedan, but with the Jeep, you can easily handle longer distances. The two-door makes the wheelbase shorter by almost 55 centimeters compared to the long version clearly visible: The short Wrangler reacts a lot on bumps and the chassis is constantly moving.

Price of 46,000 euros

In movement is also the account, if you buy a Wrangler. 46,000 will cost at least the icon of the four wheels and who chooses the Rubicon version, must put without extras 53,000 euros on the table. Advantage of Wrangler: The other off-road icons are either much more expensive (Mercedes G-Class, Toyota Land Cruiser) or more available (Land Rover Defender). In the future, the American off-road will also be equipped with a plug-in player and a purely electric version is also planned. Perhaps even with electric hub motors – this would make possible radselektive and fully variable force distribution.

Video: Mitsubishi L200 in test