The 2016 Jeep Wrangler 75th Anniversary Edition: An In-Depth Exploration of an Off-Road Icon
From a Review by CarandDriver:
Tested: 2016 Jeep Wrangler 75th Anniversary Edition!
Broadly speaking, the past 75 years have been pretty good for humans. Diseases have been eradicated, food supplies have increased, distant planets have been explored, and—thanks largely to the integrated circuit and the resultant microchip—personal communication has become streamlined to the point of intrusion. Despite this enlightened existence, our lizard brains are still active, eagerly recognizing entities that have resisted change with reptilian resolve. Maybe that’s why everyone from toddlers to college coeds to grizzled ex-military types went all warm and fuzzy when our Jeep Wrangler Sahara 75th Anniversary Edition test vehicle came into view.
Universally recognized and instantly identifiable, the Jeep Wrangler remains the poster child for mass-produced automotive simplicity. (Note that the British Morgan can’t be considered “mass-produced” by any means, and other long-serving off-roaders such as the Mercedes-Benz G-class and the Toyota Land Cruiser have made acquiescing to the comfort and luxury demands of the public a competitive sport.) That said, the current Wrangler has evolved, and an all-new 2018 Wrangler is slated to debut in the not-too-distant future. Although we may have cursory knowledge of what luxuries and concessions to the demands of modern life the new Wrangler may bring, we figured now was the time to take a last look at the two-door Wrangler as we know it. (Go here for a look at the current four-door Wrangler Unlimited.)
The March of Progress, Jeep-Style
A late-2016 model, our 75th Anniversary Wrangler Sahara rolled off the line with standard front airbags (seat-mounted side airbags are an additional $495), disc brakes at all four corners, traction control, and electronic stability control. Not too shabby for a dinosaur. Looking a little deeper into the build sheet revealed further indulgences such as air conditioning, cruise control, remote keyless entry, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, power windows, and power door locks.
Lest you begin to think the Wrangler is getting a little soft, let us remind you that despite the accoutrements, its basic formula remains the same: a ladder frame with solid front and rear axles (a Dana 30 in front and a Dana 44 in the rear) and a utilitarian part-time four-wheel-drive system. Torque from the corporate 285-hp 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 is funneled to a five-speed automatic transmission, which passes the output to the wheels via a two-speed, shift-on-the-fly, four-wheel-drive transfer case. (A six-speed manual gearbox is standard; the automatic costs an additional $1350 and also brings hill-descent control.) Underneath, skid plates protect the transfer case and the fuel tank from sharp obstacles.
Just as the purpose-driven details of the Jeep’s hardware restored our faith in the Wrangler’s mission, we scanned down to find the Jeep 75th Anniversary package. While it does include a few items that at least allude to genuine off-road activity (reinforced Rock Rails side steps, 17-inch wheels with 245/75 tires, and a Trac-Lok locking rear differential), it’s primarily a $4680 cosmetic and convenience tour de force. Interior upgrades include Ombre Mesh leather-and-cloth seats (heated up front), a 75th Anniversary passenger grab handle, the ability to show more stuff in the cluster’s information screen, the Connectivity Group, and a fetching Moroccan Sun–colored instrument-panel bezel. Exterior enhancements include bronze-tone tow hooks (two front, one rear), a body-color grille, a Power Dome hood, painted front and rear bumpers, and bronze-colored badging.
Needless Frippery
Further confusing the Wrangler’s simplicity factor is the $1785 Dual Top Group, which includes a rear-window defroster and washer/wiper for the hardtop—which our vehicle did not have fitted during our test—while a headliner is an additional $495. Finally, the order sheet continued to test our enthusiasm with nickel-and-dime features that we’d probably never order on a Jeep: remote start ($495), a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation ($600), Alpine premium nine-speaker audio ($945), and the foolish-for-a-Wrangler upgraded A/C with automatic climate control and a humidity sensor ($395). Pro tip: If you’re sticking to the seats, it’s hot and humid, so reach over and adjust the climate control accordingly. Better yet, remove the top and doors.
One expense that we can wholeheartedly endorse is the limited-slip rear differential. Not only does it add a Tru-Lok air-activated locking rear diff in place of the standard, limited-slip Trac-Lok, but it also swaps out the stock 3.21:1 gearset for a 3.73:1 ratio front and rear. At $1500, it’s a relative bargain for anyone interested in actually going off-road. All in, this Wrangler rang the register at $44,380. Considering that it’s possible to leave the dealership with a Wrangler Willys Wheeler with the 3.73 axles for a sticker price of just over $29K, buyers will want to think long and hard about their motives for wanting a Wrangler 75th.
Behind the Wheel
Climb behind the wheel and the lizard brain takes over again. The doors shut with the primitive resonance of form following function, the seating position is upright, and suddenly 75 years of progress are reduced to a footnote. Standard tests of straight-line performance reveal a zero-to-60-mph time of 7.5 seconds—not bad—with the quarter-mile taking a more languid 15.9 seconds at 85 mph; both measures better the numbers posted by the last 2016 Wrangler Unlimited by more than a second. If acceleration feels labored, braking and roadholding appear to push the Wrangler to the ragged edge of acceptable limits for a vehicle manufactured in the 21st century. Stopping from 70 mph consumed 205 feet, and our test driver reported “squirrely” behavior under braking. Grip maxed out at only 0.69 g, and the Wrangler felt tippy in cornering—the intervention of the non-defeatable stability control actually was welcome. Highway comfort also is in a class of its own, one that requires you to accept a choppy ride, massive amounts of tire and wind noise, and all the steering precision of a hot-air balloon in a hurricane.
But from the driver’s seat, all of that seems irrelevant. Everything from the tires to the foldable windshield are just tools that help to create a vibe, an experience, a state of mind, and the removable top and doors further enhance the feeling. Unfortunately, most adults can’t fritter away their days carelessly four-wheeling across an endless beach in search of cold brewskis and warm tacos. But, thanks to modern technology, they can drive a Wrangler in preparation for the one week a year when they ditch reality and let their lizard brains regain control. Let’s hope the next-generation Wrangler doesn’t overthink things.
Press Release
• Enhancements to Jeep Wrangler including new Euro 6 diesel engine
• New 75th Anniversary limited edition details announced
Major enhancements to the popular and successful Jeep Wrangler range of SUV vehicles have been announced, with details of a new engine and a raft of enhancements to the current model for 2016.
In addition, and to celebrate the iconic 4×4 brand’s 75th birthday, Jeep has also revealed details of a 75th Anniversary limited edition Wrangler for the UK. The car was first revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
Jeep Wrangler’s existing 2.8-litre diesel engine has been updated to meet Euro 6 emission standards while the car has been given a series of important and valuable updates. These include:
(Sahara version)
• Front side airbags
• Deep-tint sunscreen glass
• 18-inch polished satin alloy wheels
• 3.73 rear axle ratio
(Overland version)
• Front side airbags
• 3.73 rear axle ratio
(Rubicon version)
• Front side airbags
• Deep-tint sunscreen glass
• 18-inch Rubicon satin alloy wheels
• Mopar slush mats
• Black, heated leather seats
The new Jeep Wrangler now starts at £31,840 OTR for the 2-dr Sahara 2.8 CRD auto rising to £34,910 for the 4-dr Rubicon 3.6 V6 auto.
Wrangler 75th Anniversary
It is a Jeep tradition to celebrate key anniversaries, or the conquering of inaccessible places, with special editions. And to celebrate its 75 years of history, the legendary brand has introduced a 75th Anniversary special edition offered on all models of the line-up including Wrangler, of which only 85 are destined for the UK.
The limited edition Jeep Wrangler 75th Anniversary is based on the Overland model, but with several key differences, including unique exterior styling and part-leather interiors.
The exterior features a bronze-finished front grille and 18-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured dual top, Mopar slush mats, unique bronze and orange Jeep badging, and a dedicated 75th Anniversary badge. The car comes in Bright White, Solid Black or Sarge Green colours.
Inside, the Wrangler 75th Anniversary gets ‘1941′ embossed leather heated seats in black or saddle brown and tangerine (leather with fabric inserts), bronze accents on air vents and grab handles, satnav with an Alpine premium sound system and deep tinted sunscreen glass.
The Jeep Wrangler 75th Anniversary costs starts at £34,765 OTR for the 2-dr 75th Anniversary 2.8 CRD auto rising to £36,435 OTR for the 4dr 75th Anniversary 3.6 V6 auto.
Ends