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It hasn't changed a great deal - since the first Jeep bounced its way across battlefields in World War II. Photo Gallery
Stuart Martin road tests and reviews the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport CRD auto.
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With apologies to The Rolling Stones and a few others, time is no longer on the Wrangler's side it seems. The machine so heavily linked with the US brand's image has been gussied up, given extra doors and even a diesel, but is now long overdue for a serious overhaul.
Recent experience in three light-commercial utilities - which were preferable to drive over the Jeep - has reinforced the Wrangler's need to venture into the 21st century.
VALUE
As a tough and chunky five-seater, with the ability to go soft-top or topless, there's not much that can directly compete here. There are wagons on offer with comparable off-road prowess - but not the bloodline - and in most cases better on-road manners, but the Wrangler Unlimited is not completely without merit.
A decent six-speaker sound system, including speakers on the roll bar for topless tunes, cloth trim, locking centre console, heated power-adjustable exterior mirrors, power windows, tyre pressure warning, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls (on the back of the wheel), leaving the front of the helm to accommodate the cruise and trip computer buttons.
TECHNOLOGY
The shortest part of this story is the technology section - most of the technology in this car relates to safety systems, although there's an optional touchscreen sound and satnav system, with Bluetooth and 30-gig hard-drive, but technology is not this car's forte.
DESIGN
It's hard to define the Wrangler's exterior - urban warfare chic maybe? Whatever the theme, it hasn't changed a great deal - for better or worse - since the first Jeep bounced its way across battlefields in World War II.
The company played with it once - square headlights - but the shock and awe, disbelief and outcry from Jeep faithful quickly saw the round lights return, while some wonder still about the introduction of the four-door. Jeep says the interior has had a major revamp for the model update - with some new materials and a dash makeover.
There are still some ergonomic issues, with some switchgear in odd places - the power windows are in the middle of the centrestack, the door unlock button sits beneath the driver's right knee and the left knee can knock the transmission into manual change mode. The pedal placement is atrocious - the brake pedal is too high and the throttle pedal is buried off to the right; tilt-only adjustable steering finishes off what is not the greatest set-up for the driver.
SAFETY
It's not the most comprehensive list but there's stability control (that can be backed off but not completely disabled) with anti-rollover function, anti-lock brakes with emergency assistance, hill descent control, dual front and front-side airbags are on the safety features list. It also has the padded full-steel roll-cage
DRIVING
The image of off-road glory starts when you look above the centre rearvision mirror - the windscreen is edged with a decal that has the Jeep's front-on look on the glass. It's an image thing - but the road drive before you turn a muddied wheel in anger might temper your enthusiasm.
The diesel might well be claiming a fuel economy advantage of four litres per 100km over the petrol sibling but it's not the liveliest oil-burner in the SUV segment. The lag seems to be exacerbated by the transmission's sleepy attitude and a throttle pedal that requires a sizeable prod before anything happens - departure then occurs in an unintended rush.
The shift from left to right-hand drive has done the driver no favours - the aforementioned pedal position has the brake pedal high and the throttle pedal is as far to the right as it can be. There's underbody protection, low range, 257mm of ground clearance, solid front and rear axles, short front and rear overhangs - all of which points to off-road intent.
Once off the beaten track, the Wrangler feels less ponderous and dozy, clambering over mounds and tearing up dirt tracks with abandon - in four-wheel drive mode the four-door feels more secure on dirt roads, where in rear-drive mode the pessimistic and blunt stability control is a common interrupter. Cargo space of almost 500 litres is useful, as is a braked towing capacity of 2300kg, although neither is class-leading.
VERDICT
Jeep's slogan "Don't Hold Back" is being invoked here - as an owner of one of this car's ancestors, it pains me greatly to say this, but as Gough said "It's time." Time this car had some attention - the new Grand Cherokee is an example of what the brand can do to bring its machines up to par and the Wrangler needs some similar and serious TLC.
JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED SPORT CRD AUTO
Price: from $42,000
Warranty: 3 years, 100,000km
Resale: 54%, Source: Glass's Guide
Service Interval: 12,000km or 6-months
Economy: 8.3/100km, on test 13; 213g/km CO2, tank 85 litres
Equipment: Four airbags, ABS, EBD, stability and traction control.
Crash rating: N/A star
Engine: 147kW/460Nm 2.8-litre DOHC 16-valve turbodiesel four-cylinder, five-speed auto
Body: Four-door, 5 seats
Dimensions: 4751mm (L); 1877mm (W); 1840mm (H); 2947mm (WB)
Weight: 1858kg
Tyre size: 245/75R17
Spare tyre: full size
OTHERS TO CONSIDER
MITSUBISHI CHALLENGER
Price: From $44,490
Engine: 2.5-litre, 4-cyl turbodiesel, 131kW/350Nm
Transmission: 5-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Body: 5-door wagon
Thirst: 9.8l/100km, CO2 259g/km
"The Triton's cousin sits in the Pajero's shadow but deserves more attention."
Price: from $44,990
Engine: 4-litre, V6 petrol, 200kW/380Nm
Transmission: 5-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Body: 5-door wagon
Thirst: 11.4l/100km, 95RON, CO2 267g/km
"There's no diesel but the `Tonka Truck' image factor applies, which has the off-road ability."
