Jeep Wrangler ute 2019 spied off-road testing

Andrew Chesterton

Contributing Journalist

2 min read

Jeep's Wrangler ute is promising to be pretty capable off-road, with some heavily-camouflaged prototypes spied getting down and dirty on the Rubicon Trail in the USA.

The pictures, published to a Jeep forum, show a number of the new utes - expected to be called the Wrangler Scrambler - being put to work on an off-road trail. And we mean work; take a closer look at the camouflage wrapping in these images, it has taken an absolute battering.

The long-teased ladder-frame ute will be revealed in November, but its Australian launch date remains unclear - though it is confirmed for our market. But with the incoming JL Wrangler’s local launch expected early in the new year, we’d be surprised to see a Scrambler here before the end of next year.

The new JL Wrangler will be offered (internationally at least) with a 2.2-litre diesel engine, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol unit and a big V6 petrol. But which of those will make their way into the Scrambler is yet to be revealed. US dealership documents have pointed to a 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine, too, though that's likely only for the American market.

Will you be lining up for a Wrangler ute? Tell us in the comments below.

Andrew Chesterton

Contributing Journalist

CarsGuide contributing journalist Andrew Chesterton is an award-winning Australian automotive reporter with more than 20 years of experience across newspapers, magazines, digital publishing and automotive corporate communications. Andrew began his journalism career at Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph, reporting across business, courts, crime, property and state politics before moving into automotive journalism. He joined Top Gear Australia as its online editor in 2008, later being appointed editor of Top Gear New Zealand. He subsequently worked as an assistant editor during the Australian launch of the Daily Mail Australia, and as communications manager at FCA Australia, now Stellantis. His experience on both sides of the media industry gives him an unrivalled understanding of the automotive industry, and the relationship between car manufacturers, the media, and Australian consumers. Andrew’s work has appeared across leading automotive, news, business, luxury, travel and lifestyle publications, including CarsGuide, EV Central, DMARGE, The Sydney Morning Herald, Marie Claire, Top Gear, GQ Australia, The Australian, WISH Magazine, Boss Hunting, The West Australian, The Nightly, Women’s Day Australia, Carsales, NRMA, Men’s Health, CEO Magazine, Australian Financial Review and more.   Andrew specialises in industry news, vehicle reviews, policy,  performance and luxury cars, electric vehicles, automotive technology, EVs hybrid and plug-in hybrids, and the broader Australian new-car marketplace. In 2025, Andrew was named Newspress Australia News Journalist of the Year and was a finalist for the overall Journalist of the Year award. Earlier honours include Website of the Year wins at the Australian Magazine Awards and ACP Awards, the ACP Rising Star Award and recognition in the Bauer Media and News Ltd journalism awards. Expertise Electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles Performance, luxury and supercars New-car reviews and road testing Australian automotive industry and new-car sales Chinese automotive brands and emerging manufacturers Utes, SUVs and family vehicles Automotive technology Policy Awards 2025 Newspress Australia News Journalist of the Year Featured Publications CarsGuide EV Central DMARGE The Sydney Morning Herald Marie Claire Top Gear GQ Australia The Australian WISH Magazine Boss Hunting The West Australian The Nightly Women’s Day Australia Carsales NRMA Men’s Health CEO Magazine Australian Financial Review The Daily Telegraph The Sunday Telegraph Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
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