Jeep Wrangler vs Deepal E07

What's the difference?

The changes to this updated Jeep Wrangler are small but meaningful. The inclusion of airbags, the updated media screen, and a feisty engine which suits the plucky nature of this off-roader make it a better Wrangler than ever.  

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.

The Deepal E07 is not a truck, so tradies need not apply. However, for couples and families it's a generously equipped and luxurious EV with a unique electronic approach to a reconfigurable interior, albeit with practicality partly compromised by its fastback styling. So, only car buyers will determine if this is a short-lived automotive curiosity, or a bold new direction for SUV design.

The Jeep Wrangler looks like a cartoon of a four-wheel drive, that’s how familiar and well-known the design is. It’s almost generic, like the word Jeep.

You could say the design is iconic, given that the roots of this SUV stretch back to the little Willys off-roader built for the US army in World War II. And to this day the slotted grille, pronounced wheel guards, short and upright windscreen, even the removable doors are still with us in this latest incarnation.

That’s why each generation of the Wrangler only sees very subtle tweaks to famous shape and look, in much the same way a Porsche 911’s design changes at the rate of dripping water reshaping a rock.

Changing the styling completely would destroy the look which connects the Wrangler to its past and the nostalgic appeal would be over. 

So, this update sees more than subtle styling changes in the form of a tweak to the grille with the addition of a metallic-look trim around each of the slots while the mesh insert now has larger openings.   

Along with this there’s a new front bumper. The Wranglers we tested had the optional heavy duty steel front bumpers.

There’s also some interior changes in the form of a new dashboard trim, horizontal air vents and then there’s the 12.3-inch media display which goes a long way to making the cabin look more modern.

Still, the interior is busy with buttons and switches in a design that seems to mix the look of heavy machinery controls with a prestige car. The Nappa leather of the Rubicon grade lifts the quality feel higher.

All Wrangler interiors also have an internal roll-over cage which covers the entire cabin, for the fixed metal roof and removable roof body style which are standard on the Overland and Rubicon.

Only the Rubicon is offered in a two-door and a four-door, while the Overland and Sport S are four-door only.

The Rubicon two-door looks cute and fun to my eyes, while the four-door versions look a bit more serious and beefy, but both definitely still give off tough and adventurous vibes.

The wheelbase difference between the two is as giant as it looks. The Rubicon two-door’s wheelbase is 2459mm while the four-door Rubicon’s, along with the Sport S and Overland, is 3008mm.

The Wrangler ranges in length from 4334mm for the Rubicon two-door to 4882mm for the four-door Wranglers. Width is the same for all Wranglers at 1894mm and the height ranges from 1879mm in the Rubicon two-door to 1901mm in the four-door versions.

The E07 rides on a 3120mm wheelbase with 5045mm overall length, 1996mm width and 1680mm height, so compared to the segment-leading Ford Everest it’s larger in wheelbase, length and width but not as tall. It also has active air suspension with adjustable ground clearance and ride firmness.

The exterior styling, which can best be described as a fastback SUV, disguises the electronic interior transformations that largely occur behind its privacy glass. Our example’s black paint ensures it looks smaller and less conspicuous than its generous dimensions would suggest.

Its spacious and airy interior is enhanced by the panoramic sunroof. It has a futuristic look and feel, although the optional bright orange nappa leather trim may be too garish for some. It was also showing light staining and scuffmarks, so perhaps not a practical choice for families with young kids.

When we review most SUVs practicality is scored on things like legroom, storage space and boot size. But in the case of a vehicle with removable doors and roof, and a cabin that has one-way drainage valves so you can hose the interior out, practicality takes on a different meaning.

The Wrangler’s practicality seems focussed on serving adventurous folks in search of a muddy off-road expedition and, so, while there is storage it’s mainly nets for door pockets, moulded wells on top of the dash, and smaller hidey holes to makes sure loose items don’t get flung around the cabin.

Given the roof can be removed there’s also a lockable glove box and centre console storage box.

When it comes to cabin space the Wrangler’s interior feels a bit cramped. The footwells up front don’t offer much space and headroom throughout is restricted by the roll cage which stretches from the front to the boot.

The four-door Wrangler has five seats and good legroom in the second row, even for me at 189cm tall. As mentioned above, headroom is limited in places because of the safety structure. Boot space behind those rear seats is 898 litres.

The two-door Rubicon has four seats. The back ones aren’t the most spacious and the boot behind them is almost too small to mention at 365L, Two pieces of carry-on luggage wouldn’t fit back there and we had to put our bags on the rear seats.

The rear tailgate for all Wranglers is side-hinged (opening left to right) and splits to allow just the window section or lower part to open separately.

For charging and powering devices all Wranglers have two USB ports up front (one -A and one -C) and four USB ports in the second row (two -A and two -C). There are also two 12V outlets on board (front and rear).  

There are two cupholders, seatback map nets and directional air vents for the second row.

The Wrangler sits high and climbing into the rear seats might be a challenge for smaller kids or even fully-grown humans, but there are chunky handholds at the pillars for extra help.

So, the Wrangler has excellent practicality, but this is geared more to its intended purpose of adventuring off-road rather than the city commute and school pick-up.

Its 2320kg tare weight and 2930kg GVM provides 610kg of internal load capacity. That should comfortably cater for the weight of five large adults, with their belongings shared between the 131-litre front boot (aka frunk) and the rear luggage area which offers 524 litres or just over half a cubic metre of load volume with the glass dome closed and rear bulkhead upright.

This is a modest load volume compared to conventional seven-seat large SUV rivals (with their third rows folded) like the Isuzu MU-X (1119L) or Ford Everest (898L), which is largely due to the E07’s fastback design.

It’s also rated to tow up to 1500kg of braked trailer but Deepal doesn't quote a GCM rating so we don’t know how much weight it can legally carry and tow at the same time, which is a surprising omission for a vehicle claiming to be a truck.

Push a button and the rear glass dome retracts forward into the roof to expose the rear luggage area to the great outdoors (a nice space for tethered dogs to ride in). Push more buttons and the tailgate opens, the rear bulkhead window slides down and both the bulkhead and rear seat fold forward and flat to create more than 1.6 cubic metres of internal load volume, which again is modest compared to conventional large SUV rivals.

And if you’re a tradie or other service provider needing to carry bulky tools and equipment, the E07 lacks the basic requirements of a truck when the interior is in this flat-floor configuration.

For example, it can theoretically carry up to 500kg or half a tonne of cargo plus driver without exceeding its GVM limit. However, there are no load anchorage points provided on the B pillars and the strongest anchorages in the rear luggage area are only rated at 50kg each. And there’s no cargo barrier provided (or available as an accessory) behind the front seats to protect the driver and front passenger.

We also noted when using the E07 to haul gardening tools and equipment that the trailing edge of the metal roof was low enough to require deflating the tyre on our wheelbarrow to just squeeze under it (see image), so tall loads would be an issue.

And although the E07 can be driven in this fully open configuration, if the cargo is large enough to stop closure of the glass dome and you get caught in the rain, the luxurious nappa leather trim could get wet. So, we don’t expect to see one of these ‘trucks’ replacing a Ranger or HiLux for tradie duties any time soon.

Front of cabin storage includes big bins in each front door but there’s no glove box or overhead glasses holder. The two-tiered or ‘floating’ style of centre console has a large storage tray at floor height while the upper level provides two USB-C ports, wireless phone charging, a pair of cupholders and a large box with padded lids that provide comfy elbow rests.

The large rear doors open wide to access a bench seat which for a fastback body style is surprisingly accommodating, even for tall people. I’m 186cm and when seated behind the driver’s seat set in my position I have ample foot, knee and headroom.

Even those in the middle seat can ride in comfort, enhanced by a spacious flat floor with no transmission tunnel to straddle. The 60/40-split backrests can also recline but with the trade-off being less legroom given the base cushions must slide forward to achieve this.

Rear seat storage includes bins in each door, pockets on both front seat backrests and two cupholders which appear when the centre seat backrest is folded forward to serve as an armrest.

The rear of the centre console also has a USB-C port and small touchscreen that allows rear passengers to adjust various comfort settings.

The rear luggage area has numerous hooks for securing light duty straps or load nets plus a 12V accessory socket and a domestic three-pin plug outlet for the 6.6kW V2L (vehicle to load) inverter to power a variety of devices and appliances.

The Deepal E07 is available in a choice of drivetrain specifications comprising a single-motor RWD entry-level model with 252kW/365Nm for a list price of $64,900, plus on-road costs, or premium dual-motor AWD ‘Performance’ variant with 440kW/645Nm for $73,900.

Our test vehicle is the single-motor RWD, finished in 'Obsidian Black' which is one of three colours available including 'Hematite Grey' and 'Quartz White'. Its eye-catching orange nappa leather-appointed seat trim is an extra cost option in preference to the standard black nappa trim.

There’s currently no competitor in the ‘Large SUV Under $80K’ segment in which the E07 competes that can match its electronically reconfigurable interior, which appears to draw inspiration from the futuristic ‘Transformers’ movie franchise (see Practicality).

Our example comes standard with numerous luxury appointments including 21-inch alloy wheels with 265/45R21 tyres but no spare (repair kit only), heated door mirrors with auto-dipping and memory settings, panoramic sunroof with electronic sunshade, roof rails, rear privacy glass, active grille, LED headlights/DRLs/tail-lights and lots more.

The sumptuous interior, with smart key access and start, offers a head-up display, heated steering wheel with power adjustment/position memory, eight-way power adjustable driver and front passenger ‘zero gravity’ seats with heating/ventilation/massage/position memory/courtesy functions, power tailgate, dual-zone climate, rear seat recline/heating/ventilation/massage, wireless phone charging, integrated dashcam and a handy 6.6kW V2L (Vehicle to Load) inverter to power numerous devices and appliances.

There’s also a large 15.4-inch touchscreen which controls vehicle functions (see Driving) and the multimedia system with premium 18-speaker sound and wireless Apple and Android connectivity.

One of the biggest changes Jeep could make to the Wrangler without causing complete mayhem for fans is to the engine and even then there will be folks who don’t like what they’re about to read.

Deep breaths, okay? Right, so, in this update the V6 petrol engine has been replaced by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder. 

At 200kW the new four-cylinder makes a smidge less power than the V6 but more torque at 400Nm. An eight-speed automatic transmission shifts gears and sends the drive to all four wheels.

If you’re a Wrangler fan you’ll most likely know about this engine swap, but you’re wondering how this four-cylinder feels.

The answer is, really good. Jeep has got it right. It’s a torquey, responsive engine that feels energetic and suits the Wrangler's personality well.

In the short time I’ve spent on and off the road I’m convinced this turbo-four will be a good companion wherever you decide to go.

And go pretty much anywhere you can, with all Wranglers being ridiculously capable off-road thanks to their ladder frame chassis, high- and low-range gears, outstanding ground clearance (233mm-257mm, depending on variant ), excellent approach angle (41.4 to 44 degrees, depending on variant) and a departure angle to match (37 degrees for the both Rubicons; 36.1 for the Sport S and Overland).  

The Rubicon comes standard with Jeep’s 'Rock-Trac' on-demand four-wheel drive system and this update adds a full float rear axle. Sport S and Overland grades have Jeep’s 'Selec-Trac Active' on-demand 4WD set-up.

The single electric motor, which drives the rear wheels through a single-speed transmission, produces 252kW of power and 365Nm of torque.

Deepal claims a zippy 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.7 seconds, compared to its dual-motor AWD sibling which does the same sprint in less than four seconds.

The new turbo-petrol, four-cylinder means better fuel economy than the V6 it replaces. We have yet to test Jeep’s claims that after a combination of open and urban roads the four cylinder uses 9.2L/100km in the sport S and Overland grades and 9.9L/100km in the Rubicon.

In comparison, Jeep says the previous V6 uses 10.1L/100km in the Rubicon and 9.9L/100km in the Overland. Our own testing saw consumption closer to 13L/100km.

We’ll have the new Wrangler in our garage soon and we’ll be able to put the fuel consumption claims to a real world test.

In terms of range, the two-door Rubicon has a 61-litre fuel tank and in theory a range of up to 680km. The Sport S and Overland have an 81-litre tank and can get up to 880km, while the four-door Rubicon’s 81-litre tank should manage 830km.

Of course if you’re off-roading you’ll use more fuel and the range will drop accordingly.

It has a WLTP estimated driving range of up to 550km (510km for the dual-motor AWD) and like its sibling draws energy from a 90kWh lithium-ion propulsion battery beneath the floor.

Deepal claims a maximum AC (Type 2 plug) charge rate of 7.0kW can fill the battery from 0-100 per cent in 13 hours while DC (CCS2 plug) fast charging at the maximum 240kW can do 30-80 per cent in just 15 minutes.

When we collected the test vehicle, the touchscreen was displaying 95 per cent charge and an estimated range of 524km. We covered 219km during our usual mix of suburban, city and highway driving, with 45 per cent charge and 245km remaining.

We did an overnight charge at home using the AC Type 2 cable and after 14 hours at a glacial 1.6kW the battery charge increased from 45 to 63 per cent, adding an extra 100km of range (346km).

We added another 80km to achieve a total distance of exactly 300km, after which the touchscreen was claiming average consumption of 15kWh/100km. So, based on our real-world figure, a range of 500km or more from a single charge is credible.

Every one of the Jeep launches I’ve attended over the past 15 years has involved a pretty decent off-road component and it’s clear the company has a lot of faith in its product.

This Wrangler launch’s off-road test had been scaled back due to days of flooding rain beforehand, but the section that was passable was enough to remind us of what we already know and that is the Wrangler is formidable.

A Queensland bush off-road course full of steep, muddy hills, ruts, rocks, dirt and slippery descents was still all there for us to test the Wrangler Rubicon four-door.

Fun and comfortable are the first words that pop into my head when recalling how the Rubicon fares. This is a super-capable beastie that feels planted, secure and adept at all times.

We tested low- and high-range four-wheel drive, locked the rear differential and let the hill descent mode do its thing and get us down the sides of hills that felt so close to vertical all we could see through the windscreen was the ground.

What's also clear is the new turbo-petrol, four-cylinder feels well suited to the job, with plenty of torque along with a feisty and responsive nature that fits the Wrangler better than the old V6.

There was also plenty of time spent on the road in the four-door Rubicon and its smaller two-door sibling. And was here it was also super clear the Wrangler felt like we’d taken it out of its natural habitat.

At 110km/h on the motorway the two door Rubicon feels light and floaty in its suspension, with steering adjustments having to be made constantly, like actors pretending to drive cars in movies, as the Wrangler wanders around in its lane. The Wrangler wander is a known trait and isn’t specific to this updated car. 

And even though our launch drive took us on some great winding country roads which would have been perfect for a Mazda MX-5, the Wranglers found the fast tight turns difficult to handle.

I’m sure I heard a sigh of relief from our Rubicon as we pulled off the road and selected low-range four-wheel drive before bouncing up what looked to be a sheer cliff, with ease.  

Of course, our Adventure Expert Marcus 'Crafty' Craft will put the Wrangler though its paces once we have one in the CarsGuide garage.

The E07 offers plenty of personalisation including four drive modes, a ‘super’ power saving mode and multiple adjustments for acceleration, steering, braking, regenerative braking, suspension height and ride firmness.

It has a spacious and comfortable driving position but the view takes some getting used to given there’s no conventional instrument cluster. You rely only on the head-up display for key info like road speed, traffic sign recognition, indicator direction etc.

Steering column stalks provide some basic functions like gear selection and indicating/headlight flashing but many settings like wipers, lights, climate control, audio etc are controlled by the central touchscreen.

This can be very distracting while driving, given the need to accurately place your fingertip on a virtual button or slider each time you need to change a setting. Yes, it has ‘Hey Deepal’ voice assistance, but physical dials and buttons would be quicker and easier.

The E07 is otherwise nice to drive with its near silent powertrain and low tyre/wind noise combined with good steering feel, strong braking and sure-footed handling with an air-cushioned ride. Its electric air-con was also impressively cold when daytime temperatures reached the mid-30s.

While the single motor and RWD can’t match the performance of its dual-motor AWD sibling, our test vehicle’s smooth and spirited acceleration in the sub-7.0 second 0-100km/h zone is more than ample for family duties with the added benefit of a longer driving range.

The E07 is yet to be tested by ANCAP but comes with an exhaustive menu of passive and active features including eight airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist alert, lane-keeping, front/rear cross-traffic alert with autonomous braking, tyre pressure monitoring, traffic sign recognition, front/rear parking sensors, 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, reverse tracing assistance and much more. The rear bench seat is equipped with dual ISOFIX child seat anchorages while the original two top-tethers have recently expanded to three to meet ADRs.

The Wrangler is covered by Jeep's five-year/100,000km warranty, which is off the mainstream market standard of five years/unlimited km.

Service intervals are recommended every 12 months and 12,000km and service prices are capped at $399. Jeep also offers lifetime roadside assistance if you service your Wrangler though Jeep. 

The E07 RWD comes standard with a seven-year-/140,000km warranty plus a separate eight years/240,000km warranty covering the propulsion battery. There’s also 12 months of complimentary roadside assistance.

Scheduled servicing is every 12 months/20,000km whichever occurs first. Capped pricing applies to the first seven scheduled services up to seven years/140,000km totalling $2955, or an average of $422 per service.

Deepal has a small but expanding national dealership network comprising around 14 locations, with each also providing vehicle servicing.