Jeep Wrangler 2019 News

Australia's best new cars are now one step closer to being announced, with judges finalising the Top 10 models for each 2019 CarsGuide Car of the Year award.

Australia’s crash-testing body ANCAP has released the latest round of safety testing with the all-new Toyota HiAce and Nissan Leaf earning five stars, yet the Jeep Wrangler has earned only one star. Australia’s top-selling van, the HiAce, achieved 94 per cent for adult occupant protection, 88 per cent for child occupant protection, 84 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 77 per cent for safety assist. The second-generation Nissan Leaf scored well, too, with a 93 per cent adult occupant protection score, plus 85 per cent for child occupant protection, 71 per cent vulnerable road user protection and 70 per cent for safety assist.The Jeep Wrangler, on the other hand, scored just 50 per cent for adult occupant projection, 49 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and just 32 per cent for safety assist.From launch, the Wrangler is only equipped with auto emergency braking (AEB) and blind-spot monitoring on the top two models, though Jeep will add both features to the entry-level Sport S “towards the back end of 2019,” according to Jeep Australia boss Steve Zanlunghi.Beyond all of this, the Australian model lacks curtain airbags and is fundamentally challenged by having a fold-down windscreen and removable doors. “The safety performance of the Wrangler is limited, falling well shy of the expected standard in three of the four key areas of assessment” said ANCAP Chief Executive, James Goodwin. “Chest protection was a concern for the driver and rear passenger in each of the frontal crash tests, a number of penalties were applied for structural deformation and potential leg injury hazards, and base variants lack autonomous emergency braking altogether,” Mr Goodwin said.The outgoing JK Wrangler had a four-star rating but only on petrol V6 models produced from 2012 onwards - models dating back to 2007 were not rated. 

The 2019 Jeep Wrangler JL model range has been confirmed, with pricing and specifications set for the three-model, six-variant line-up.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Australia was quick to defend its new-generation Jeep Wrangler after it scored a lowly one-star safety rating in a test conducted by European crash testing authority Euro NCAP.

International demand has delayed the Australian launch of the all-new JL Wrangler back to Q1 2019, after initial expectations of a December 2018 debut. Speaking with CarsGuide at the international launch of the new Wrangler in the USA this week, FCA Australia and Jeep Asia Pacific boss Steve Zanlunghi explained that the Wrangler's sales success in the USA has meant right-hand drive markets like Japan and Australia will have to wait longer than expected. This means we'll be at least 12 months behind the US, and more than a year after the JL Wrangler made its public debut at the LA motor show last November. It should be worth the wait though, with the first all-new model since 2007 promising more off-road ability, safety, fuel efficiency, power, tech, and refinement than ever, while also reducing weight.All of these advancements have been made without compromising the Wrangler's core ruggedness, with a solid axle front end and fold-down windscreen remaining on the features list after 77 years of evolution since the first Willys Jeep. This safety is set to include AEB on all variants, which means a maximum five star ANCAP safety rating is a possibility. Australian drivetrain details are yet to be finalised, but we expect to see a revised version of the existing 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine and a new 2.2-litre turbo-diesel to replace the existing 2.8-litre unit. US versions also feature a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four and a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel. We will continue to get both short-wheelbase two-door and long-wheelbase four-door Unlimited versions, with a variety of trim levels including the most off-road focused Rubicon at the top of the range. We're also set to score the new Scrambler ute version, but its timing is still up in the air given we're still awaiting its reveal.Keep an eye on CarsGuide for further Wrangler updates as they come to hand over the coming months.

The Wrangler is set to add five-star safety to it's seemingly endless arsenal of capabilities when the all-new JL model launches in Australia in Q1 2019.   Speaking with CarsGuide at the international launch of the new Wrangler in the USA this week, FCA Australia and Jeep Asia Pacific boss Steve Zanlunghi confirmed AEB will come standard on all versions. New 2.2-litre four cylinder and 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesels are planned internationally, although Australia is expected to only see the 2.2-litre, in addition to a revised version of the existing 3.6-litre petrol V6. Both will be equipped with AEB.Mr Zanlunghi explained his team will be shooting for the highest safety rating available, and AEB is now a pre-requisite for scoring the maximum five-star ANCAP rating. The availabilty of AEB is no guarantee for the top rating though, with the Kia Stinger initially scoring dual three and five-star ratings when it launched because AEB was not available on all versions. This situation has not affected the Honda CR-V however, with all versions carrying a five-star rating despite only the top-spec VTi-LX coming with the auto braking tech.The current two-door, 3.6-litre JK Wrangler was given a four-star ANCAP rating when tested in 2012. 

Jeep continues to tantalise us with camouflaged Wrangler ute development mules, with these examples spotted in the US this week.

Jeep has reportedly chosen a model name of its forthcoming Wrangler ute, with the Scrambler moniker to be resurrected.