- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
3.6i, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
209kW, 347Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 11.7L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4X4
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2013 Jeep Wrangler Overland Unlimited Review
2013 JEEP WRANGLER REVIEW
Vehicle Style: Large 4WD wagon
Price: $47,000 (plus on-roads)
Fuel Economy claimed: 11.7 l/100km | tested: 14.2 l/100km
OVERVIEW
The Jeep Wrangler is like the shark.
Sharks have been swimming the world’s oceans since prehistory, largely ignoring evolution and resolutely sticking to a well-proven, razor-toothed formula.
And just like the shark, the Wrangler hasn’t strayed far from its progenitor.
While much of the rest of the AWD world has moved to lighter-weight monocoques, sophisticated independent suspensions and more aerodynamic lines, the Wrangler has stuck to a formula that has gone fundamentally unchanged since the original Jeep rolled onto the battlefields of World War 2.
So it’s hardly cutting-edge, but there’s a certain rugged charm to the Wrangler.
Even the new up-spec Wrangler Overland - the subject of this test - is, at its core, a basic and honest machine.
We tested the Overland’s mettle both on road and off. While there are certain aspects of its character that make it hard to live with, there’s stacks of appeal for the avid off-roader.
INTERIOR | RATING: 2.5/5
Quality: While durability is hard to dispute, it’s equally hard to love the Wrangler’s rock-solid and unyielding interior plastics.
But we heard no rattles from the Wrangler’s cabin fittings whatsoever, even when driving at speed on deeply corrugated dirt roads. What the Wrangler lacks in material finesse, it makes up for with sheer solidity.
Comfort: The driving position takes some getting used to. You sit quite upright and close to the steering wheel (which doesn’t adjust for reach by the way, only tilt), yet despite your proximity to the windscreen the view outside is like peering through a mail slot.
However, you get a good sense of where the corners of the car are, and that’s vital for an off-roader.
The large wing mirrors also improve outside visibility, although over-the-shoulder vision is compromised by the roll bar that cuts diagonally between the C and D pillar.
The back seat is short and getting in is made difficult by the small door apertures. Legroom is good, however the slabby seat cushions give little in the way of comfort or support.
Equipment: The Overland was introduced earlier this year to add some luxury to the range, bringing with it niceties like leather upholstery, sat-nav, climate control, 18-inch alloys, a reversing camera and body-coloured fenders and roof panels.
The rest of the spec sheet is familiar Wrangler stuff. Cruise control, trip computer, foglamps, heated wing-mirrors plus Bluetooth phone and audio integration.
Storage: With the rear seats in place, the Wrangler has 498 litres of luggage room. That’s a decent size, but not exceptional considering the Wrangler’s footprint and tall, boxy cabin.
Chalk that down to sizable wheel arch intrusion. Our tester also had its soft top mechanism stowed in the boot, which greatly reduced the practicality of the load area.
Fold the seats down though, and there’s around 1000 litres of space. Plenty for some long-distance touring through the great outdoors.
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