To say there isn’t much new isn’t entirely fair. The Sahara model got a few new tidbits like a body-color bumper section up front and a new 18-inch wheel finishes in polished aluminum with painted pockets.
Inside the Sahara you can also get a new olive green leather seating scheme, though I would pass on that with a red exterior like this one. All Saharas though get satin chrome and quick silver interior trim pieces to keep it fresh.
What hasn’t changed is the ability to have a good time. Leather seats or not, you can splash topless through the creek and get it and yourself good and wet. And that to me is what makes the Jeep Wrangler what it is.
To date no other vehicle really offers its combination of dedicated off-road capabilities, open air versatility and all round awesomeness.
It hasn’t changed much mechanically since the current JK generation made its debut for 2007, except the addition of its 3.6 liter Pentastar V6. And the addition of this engine was a Godsend with its 285 horsepower.
Its five-speed automatic is getting a bit long in tooth and could use some more gears for both fuel economy and drivability. I would hope Chrysler might soon add the ZF 8-speed automatic found in their other vehicles. We’ll see, but those choosing the six-speed manual will have no complaints.
Suspension remains of the antiquities era with solid axles front and rear, which nobody complains about at all here, and I’m not going to either. Driving both the Sahara and a Rubicon Hard Rock Edition, they both offer off-road handling and capability which is unmatched in my opinion. And for the pavement, well it is truck.
The Rubicon of course has all the traction toys like electronic-locking front and rear Dana 44 axles, a transfer case with a 4:1 low four. And with a 4.10 axle ratio, front and rear, you can have a crawl ratio of 73.1:1.
But even without all that, the base suspension and two-wheel drive will get you up a rock encrusted hill just like you see this Sahara doing with little or no drama. Chalk it up to a suspension with good articulation, above average ground clearance, and tires that hug mother earth.
But to get back to my opening thoughts, one of the best things the Jeep Wrangler has to offer no matter whether you get the base Sport model, step up to the new for 2016 Black Bear Edition, or get any number of the special editions, is the ability to peel pack that top and let it fly.
Convertibles have always had that feeling of freedom, and when you add in the ability to run through the wicked garden with virtually no limits, why it’s the essence of freedom. And even in its cheapest form, the Jeep Wrangler comes as a drop top.
While they start out at about $24,000 for a base model, most of the Wranglers you will find at dealers hover around $35-45,000. They sell quite well so there aren’t heavy discounts, and with their strong resale value buying a used one isn’t that much less than getting new. So if you want one, you need to pay up.
