Revscene Car Review: 2016 Jeep Wrangler Sport S

[!Aznboi128]

When you hear the word Jeep, naturally the Wrangler will come to mind. This iconic symbol of the brand has see its share of improvements and adjustments through out the years, let’s take a look to see what the 2016 model year has to bring to this ready to play, straight out of the box off roader. The tester we got from Jeep is a Sport S, second on the model line up but it does come pack with some amazing features and options such but not limited to as limited slip rear differential, upgraded audio package, some chunky 17” off road tires. It also seems to be the most popular model as it doesn’t include anything you won’t need.



At the heart of the Wrangler is Chrysler’s latest Pentastar v6, this engine is now widely used in their brand and it’s impressive. This 3.6 litre v6 is putting out 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque it’s no slouch, its able to propel this 4000 lb truck from 0 - 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds. Unlike the 4 cylinder Wrangler of the past, it can now speed up and reach high way speeds much quicker and is able to pass other vehicles with ease, as torque is available through out the rev range. As you dip in to the throttle you are welcomed with a gracious sound of the v6 waking up, it’s no muscle car but it does sound throaty. One thing that does let it down is the pedal itself, it seems that drive by wire system still needs some calibration as it does take a second for the engine to realize what’s going on. Partnering up with the lazy transmission kick downs does take a second or two as the transmission hunts for the correct gearing for the application at hand. But do watch out how hard you apply the throttle, once the engine picks up it gets pretty thirsty, during the week with the vehicle it provided 15L / 100km which is slightly worse than the EPA rating, but still very reasonable for a vehicle of this size and power.



As it is a body on frame truck, it does roll more than your average car based suv. In addition to more roll the steering has a vague on centre feel, and driving down the highway can be numb. There are a couple attributing factors such as the big off road tires and the suspension, these do help the vehicle conquer during off road scenarios which is its main goal. With the Command Trac 4x4 system, it does feature shift of the fly 4WD, and it even has a 4 low gear for those sticky bit. A feature that’s optional is the downhill assist, it’s able to lock the vehicle in gear and maintain a walking pace down steep gradients without driver input.



Outside the box, quite literally in this case, is the Wrangler’s plastic fender arches and big metal bumpers. Built in mind for off road use these pieces are tuff and can be taking off and replaced if needed while protecting the body work. The tester also got tasteful upgrades to spruce up the exterior with the Mopar appearance group which includes tubular side steps, fuel filler door and taillamp guards. The side step is more rock slider then side steps, as the step itself relatively high and its just inches off the frame of the truck making them not that useful unless what you wanted was mud on your pants every time you get in and out of the truck. Moving to the back of the truck is where we find the soft top, this soft top mechanism could be a two person job, it’s tricky to fold down and requires much more than your average convertible top. There’s a few pieces that needs to be removed before the frame itself can roll back and fold neatly just behind the rear seats. That being said the soft top is thin, so sounds can pass through making the cabin a bit louder then comparable hard top variants. 





Looking inside the wrangler we have a few nice touches, the seats are supportive and tall providing a commanding view to the outside and gives the driver a higher point of view. The dash is simple and laid out logically, everything is where you would naturally find. The odd piece would be the steering wheel. There’s a total of 16 buttons, on the back side of the wheel there are 3 of each side to control the radio functions, on the left to control the vehicle information and bluetooth and the right for cruise control. The buttons them selves lack any feel so it’s hard to know which button is which unless you look down and see, but they are lighted which is a nice touch at night. Speaking of the radio, the audio system is the upgraded Alpine unit. It features bluetooth streaming, satellite radio, 8 speakers and an all weather subwoofer just behind the rear seats. This system is more than enough for a vehicle of this size and the subwoofer is able to hit the deeper notes and even shake the car a bit.



At the end of the day this Wrangler has much better manners then any previous models, it has a much better on road feel while still giving you off road capability unlike any other. It’s not designed to be a daily driver however it certain can be while being comfortable for longer trips. With the soft top, open air concept of the vehicle can be entertaining and fun to drive as you seek your next off road adventure. This Jeep has reworked the image of Wranglers of the past, by providing an amazing driving experience it will put a smile on your face as you drive.









Exterior 7/10
Interior 7/10
Tech
 6/10
Powertrain 8/10
Noise 6/10
Economy 6/10

Overall 40/60

Words and Photos by: Jimmy Mak

[tee-tea]

When I think of Wrangler, I think of dodge caravan with solid axles haha.

[!Aznboi128]

Well it does have the same engine!

[XplicitLuder]

when i hear jeep , i think of cherokee and the time she showed me a good time

[roastpuff]

You trying to steal Lomac's schtick? Thanks for the review though! Would appreciate more about the driving behaviour and impressions rather than just an overview of the vehicle.

[!Aznboi128]

Originally Posted by roastpuff

You trying to steal Lomac's schtick? Thanks for the review though! Would appreciate more about the driving behaviour and impressions rather than just an overview of the vehicle.

Thanks for the feedback! I'll include more of that in the next write up.

[!Aznboi128]

A bit late, but here's a quick video of a bunch of noobs going off road,

YouTube

[roastpuff]

Where was that? Looks fun!

[!Aznboi128]

Originally Posted by roastpuff

Where was that? Looks fun!

Triangle Road behind No. 6 Road Silvercity, its Pretty fun for something thats so close to town.

[yray]

I took a BMW x1 up that hill in muddy weather...