In 2007, Jeep rocked its enthusiast community by introducing a four-door variant of the iconic Wrangler. The stretched Unlimited brought more interior space and greater emphasis on passenger comfort. A stiffer body and additional sound insulation produced a quieter, more civilized ride. It didn't take long for the Unlimited to become a huge success for the Jeep brand even if purists dismissed it as too civilized. The four-door Wrangler expanded the Wrangler's appeal, and in recent years Jeep has increased production capacity to meet demand.
What's New for 2014
The Wrangler Unlimited receives minor trim changes and the addition of a few new colors. The optional Dragon 4x4 package includes appearance, comfort and performance enhancements including 18 x 7.5 inch aluminum wheels.
Choosing Your Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
One of the best features of all Wrangler Unlimiteds is the standard 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and its smooth delivery of 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. It makes easy work of cruising down highways or crawling over rocks. The best engine ever fitted in a Wrangler, it can be paired with a five-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmissions. Fuel economy is rated at 16mpg city/20mpg highway with automatic; highway mileage is 1 mpg better with the manual transmission.
Standard electronic stability control, electronic roll mitigation, hill-start assist and trailer sway control will be welcome by all drivers. Most important is the Wrangler capability for handling life without pavement, and it's included as standard equipment.
The 2014 Jeep Wrangler is one of a very short list of vehicles that gives buyers a choice of final-drive ratios. Most of the extras are wrapped into model trim levels.
Choose Your Jeep Wrangler Unlimited >>
If you're a serious off-road enthusiast, there's only one choice: the Rubicon. For the rest of us, the Sport S or Sahara should do the trick—just be sure you're ready for a Jeep that rides and handles like a Jeep. It may have leather seats and automatic climate control, but the Unlimited is still a no-compromises off-road vehicle that won't be very comfortable on highway commutes.