2005 Jeep Wrangler
Check out our Used Jeep Wrangler Inventory!!!
Summary
The 2005 Jeep Wrangler lineup includes a new
Unlimited model. Introduced late in the 2004 model year in Sport trim, the Jeep
Wrangler Unlimited is also available in Rubicon trim for 2005, bringing added
creature comfort to serious off-roaders.
Full 2005 Review
Jeep Wrangler remains an icon, a symbol of
go-anywhere adventure. A four-speed automatic is available on all models. The
interior is Spartan. For the ultimate in off-the-shelf off-road capability, Jeep
offers the Wrangler Rubicon. Built along Jeep's "Go anywhere, do anything"
design philosophy, the Rubicon is a 4x4 gem. Front and rear Dana Model 44 axles
with locking differentials and a transfer case with a stump-pulling 4:1
low-range give the Ruby trail capabilities far beyond those of the average SUV.
2005 Jeep Wrangler models come standard with a new six-speed manual gearbox that
replaces last year's five-speed manual.
Trims and Styling '05
The 2005 Jeep Wrangler is available in six models:
SE ($17,970); X ($20,280); Sport ($23,140); Rubicon ($27,365); Unlimited
($23,895); and Unlimited Rubicon ($28,365). The Sahara is no longer available.
The Wrangler SE comes with a 2.4-liter
four-cylinder engine. The 2005 Wrangler SE features a new six-speed manual
gearbox; a four-speed automatic ($825) is optional. Air conditioning ($895),
cloth upholstery ($130), and full-metal doors with wind-up windows ($125) are
extra-cost options.
The 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine comes standard on
all the other Wrangler models. The six-speed manual transmission is standard;
the four-speed automatic is optional.
Wrangler X upgrades to cloth upholstery. More
options are available. Among them: cruise control ($300) including
leather-wrapped steering wheel); upgraded stereo ($295); hard top ($1,160).
Sport upgrades to air conditioning, full metal
doors with wind-up windows, a full-length floor console, courtesy and underhood
lights, fog lamps, a seven-speaker stereo, and other features. Options expand to
include anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes ($600), side steps ($150), and an
auto-dimming rear-view mirror ($295). Rubicon comes with diamond-plate sill
guards, beefier front and rear axles (two Dana 44s, rather than the Dana 30 and
35 used in the front and rear, respectively, of other Wranglers), a heavy-duty
transfer case with an ultra-low 4:1 ratio, driver-actuated locking
differentials, a special off-road suspension and four-wheel-disc brakes. Also
standard are 31-inch tall LT245/75R16 tires on 16-inch aluminum wheels. The two
Unlimited models mirror the features on the Sport and Rubicon models, as
appropriate, primarily adding the extra interior room allowed by the lengthened
wheelbase.
All models in the lineup include a fold-down
windshield, removable doors and top, and a weatherproof interior. Drivers may
choose the standard soft top or the extra-cost steel hard top or a package that
includes both ($1,435) in matching colors. The hard top comes with roll-up
windows, a rear wiper-washer and rear defroster.
The Jeep Wrangler is one of the most widely
recognized vehicles in the world. Bumpers are black on all models. Rubicon
features neutral gray metallic fender flares and other special features to
distinguish it from its fellow Wranglers. A 22-inch Rubicon nameplate is
emblazoned on either side of the hood. Goodyear Wrangler 31-inch tires are
mounted on 16-inch, five-spoke aluminum wheels with a dished face to protect
them from debris and obstacles. Generous ground clearance helps the Rubicon
traverse the trail.
One of the biggest decisions when buying a Wrangler
is selecting the top. The optional hard top is more practical and offers better
protection from weather and thieves. The hard top comes with full-height doors
and roll-up windows.
Interior Styling and Features
Getting into a Jeep Wrangler requires a tall step
up. Seats and fabrics are comfortable. The front seat offers enough rearward
travel to allow taller drivers to sit a comfortable distance from the steering
wheel. The easily removable, fold-and-tumble rear seat is equipped with the
LATCH (Lower Anchors and upper Tethers for CHildren) system for mounting child
safety seats directly to the structure of the seat. A dark gray or khaki
interior, four-spoke steering wheel and padded sport bar give the Wrangler its
unmistakably utilitarian look, while a simple dash with a 12-volt power outlet
adds functionality. The interior light continues to be managed by a switch in
the door frame, so a fuse must be pulled to extinguish the light when the
Wrangler is operated sans doors.
The Wrangler remains miles away from luxurious.
Rear-seat legroom is up by two inches over the standard models, and the space
behind the rear seat grows lengthwise by 13 inches. The Unlimited's towing
capacity is 3500 pounds compared with the shorter Wrangler's 2000 pounds.
First Drive 2005
Few vehicles can match the Jeep Wrangler off road
and certainly none in this price range. Driving a Wrangler every day on the
road, however, requires concessions.
The tall tires and off-road suspension, which add
capability in the backcountry, become a liability around town. On the plus side,
however, is a torque-sensing limited-slip feature on the rear axle for better
traction on the road.
The Unlimited offers a smoother ride, a benefit of
its longer wheelbase. We sampled both the smooth-shifting four-speed automatic
transmission and the well-geared six-speed manual, and both match up well to the
power of the inline six-cylinder engine.
Jeep's inline-6 produces ample power in all
conditions. The Wrangler SE with the four-cylinder engine is an appealing
vehicle. The low-cut doors and soft top are cool. The SE's 2.4-liter
four-cylinder engine is rated 147 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 165 pound-feet of
torque at 4000 rpm. We drove one at Jeep's proving grounds in Michigan where it
performed flawlessly.
The Rubicon model offers the ultimate in off-road
capability. This specialty model was named for the Class 10 Rubicon Trail on the
California-Nevada border, a location that has been part of Jeep's evaluation for
all its vehicles. We've found the Wrangler Rubicon to perform flawlessly in the
rough and rugged. It boasts a cadre of 4WD technology that includes a transfer
case designed with a 4.0:1 low range (the low ratio in the standard transfer
case is 2.72:1), which delivers more torque at the snail-like speeds often
required for off-road driving. Boasting Big Foot stature in a mini footprint,
the Rubicon wears aggressive Goodyear Wrangler 31-inch tires that help it
achieve 10 inches of ground clearance on a short 93.4-inch wheelbase (93.4
inches). Added to that are laudable approach angles (42.2 degrees, 43.1 in the
Unlimited), departure angles (31.5 degrees, 27.7 in the Unlimited), and ramp
breakover angles (22.6 degrees, 21.4 in the Unlimited).
2005 Wrangler Conclusions
Jeep Wrangler is a classic symbol of summer
cruising and off-road rambling. Wrangler Rubicon is the ultimate off-road rig,
as capable as some modified rock-crawlers but available right off the showroom.
For more info, and a different perspective on the Wrangler, check out
Edmunds.com. Purists might decry the adoption of the Trail's mantel by the stretched
Unlimited, even though the long-wheelbase Jeep successfully navigated the Trail
before top management signed off.