2006 Jeep Wrangler Review
Overview
The Jeep Wrangler is perhaps the most All-American vehicle out there. It
still looks like a refugee from World War II, where it became a household word
throughout the world because of its legendary prowess. The good news for 2006 is
the mid-year introduction of the $24,385 stretched Wrangler Unlimited version.
It looks virtually the same as shorter Wranglers, but is the first one that's
fairly comfortable to live with on a daily basis. That's because its wheelbase
is (distance between axles) has been increased from a short 93.4 inches to 103.4
inches.
2006 Jeep Wrangler
For the ultimate in off-the-shelf, off-road capability, Jeep offers the
Wrangler Rubicon. Jeep looked at the aftermarket modifications off-road
enthusiasts were making to their Jeeps, and engineered many of those features
into a turn-key vehicle you can buy (and finance) right off the showroom floor.
Built with Jeep's "Go anywhere, do anything" design philosophy, the Rubicon is a
4x4 gem.
Golden Eagle Wranglers feature two-tone premium seats with Golden Eagle logos; a
painted center stack bezel; a Dana 44 heavy-duty rear axle; 15-inch
gold-finished aluminum wheels; and 30-inch tires; plus Golden Eagle hood, fender
and spare tire decals.
Because the Wrangler is designed for off-road capability first with on-road
behavior a secondary consideration, it is not the most practical everyday
vehicle. The interior is spartan. A six-speed manual transmission is standard
and a four-speed automatic is available on most models. Four-wheel disc brakes
are available for better stopping ability, and many convenience features are
available.
Interior Design and Appearance
Getting into a Jeep Wrangler requires a tall step up. Seats and fabrics are
comfortable. 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. The Wrangler remains
miles away from luxurious, but the current generation models are more
comfortable than older generations. 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.
Style and Design 2006
The 2006 Jeep Wrangler is available in six models: SE, X, Sport, Rubicon,
Unlimited, and Unlimited Rubicon. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine comes
standard with a six-speed manual gearbox. A 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine is
available, which comes with a six-speed manual or four-speed automatic.
The Wrangler SE ($18,140) comes with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and
six-speed manual gearbox. The SE is a basic machine, with a padded roll bar,
steel half-doors with side curtains, soft folding top, tilt steering column, a
mini-console with two cupholders, skid plates for the fuel tank and transfer
case, gas-charged shock absorbers, and P215/75R15 Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain
tires on 15 x 7-inch steel wheels. The six-cylinder is available with an
optional four-speed automatic transmission ($825).
Wrangler X ($20,450) upgrades to cloth upholstery, a full-length console
with four cupholders and lockable storage, courtesy lights, and other small
comforts. More options are available: cruise control and leather-wrapped
steering wheel ($300); upgraded stereo ($295); Sirius Satellite Radio ($195);
and a hard top with full steel doors and roll-up windows ($1,160).
Wrangler Sport ($23,310) comes standard with air conditioning and full metal
doors with wind-up windows, plus fog lamps, a seven-speaker stereo, wider
225/75R15 tires, and other features. Options include anti-lock four-wheel disc
brakes ($600), side steps ($150), and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror ($295).
Since the metal doors are already standard, adding a hard top costs less ($795).
The Golden Eagle package ($1,150) includes two-tone premium seats with Golden
Eagle logos; a painted center stack bezel; a Dana 44 heavy-duty rear axle;
15-inch gold aluminum wheels; 30-inch tires; plus Golden Eagle hood, fender and
spare tire decals.
Wrangler Rubicon ($27,535) 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 Wrangler Unlimited ($24,065)
and Unlimited Rubicon ($28,535) are essentially long versions of the Sport and
Rubicon models. For 2006, the Unlimited adds four-wheel disc brakes, a 3.73:1
Dana 44 rear axle with limited-slip differential, and 15-inch aluminum wheels
with 30-inch tires. That's in addition to full-steel doors, fog lamps, Sunrider
soft top with sunroof feature, tow hooks, air conditioning, AM/FM stereo with CD
player, high-back bucket seats, full-length console and courtesy lights. The
2006 Unlimited Rubicon remains essentially a stretch-wheelbase version of the
standard Rubicon.
All Wranglers come with a fold-down windshield, removable doors and top, and a
weatherproof interior. Sport and Rubicon and buyers may choose a package that
includes both tops ($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.
Fender flares are black or dark khaki on all but Rubicon and Rubicon Unlimited,
where they are metallic gray.
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 dished faces to protect them from debris and obstacles. Generous
ground clearance helps the Rubicon traverse the trail.
One of the biggest decisions to make when buying a Wrangler is selecting the
top. The Unlimited models have a multi-functional soft top called Sunrider, that
folds completely or only from above the front seats in a sunroof-like
configuration.
The hard top comes with full-height doors and roll-up windows. The
additional length of the Unlimited models is almost entirely between the door
and the rear wheel. 2006 Jeep Wrangler
Test Drive 2006
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 Unlimited offers a smoother ride, a benefit of its longer wheelbase.
Jeep's inline-6 produces ample power in all situations. It's rated at 190
horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. The Wrangler SE with the four-cylinder
engine is an appealing vehicle, however. The low-cut doors and soft top are
cool. We drove one at Jeep's proving grounds in Michigan and it performed well.
The Rubicon model offers the ultimate in off-road capability. Jeep recreated
sections of the famed Rubicon Trail at its proving grounds in Michigan to test
the durability and capabilities of its newest offering.
We've found the Wrangler Rubicon to perform impressively in the rough and
rugged. 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. 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 break over angles (22.6 degrees, 21.4
in the Unlimited). Jeep Wrangler is a classic symbol of summer cruising and
off-road rambling. The Wrangler SE is a classic. Wrangler Rubicon is the
ultimate off-road rig. The stretched Unlimited model offers a few concessions in
off-road capability to increase comfort.
2006 Conclusions: Jeep Wrangler
Jeep Wrangler is a classic symbol of summer cruising and off-road rambling.
The Wrangler SE is a classic.
Automedia.com "relishes its
ability to conquer all sorts of nasty terrain." Wrangler Rubicon is the
ultimate off-road rig.
TheAutochannel.com adds "Still the best turn-key off-roader
on four wheels, the 2006 Jeep Wrangler is also capable in town." The stretched
Unlimited model offers a few concessions in off-road capability to increase
comfort. Watch for deals to clear the lots in preparation for all-new 2007
Wrangler.