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.