Jeep Wrangler Sahara

• Rating:
• For : Off-road ability, chunky looks, no-nonsense interior
• Against : Ungainly, fuel economy, Land Rover’s loyal following

Styling/image
With a pedigree dating back to 1941, the Jeep –  an abbreviation of GP, for General Purpose vehicle  – predates its Land Rover Defender rival by seven years. There’s been intense rivalry between the two ever since. This is a four-door Unlimited variant – 50cm longer than the two-door, and equally chunky. It has all-American appeal, but struggles to break the loyalty on these shores to the British brand.

Interior/practicality
That extra space translates into plenty of room for all occupants, while there’s ample headroom and acres of boot space, particularly with the rear seats down. You needn’t be worried about bringing muddy wellies into this cabin – due to the use of plastics and stain-repellent fabric, simply wipe and hose it down, and you’re good to go. Sahara trim has air-con and powered windows, so it’s not completely utilitarian.

Engine/performance
The gruff 2.8-litre diesel develops 174bhp and 460Nm of torque which, combined with its low-ratio gearing and four-wheel drive, make the Wrangler outstanding off-road. Through deep water, up 38-degree gradients and along 20-degree banks, it performed superbly throughout.

Driving Experience
The compromise for the Jeep’s impressive off-roading ability becomes apparent on tarmac. Engine noise becomes intrusive, while the controls can feel vague, which is disconcerting especially at motorway speeds. There’s a three-piece Freedom Hard Top which can be removed – ideal for topping up your tan on summer drives.

Ownership costs
The manual US model is £22,100, the auto £1,000 more and a Defender 110 County Station Wagon, £25,450. The Wrangler range starts at £18,600 for the two-door entry-level manual Sport, undercutting the Defender’s 90 Station Wagon which is £21,875. However there isn’t a lot of standard kit with the Jeep, so options can bump up the price pretty quickly.

Safety/environment
Anybody at the helm of a vehicle weighing 2,505kg with up to 3,500kg on tow has to be particularly vigilant on the road. However the Jeep has a wide range of active and passive safety systems including: ESP, ABS, tyre pressure monitring warning light and traction control. The Wrangler’s CO2 emissions of 263g/km place it in band M, while the official combined fuel economy figure is 28.5mpg.