Jeep Wrangler Sahara 2.8 CRD Aut., road test (Engine, performance, handling and consumption)

Diego G. Moreira 2 October 2013 6 min.

Jeep Wrangler Sahara 2.8 CRD Aut., road test (Engine, performance, handling and consumption)

The test we bring you today at Highmotor is special, above all because of our protagonist, a pure 4×4 of the kind that nowadays is practically an endangered species. The Jeep Wrangler is a true off-roader. It has been on the market for years, loyal to a robust image and to 4×4 capabilities that endure in the face of the SUV fashion.

But it is also a different and distinctive car, because it mixes the most retro design with all the comforts of a modern car, making it exclusive, something to which the various special editions launched for the Wrangler have contributed. The Jeep Wrangler we tested is equipped with the 2.8 CRD engine producing 200 CV, with an automatic gearbox and Sahara trim.

Engine and performance

200 CV is more than enough to move the Wrangler with total ease, 200 CV supplied by an engine built in Italy, a four-cylinder, 2.8-litre unit that has been powering several Jeep models for years and, in its latest evolution, its output rises to 200 CV.

Although the most surprising thing about the engine is not its power but its torque, this powerful four-cylinder delivers 410 Nm of torque, which will come in very handy for off-road driving and gives an idea of the strength of this off-roader.

Thanks to the low-range transfer case, we can choose between several drive modes. In 4×2 mode it is the rear wheels that drive the car. The engine’s response is noticeable between 2,500 and 3,500 rpm, although it already pushes from just over 1,500 rpm.

Both in the countryside, with good response from low revs, and on the motorway, the Wrangler moves with total ease. You only need to press the accelerator and you feel its 200 CV come alive. That said, it is not a smooth engine: it is very powerful and lively, and it is quite noisy.

For getting around on country roads or in town, the five-speed automatic gearbox is recommended, as it makes the car more manageable and, above all, much more comfortable in urban environments. It is not a gearbox that stands out for its speed, but it works correctly. From the gear lever you can also use it in sequential mode.

Although it has only five ratios, they are very well spaced and the gearing is long, so it is more than enough for cruising on country roads or motorways at a normal rev range.

Handling

Now that we know a little more about its engine, it’s time to talk about handling. A pure off-roader is normally very effective off the beaten track but less effective outside its natural habitat. In the case of the Jeep Wrangler, it is undeniable that it does not behave like a passenger car on the road, but it has certainly improved a lot in this area.

We covered 600 km on the motorway with it, and thanks to its powerful engine it has no trouble maintaining speed, while keeping quite a correct behaviour. That said, on the road we must remember that the tyres have a high sidewall, that it is rear-wheel drive with plenty of torque, and that the suspension is geared towards off-road use.

If we forget all of the above and want to test the limits of the Wrangler, the stability control stays alert to prevent us from losing control of the car; at the slightest sign of trouble it intervenes to keep it under control.

In other words, it is not a car that stands out for its dynamism, but the Jeep Wrangler now moves stably along roads and motorways, and it certainly has no shortage of power. In town, if we choose the automatic gearbox, it may seem crazy to drive into the centre of a city with it, but despite its dimensions it surprises with its good turning circle.

The brakes are powerful and work correctly, but physics is physics and they perform no miracles. We always have to be aware that we are driving a heavy car and cannot push braking too hard. The area that could be improved is the steering , which has an imprecise feel and does not convey what the wheels are doing.

Off-road behaviour

Where a Jeep Wrangler can go, not just any car can follow. It belongs to the select club of pure 4x4s, those that can be taken through difficult terrain, that have no fear of mud, that aren’t a problem in snow, that can get dirty without it mattering, and with which you can enjoy any kind of route.

In its favour, it has a considerable ground clearance (you have to make a small jump to get into the car), tyres designed to leave the asphalt with a high sidewall, a low-range transfer case, and good approach angles to tackle any obstacle with complete peace of mind, along with underbody protection.

On surfaces that are slippery or loose, sometimes we don’t even need to engage the low range; with gentle use of the accelerator the Wrangler gets through without complications, thanks to its tyres. If the route or the grip becomes more demanding, we always have the 4×4 High mode or, in the worst case, the 4×4 Low lock.

We tested it on trails, sandy areas, wet grass with low grip, and especially on rocky terrain, where it moved with ease and climbed with total calm. The only electronic aid it has is hill descent control, very useful on difficult descents.

Consumption

The Wrangler’s favourite figure is 10 litres; consumption always tends to come close to this number. On the motorway, over 600 km it recorded 10.2 litres per 100 km, while on country roads it ranges between 8.5 and 9.5 litres per 100 km (it all depends on how careful we are).

In town it is easy to approach 12 litres per 100 km, especially if we run into traffic, since starting and stopping eats up fuel. We find the range could be improved: it has a 67-litre tank, which in theory would give just under 600 km, but for a long trip or for driving on roads or in town, a slightly bigger tank would not go amiss.

In the second part of the test we turn to the design, that unmistakable Jeep design, and to the interior: the space it offers its four occupants and its boot (which, we should say upfront, is not very large).