Jeep Wrangler Sahara 2.8 CRD Aut., road test (Exterior design, interior and finishes)

We continue with our protagonist, the American, but this is not just any American car, it has a country soul and loves challenges off the tarmac. We are talking about the Jeep Wrangler which we have tested with the only diesel engine available in the range, yes, but very performance-oriented, with 200 CV and automatic gearbox.

In the first part of the test we told you everything about the engine, a 2.8 CRD with 200 CV paired with a five-speed automatic gearbox. We also analysed the behaviour, both on the road and the off-road abilities of this pure 4×4. Now, in the second part, we turn to its design and interior, the space it offers its occupants and the finishes.

Exterior Design

Robust, austere and with a certain traditional air in its design. That is the Wrangler, a car that has grown in its latest generation but remains loyal to a simple, robust and different image. The front is rugged, with large bumpers, the typical Jeep grille and two headlights in traditional style.

From the side square doors (which can be removed) and a rigid rear section (Sahara finish, also removable). The car is tall, with pronounced wheel arches, and to get in we have to make a small jump.

Meanwhile the rear has a square design, with a side-hinged tailgate (the glass and the boot door open separately) and large bumpers. And if we get a puncture? Well, we have a full-size spare wheel mounted at the rear; I can’t imagine repairing a Wrangler wheel with a puncture repair kit.

Taking the roof off the Jeep Wrangler

Almost the entire exterior of the car is removable, and I am not exaggerating. The first thing that catches the eye is the rear soft top (which can be fabric or hard depending on the finish). To remove it, two people are needed to make it easier (because the hard top with its glass included is rather heavy).

First the front roof comes off, two plastic and metal panels that can be removed easily. Second, unscrew several bolts inside with a special spanner, and unhook the rear wiper anchors (the water tube and the power connector). With everything removed (barely 5 minutes) we can take off the rear section (preferably with two people).

Furthermore, if we are feeling inspired or simply have no use for the doors, they can also be removed by taking out a couple of bolts. Even the windscreen can be removed and folded down onto the bonnet, which has rubber stops to hold it securely. Optionally a fabric roof can be fitted to cover it in case of emergency (if it rains, for example) without having to fit the hard top.

In the event of a rollover, there are the roll bars, which, although padded, are designed to withstand a rollover. The look of the car changes radically when the roof is down, with a “Baywatch” style that lets you enjoy a day at the beach, in the mountains or simply cruising through the city in a convertible that is quite different.

Interior design, space and finishes

The interior design matches what we see outside, the dashboard has simple shapes but is practical. At the top is the radio, touchscreen on our unit, in the middle is the automatic climate control, and on the centre console the gear lever and transfer lever.

The instrumentation is simple, but it has an on-board computer and compass, as well as an outside temperature indicator. The finish is correct; the whole dashboard is hard plastic, but at least the fit is good and there are no odd creaks like in other plastic interiors.

The driving position is very high, visibility is good and the soft padding of the seats is, at first glance, good for going off-road or for short trips, but for covering kilometres on motorways they are not the most comfortable seats.

There is more than enough space in the front seats, both in width and headroom. Meanwhile the two rear seats are spacious, except that access is a little awkward, because between having to step up and then move into the back, you need some agility to get in.

Boot and storage

The boot is not the Wrangler’s strong point; it doesn’t matter whether it is this two-door version or the four-door one, because the boot space is small, specifically 141 litres (a Mini has a larger boot, 190 litres). But in return, if we are not carrying four people, we can easily fold down the rear seats and then have a much more generous and spacious load area.

In the storage section, you will surely notice the door pockets, which are very simple and original; they are made of netting, but at the same time not very practical because they don’t have much room for things. Inside the cabin this is offset by a large central box, a decently sized glovebox and several cup holders in the centre console.

In the third part of the test we will tell you everything about the equipment, including safety equipment, the prices of the Jeep Wrangler and our overall assessment of the car.

And as always our photo gallery, to see the Jeep Wrangler in detail.

Photos | R. Rodriguez, S. Rodriguez, Diego G. Moreira and thanks to the rest of the team who made the photo shoot possible.

Technical specifications of this car

Off-RoadJeep Wrangler2 versions · from 87,750 €