There are four seats in the Wrangler, but this is really a vehicle for two people assuming comfort is a goal.
The front-passenger seat lifts up and tilts forward to allow relatively easy access to the backseat. Once here, however, anyone other than a gullible child will find it cramped, best reserved for storage.
It would also be best if the driver is not the proverbial tall drink of water. The problem is that the rearward seat-travel is restricted, and drivers 6-foot or taller are likely to feel they can?t get far enough away from the steering wheel, which extends back toward the driver on an over-long column.
The driving controls and the instruments are basic and lack the slick feel and convenience of modern passenger cars, although one can pass that off as character. It works for Ferrari.
All these little problems aside, there is still a quirky charm to the Wrangler, perhaps because it is so relentlessly inappropriate in an urban/suburban environment.
The ride is firm, and with a relatively short wheelbase (93.4 in.) there is a moderate amount of choppiness. When traveling over large bumps at normal speeds, the Wrangler?s trail actually hops a bit. Frankly, that trick is more attractive for the Easter Bunny than for a vehicle.
But overall, the Wrangler handles better than one would expect of an off-road vehicle. It changes direction fairly quickly, and once one becomes accustomed to the high center of gravity, confidence returns and it is possible to motor through traffic fairly briskly, although the steering feels too light.
Despite the Wrangler?s wind-blocking shape, the 4.0-liter moves it along quickly and, from a start in a straight line, it will surprise the owners of some sporty cars. The 4.0-liter is not particularly smooth, nor is it particularly quiet. But it is robust, and the Wrangler isn?t very heavy as off-road vehicles go.
In normal driving, the Wrangler is in rear-wheel drive. For nasty situations, a console-mounted lever is used to engage 4WD.
The 5-speed manual has longish throws and a workmanlike feel. The 3-speed automatic works well and is a nice alternative to the 5-speed, which hardly offers Miata-like joy. By the way, did we mention that the Wrangler is not a sports car?
If off-road driving is in your plan, the automatic is a good choice. Odd as it sounds, automatics are becoming increasingly popular for off-road because they reduce the chance of burning out a clutch and, overall, make life a little simpler.
An automatic transmission also means one less thing to worry about when you?re picking your way up and over nature?s nastiest terrain, something the Wrangler does quite well.