The Wrangler has gained about 300 pounds, and even with the 3.8-liter engine's extra power and torque you can feel the added weight, but--again--most buyers will welcome JK's added spaciousness and its bounty of convenience features and safety gear (especially since fuel efficiency is improved).
The base Wrangler X starts at $18,765 including destination, and you can expect a fully loaded Rubicon to top $29K. Oh, and if you happen to see Tarzan on your off-roading adventures, be sure to pull over. This new Wrangler is right up his alley.
Four a Few Dollars More
The new Unlimited replaces last year's stretched two-door (all 2007 Unlimiteds are four-doors). The Unlimited's hardware mirrors the standard Wrangler's (offered in X, Sahara, and Rubicon trims), including the new 3.8-liter V-6 and all the available electronic conveniences and rock-crawling goodies. But thanks to a 20.6-inch wheelbase stretch, the Unlimited boasts spaciousness the two-door can only dream about. Rear-seat legroom is up by 1.6 inches, and there's a full foot of added hiproom, meaning three adults can now fit in back. Behind the second row lies a generous 46.4 cubic feet of space (nearly triple the two-door's volume); fold the rear seat down (it also splits 60/40), and total cargo capacity climbs to nearly 87 cubic feet.
The Unlimited can tow up to 3500 pounds (versus 2000 for the two-door). And if you like the look but never plan to drive off-road, there's even a two-wheel-drive version available. In maxxed-out Rubicon guise--like our test vehicles in Africa--the Unlimited is a formidable go-anywhere rig. It doesn't have the extreme breakover angle of the shorter two-door, and there are situations we encountered (such as driving into and out of a steep but narrow gulley) that the regular Wrangler handled far more easily, but we never had to leave the Unlimited behind. It's a bona-fide Wrangler.
The base two-wheel-drive Unlimited X starts at $20,410; the Unlimited Sahara we drove was priced at $31,075, and you can expect a fully loaded Unlimited Rubicon to top $33,000. Your beach buddies are gonna love it.