2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Road Test and Review

We’re living in a Snapchat society where phones carry the world, cars drive themselves, and the President just tweeted. It’s all gigabytes and Bitcoin. Cyber attacks and the Internet of Things. Apps and Uber rides. And yet, the simple, authentic and rugged 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, a vehicle with removable doors, is more popular than ever.

Its roots date back to 1941, and it says so proudly right on the Wrangler’s dashboard. The first Jeeps were military vehicles and a key component in Uncle Sam’s war efforts.  Civilian Jeeps or CJs became available to the public after the war and in 1987, seven generations of the vehicle later, it took the name Wrangler.

The longer-wheelbase 4-door Wrangler Unlimited was born in 2007, radically expanding the vehicle’s appeal to include families and weekend off-road enthusiasts who appreciated its additional practicality and comfort during the week.   

Let's take a closer look at the 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.

Built in Toledo, Ohio, the 4-door Wrangler Unlimited is offered in an incredible 13 varieties with cool names like Big Bear, Rubicon, Sahara, Smoky Mountain and the Freedom Edition. They’re all equipped with four-wheel drive, a strong 3.6-liter V6 engine making 285 hp and a standard 6-speed manual transmission. A 5-speed automatic is available across the board.

Prices start at $27,895 for the Sport model. Although air conditioning is standard, this model comes with old school manual roll up windows and manual door locks. For those luxuries you have to step up to the Sport S for $31,095. A manual folding soft-top is also standard, but a removable hardtop for additional weather protection and security is an option.

Moving up the food chain of trim levels adds cost, features and off-road equipment. The most expensive model is the Rubicon Recon that costs $42,945. It packs luxuries like leather upholstery, heated front seats and automatic climate control. A 6.5-inch touchscreen with navigation is available on the upper trim levels.

Our test vehicle, a soft-topped Willys Wheeler W with a manual transmission, cost $34,295 and was nicely equipped with power windows, power door locks and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. For all its off-road potential, the Wrangler Unlimited is an easy rig to pilot around town.

It’s fun to hustle it through traffic. Dig deep into the throttle and the Wrangler scoots. The 3.6-liter V6 is strong and likes to rev right up to its 6,400-rpm redline. Its ride is pleasantly soft and surprisingly supple, even the harshest inner city potholes are soaked up by its long-travel suspension which happily absorbs the jolt.

On the freeway, however, the Wrangler Unlimited shows its old-school 4x4 roots. As expected from a boxy soft-top vehicle, there’s considerable wind noise and its off-road-ready tires transmit quite a hum. It’s loud inside over 60 mph, loud enough that conversations between the front and rear passengers are difficult. These are just some of compromises you must make when you own a Wrangler. There plenty of SUVs that are quieter and more refined than a Jeep but few are as dirt-capable. And none of them are convertibles.

The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is so much fun to drive off road, it plasters a smile on your face the moment its tires touch dirt. The combination of its short wheelbase, steep approach and departure angles and a high break-over angle means the Jeep has the clearance to tackle obstacles you’d avoid altogether in other 4X4s.

Slide that lever into Low Range, and our Willys test vehicle was able to scramble up some challenging trail sections thanks to its generous wheel travel and big off-road tires. And when our nastiest climb maxed out the axle articulation, the quick-acting traction control system kicked in, allowing us to finish the ascent.  

The soft, well-damped suspension and powerful V6 also made the Wrangler a blast in soft sand and over higher speed bumps where you can power through the deep stuff and slide the nimble Jeep around corners.

Unfortunately, the Jeep’s powerful engine, large off-road read tires and brick-like aerodynamics add up to lackluster fuel economy. The 2017 Wrangler Unlimited is rated 16 mpg city and 21 mpg highway. I averaged 17.5 mpg during my week with the Jeep, which included about 60 percent highway driving, some city use and a few hours of low-speed off-roading. 

The good news is that the Wrangler’s V6 runs on 87-octane regular grade fuel to keep costs down and this vehicle has an extra-large 22.5-gallon fuel tank so its fuel range is significant. Burn a full tank of fuel on the highway and you should be good for over 400 miles between fillups.

This is important if you’re going to take your Wrangler out into the middle of Nowhere in search of off-road adventure. There usually isn’t a gas station in Nowhere.

Jeep Wranglers just look cool. Whether it’s parked at the mall or fording a river, a Wrangler Unlimited will never look out of place and will never go out of style.

The exterior design of the 2017 Wrangler Unlimited hasn’t changed much over the years, and that’s a large part of its appeal. The design is full of purpose and you can still see that original 1941 military Jeep in its shape, from the signature seven-slot grille to its pronounced wheel well flares that add more than a little attitude.

And the bigger the wheels and tires, the better it looks. Our Willys looked fantastic on its glossy black 17-inch wheels and oversized and toothy BFGoodrich tires. 

Not only is this the only four-door convertible on the market, it’s also the only vehicle you can buy with removable doors, and you haven’t lived until you cruised around in a wide open Wrangler on a sunny day. Just leave enough time. Folding the Jeep’s soft top takes about 15 minutes and removing the doors, while easy enough, requires tools.

The Jeep’s upright windshield and flat dashboard harken back to a time when forward visibility and simple controls were more important than touch screens and connectivity. Old school is everywhere inside the Wrangler, from the acres of hard plastics to the lever that engages 4WD to the transmission’s long-throw shifter.

Its white-on-black gauges are clear and simple if a bit ordinary. The dash knobs are large and well-placed. The Wrangler’s honest and durable cloth seats are exceedingly comfortable. I was also impressed by the output of the Jeep’s air conditioning and heater. Running either with the top down will make you more comfortable. Oddly the power window switches are on the dashboard below the radio.

There’s seating for five, which is one more than you get in a two-door Wrangler, and there’s plenty of room in the back for big fellas.

Cargo space behind the Jeep’s backseat is also generous. The Wrangler Unlimited offers 31.5 cubic feet of cargo space back there, and it’s easily accessed by its swing out back door.

The rear bench is not split, but it does easily fold flat. It’s also removable. With it out of the way, there are an impressive 70.6 cubic feet of space. Surfboards will fit.

Storage inside the Jeep’s interior is also plentiful. The two-tiered center console bin is deep and lockable for when you’ve got the top down, and there are nets on each door for small items. The well-placed front seat cupholders are also deep for that tall travel mug and they accommodate cups with handles. There are no backseat cupholders.

Blazing trails for 75 years has earned the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited a unique place in the market. Its own place. Head to head competitors don’t really exist. Not in 2017. Just a few years ago the Wrangler was fighting off Hummers and Toyota FJ Cruisers and Nissan Xterras, but they’re all gone. Long gone. And the Wrangler just keeps chugging along.

Today the Jeep’s competition comes from Toyota’s TRD Pro Tacoma pickup and 4Runner SUV, as well as other off-road ready pickups like Ford’s full-size Raptor and the new Chevy Colorado ZR2. All of the above cost significantly more than a Wrangler Unlimited Sport, but are certainly more refined and offer more standard equipment.

The Wrangler Unlimited won’t have the market all to itself for much longer, however. Ford has announced it will bring back the Bronco in 2020. Like the Jeep, and much like the original Bronco that ended production in 1977, it’s expected to be an off-road capable convertible.

The Jeep Wrangler is an off-road superstar. It can go places few other stock vehicles can. It’s also fun to drive around town. And the Willys Wheeler package certainly offers a nice assortment of gear.

As great as it is in stock form, Wrangler Unlimiteds are born to be modified. In fact, the Jeep Wrangler is considered to be the most modified vehicle of all time, and the aftermarket offers everything to turn your Wrangler into your own personal dream machine, including lift kits, wheels, and winches.

If you’re looking for a little daily adventure and a vehicle with a little throwback in its blood, the 2017 Wrangler Unlimited is a solid overall choice. Just please promise you’ll put the top down once in a while.