Jeep turns 75 this year, and to celebrate the brand has rolled out Anniversary special versions of the Renegade, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and Wrangler. We’ve been behind the wheel of the Wrangler – a model generally considered the most classic of all.
The rough and tough 4x4 isn’t a common sight on UK roads, and this new special 75th Anniversary edition will be rarer still, with fewer than 100 due for import this year. But for those who love all things Jeep, the car pulls on the heartstrings.
It’s based on the Wrangler Sahara, and gets climate control, cruise control, auto lights and hill descent control as standard. For the birthday celebrations, the 75 comes in six colours, including Sarge Green, plus there are new 18-inch bronze wheels and a body-coloured grille.
Inside, leather seats with ‘75th Anniversary’ branding feature, as do sat-nav and an upgraded premium sound system. Limited-slip differentials and orange exterior badging are also included.
Just like the rest of the Wrangler range, the 75 is powered by Jeep’s 2.8-litre diesel. It’s a little rough at idle, but it’s smooth enough on the move – and with 200bhp from 2,000rpm, it’s swift under hard acceleration. Jeep hasn’t confirmed gearbox options, but our car had a five-speed auto, which changed ratios cleanly.
As with the Defender, which is no longer in production, the Wrangler can’t be compared with similarly priced SUVs like the Ford Kuga or Mazda CX-5 when it comes to handling. The steering is totally devoid of feedback, and the body sways through faster corners. While this sounds dramatic, the 75 isn’t bad to drive; it never feels cumbersome and you quickly learn to manage its flaws.
It also rides well; even our short-wheelbase version absorbed bumps rather than bouncing over them. With its switchable two and four-wheel-drive modes (and an old-fashioned lever on the centre console), the Wrangler will still put most other cars to shame on challenging off-road tracks.
- Model: Jeep Wrangler 75th Anniversary
- Price: £32,000 (est)
- Engine: 2.8-litre 4cyl diesel
- Power/torque: 200bhp/410Nm
- Transmission: Five-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
- 0-60mph: 10.6 seconds
- Top speed: 107mph
- Economy/CO2: 34.9mpg/213g/km
- On sale: Now