You either like Jeep Wranglers or you don’t, and looking at the number always for sale on various New Zealand internet sites, many don’t. The trouble with the Unlimited is that it’s a stretched version of the two-door, the one that can trace its lineage directly back to the Second World War. Doing a stretch involves various compromises and most people wanting a four-door off-roadable Jeep would be better off with a Cherokee or Grand Cherokee. But heart often wins over head and Unlimited sells well because it has that association with the original Jeep, distinctive looks (it will be mistaken for nothing else, except maybe a Hummer), and hints of adventure and the great outdoors. It’s possible to remove the top, take off the doors and even fold the windscreen flat to make the most of said Outdoors, but few owners seem to bother and, anyway, it’s probably illegal to fang down the motorway with neither doors nor windscreen. It’s easier to like the Wrangler Unlimited after the 3.8 litre V6 and four-speed auto were dropped in 2012 for a spanking new Pentastar 3.6 litre V6 and a five-speed auto. The old combo sucked gas like crazy; the new one’s thirst is much better, but still hardly anything to write home about. The engine’s 209kW is 40 per cent up on the 3.8, but torque’s only about 10 per cent better, so mostly it’s usefully brisker on the highway as well as smoother and quieter. For those who envision off-roading in an Unlimited, beware of its huge turning circle and, better still, buy the more expensive Rubicon version with its more suitable gearing, front and rear diff locks, swaybar disconnect, and more.

Good features
Great for if the road turns bad; really, really bad

Not so good
Fairly unrefined

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