“It’s a Jeep Thing,” has become a dominant slogan seen and heard across the country and it’s no wonder, with the ever-popular Jeep that has held a steady pace in the front of the pack for SUV lovers. Since the early 2000s brought the expansion to include the four-door model you now know as the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Jeep has taken the world by storm with its time-tested classic vehicle that intrigues housewives and tough guys alike. Let’s take a closer look inside the latest version: the new 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.
First and foremost, you and every Jeep enthusiast will be ecstatic for the much-anticipated debut of the first-ever model to include LED headlights and fog lamps. This long-awaited and much-loved new amenity is the key component in the virtually untouched 2017 edition. This feature comes as a standard specification for the Sahara and Rubicon versions, but is still an available option for the Sport and Sport S as well.
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]These LED lights demand some attention as they shine like stars with a 90 percent increase in brightness when compared to the incandescent lamp. They also contribute to an added 63 percent low bar yield.[/su_column]
[su_column size=”1/2″]From the former halogen lights, the new ones lower power consumption by up to 67 percent. For these updated, round 7 inch LED lamps, providing their improved driving vision also increases the price by an additional $595.[/su_column]
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[respa]Additionally, there have been some other updates to the ’17 Wrangler Unlimited. The optional Cold Weather Group presents a great bundle for the Sport S and Rubicon trims. Within this package, you enjoy heated seats, remote start and all-weather mats to make winter a little more bearable. Also, this power convenience group offers an engine block heater and boasts 17 inch BF Goodrich K02 tires.
And here is perhaps one of the most asked questions when a new Jeep hits the scene: what colors are available? Along with the standard black, bright white, granite crystal, red, rhino and silver are:
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- Chief
- Acid yellow
- Gobi
- Xtreme purple (which is available on all models down the line)
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The interior color options also take on an update besides the traditional black with black/dark saddle brown and black/dark olive as options. The trims available for 2017 include the Sport, Sport S, Sahara and Rubicon respectively.
[su_heading style=”line-dark” size=”19″]Trim Packages[/su_heading]
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2017 packages include Freedom, Hard Rock and Willy’s Wheeler. Here are the details of each one:
[su_heading style=”line-dark” size=”19″ align=”left”]Freedom[/su_heading]
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- Paying respect to the United States military branches
- Features bumpers in mineral gray color
- Wheel arches that are the same color as the Jeep’s body
- Guards for the tail lamps
- Emblems of “On the Move”
- Silver detailed seat stitching
- Mopar slush mats
- This package is ONLY available on the Wrangler Sport model
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[su_heading style=”line-dark” size=”19″ align=”left”]Hard Rock[/su_heading]
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- Decked out with a shiny black gloss trimming on the entire SUV
- Precise 17 inch alloy wheels only made for this specific vehicle
- Bumpers that are winch-ready on the front and back
- Power dome hood
- Leather appointed seating
- Convenient heated seats
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[su_heading style=”line-dark” size=”19″ align=”left”]Willy’s Wheeler[/su_heading]
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- A slip-rear differential that is limited
- 73 gears
- BF Goodrich KM tires set on 17 inch wheels
- Rock rails
- Trail-rated group
- Several good-to-look-at updates both on the interior and exterior
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Boykov / Shutterstock.comIn regards to safety, the 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited provides front and side airbags. These are in conjunction with its durable body-on frame design. There are three skid plates housed on the underbody to provide added protection for the oil pan, transfer case and gas tank.
Popular specifications and features include a V6 with a fuel efficiency of 16/20/18 for city/highway/combined. It has a 3,500 pound towing capacity and houses a five-speed automatic engine designed by Mercedes-Benz. This five-speed automatic replaces the outdated former four-speed one.
Cargo space increases from 46.4 cubic feet to 82 cubic feet when the rear seats are in the folded position. And although there have been some upgraded interior components, the rugged appeal is still evident with the ability to hose out the models with cloth seats.
While some cons of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited are without a doubt its lack of comfortable ride, average handling and excessive noise heard inside the cabin, the unmatched appeal of this classically designed utility vehicle more than makes up in style for what it lacks in comfort. With such a “fun-to-drive” intrigue to get behind the wheel, you won’t look twice at the featured out-of-date technology on the dash or the mediocre on-road handling that no doubt affects its less than impressive crash scores.
On the other hand, there are more than enough pros to keep the Jeep Wrangler at the top of the list for the most popular SUVs. Its off-road capacity to take the world by the horns is unprecedented. Period. When attempting to compare this Wrangler, there simply isn’t anything close — it is honestly in a class all by itself.
This stand-alone class continues to showcase iconic design regardless of its old-school mechanics. Some photos of the 2017 model have shown only the rear of the Jeep which exposed new axles, restyled exhaust and other minor changes that work together for a more stable driving experience.
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[su_quote]…there simply isn’t anything close — it is honestly in a class all by itself.[/su_quote]
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With a base price of $28,890 and a range up to over $40,000, the ’17 Wrangler Unlimited is slightly higher than the previous 2016 model. The four trim levels of the ’17 Wrangler Unlimited include the Sport, Sport RHD, Sahara and Rubicon. Here’s what you need to know when deciding which one best fits your needs:
[su_icon_text color=”#000000″ icon=”icon: arrow-right” icon_color=”#23562e” icon_size=”18″]The Sport models provide full metal doors, leather-wrapped steering wheels, keyless entry, larger gas tanks, USB ports, adaptive cruise control, manual locks, 16 inch wheels, tilt-and-telescopic steering, full-sized spare tires, CD player and 8-speaker sound system, two-zone automatic climate control and heated power mirrors.[/su_icon_text]
[su_icon_text color=”#000000″ icon=”icon: arrow-right” icon_color=”#23562e” icon_size=”18″]With a slightly higher price tag, the Sahara upgrades the aforementioned amenities with automatic wipers and lights, 18 inch alloys, grab handles for rear passengers, sound-deadening materials to help eradicate the noisy drive and tubular running boards.[/su_icon_text]
[su_icon_text color=”#000000″ icon=”icon: arrow-right” icon_color=”#23562e” icon_size=”18″]Finally, the priciest trim is the Rubicon, which includes all the already-listed features along with extra interior improvements. 32 inch tires are housed on 17 inch alloy wheels to make the Rubicon stand out a little more than normal. It also has the following features:
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- Insulation under the hood
- Front and rear locking differentials
- Transfer case with an update
- 115V power outlet
- Electronically disconnecting sway bars and rock rails
- Transfer case that has a lower crawl ratio
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Performance speaks for itself with the ability to jump from 0-60 in 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 99 mph. Adding to the unique features of this rugged icon is the new Chrysler 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. The Pentastar takes the place of the 3.8-liter boat anchor and it gives 40 percent more power and improved fuel efficiency.
Most of the modern SUVs on today’s market are constructed from a front-drive car platform, but that is not the case for the Wrangler. It continues to utilize a body-on frame system designed for the coveted off-roading appeal unmatched on the market.
From rock crawler to carpooling kid-hauler, the head-turning classic design of the Jeep Wrangler continues to hit the mark with its newest 2017 version. Its compact design and rugged appeal work together to fuel its longevity. The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited’s dominance continues to reign as the lone ranger in a field of prissy utilities that simply just can’t compare.
