Jeep’s Big Burly Wrangler Is Almost Here!

• Expected to come with 3.0-litre petrol and diesel engines.
• Fourth generation JL Wrangler carries over its butch underpinnings.
• We might get the hardcore Rubicon variant in its three-door guise.
• Currently, the Wrangler is priced from Rs 58.74 lakh - Rs 67.60 lakh.

It's been over a year since we first spotted the 2019 Jeep Wrangler testing on our roads. Now, Jeep has put an end to this wait by announcing that it will be launched on August 9. 

The Wrangler sits at the crest of Jeep’s lineup when it comes to serious mud plugging. The fourth generation JL Wrangler first saw the light in 2017 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It’s hard to process the fact that Jeep is selling you a new SUV while it looks vaguely similar to the previous iteration. The styling is very 80’s and boxy but we reckon this will be the least of the worries for its target customers. Why? 

The Wrangler looks like an old-school SUV, a decision that justifies itself when you ditch the tarmac for the trails. Approach angle stands at 44 degrees, while it gets breakover and departure angles of 27.8 and 37 degrees respectively. Ground clearance of the fourth generation Wrangler is rated at 276mm, whereas the water-wading depth is an equally impressive 762mm. If numbers are not your thing, this means that the Wrangler can go  anywhere. Literally. 

Jeep has made subtle design changes to the fourth generation Wrangler which includes LED headlamps, bumpers and alloy wheels. The rear section also sees some changes in the form of revised and beefy looking bumper with LED tail lamps.  Behind the iconic seven-slat grille we can expect a 3.0-litre V6 diesel that is good for 260PS/600Nm, and the 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine that produces a healthy 285PS/352Nm. Both engines are likely to come mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox in India with power being sent to all the wheel through Jeep’s Command-Trac 4x4 system. The Wrangler is also available with two other powertrains in markets elsewhere: 

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

The current generation Wrangler in India uses a 2.8-litre diesel making 200PS/460Nm and the 3.6-litre V6 petrol churning out 283PS and 347Nm of torque. The fourth-generation Wrangler also gets an updated cabin with some modern touches.  Jeep’s U-Connect 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, round aircon vents, chunky controls for the infotainment and climate control are some of the highlights.

We still don't have much clarity regarding the variants that will be offered in india. But going by the numerous spottings, the hardcore trail-rated Rubicon variant in its three-door attire and Sahara variants are likely to be brought in. Differentiating the Rubicon variant from the Sahara are some special bits like the Rock-Trac 4x4 system, front/rear locking differentials, Dana 44 heavy-duty axles,  a front sway bar disconnect system, and off-road specific rubber along with minimal cosmetic changes.

The current Wrangler Unlimited is priced from Rs 58.74 lakh - 67.60 lakh (ex-showroom Pune). A premium over this pricing can be expected for the 2019 Wrangler, which also belongs to a niche category with no specific competition (until the Brits arrive with the Defender).