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2009 Jeep Wrangler Performance Review

October 1, 2009

PERFORMANCE | 5 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

This is no commuter car
Motor Trend

Jeep's 3.8-liter V-6 was plenty powerful for highway driving
Edmunds

the six-speed manual rowed the gears in precise, if clunky, fashion
Cars.com

performs well off road
MyRide.com

The 2009 Wrangler Jeep Wrangler is unhappy on-road, but for hard-core off-roaders, the Wrangler is a trail dream.

With “heavy-duty axles, extra-low gearing and electronically locking front and rear differentials,” as Edmunds notes, the 2009 Jeep Wrangler is "pretty much unstoppable in off-road situations" and "if the Wrangler can't get you there, you're going to need a Sherpa or a helicopter."

As MyRide.com says, the 2009 Jeep Wrangler is "more suited for rolling over boulders than speed bumps." With 10.2 inches of ground clearance, this is exactly what this SUV is built for. In terms of handling, however, the difference in doors can give the Jeep Wrangler a markedly better ride.

The longer-wheelbase four-door Wrangler Jeep seems much more settled on the highway, according to reviews researched by TheCarConnection.com. However, “the ride is still stiff, and on the road the Wrangler's modest handling and acceleration abilities can actually be bested by most minivans,” Edmunds reports. “Now when you're in the new Wrangler,” Automobile Magazine asserts, “you feel like you're driving a real vehicle rather than piloting a small farm tractor.” USA Today agrees with other reviewers that people who want a practical, everyday SUV shouldn't go with the Jeep—2009 Wranglers are "for the stump jumper who's a Wrangler fan."

“This is no commuter car,” Motor Trend warns, even though it “has the most horsepower to date” in a Wrangler. Jeep keeps true to its off-road mission: “The Wrangler shows it wasn't designed for quick acceleration,” Cars.com says, but “even though it only makes 202 horsepower, the Jeep's 3.8-liter V-6 was plenty powerful for highway driving,” they add. Edmunds, however, believes it is better used as an off-road machine, and states that, for city driving, it has "mediocre acceleration."

Edmunds notes “the V6 is connected to a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional four-speed automatic.” Cars.com observes “the six-speed manual rowed the gears in precise, if clunky, fashion.” Automobile Magazine points out the “lack of an optional five-speed automatic.” Two-door Wranglers have standard four-wheel drive; one version of the four-door comes in rear-drive form.

Conclusion

The 2009 Jeep Wrangler is a capable enough commuter, but it’s meant for where the pavement ends.

PERFORMANCE | 5 out of 10Expert Quotes:This is no commuter carMotor TrendJeep's 3.8-liter V-6 was plenty powerful for highway drivingEdmundsthe six-speed manual rowed the gears in precise, if clunky, fashionCars.comperforms well off roadMyRide.com The 2009 Wrangler Jeep Wrangler is unhappy on-road, but for hard-core off-roaders, the Wrangler is a trail dream. With “heavy-duty axles, extra-low gearing and electronically locking front and rear differentials,” as Edmunds notes, the 2009 Jeep Wrangler is "pretty much unstoppable in off-road situations" and "if the Wrangler can't get you there, you're going to need a Sherpa or a helicopter." As MyRide.com says, the 2009 Jeep Wrangler is "more suited for rolling over boulders than speed bumps." With 10.2 inches of ground clearance, this is exactly what this SUV is built for. In terms of handling, however, the difference in doors can give the Jeep Wrangler a markedly better ride. The longer-wheelbase four-door Wrangler Jeep seems much more settled on the highway, according to reviews researched by TheCarConnection.com. However, “the ride is still stiff, and on the road the Wrangler's modest handling and acceleration abilities can actually be bested by most minivans,” Edmunds reports. “Now when you're in the new Wrangler,” Automobile Magazine asserts, “you feel like you're driving a real vehicle rather than piloting a small farm tractor.” USA Today agrees with other reviewers that people who want a practical, everyday SUV shouldn't go with the Jeep—2009 Wranglers are "for the stump jumper who's a Wrangler fan." “This is no commuter car,” Motor Trend warns, even though it “has the most horsepower to date” in a Wrangler. Jeep keeps true to its off-road mission: “The Wrangler shows it wasn't designed for quick acceleration,” Cars.com says, but “even though it only makes 202 horsepower, the Jeep's 3.8-liter V-6 was plenty powerful for highway driving,” they add. Edmunds, however, believes it is better used as an off-road machine, and states that, for city driving, it has "mediocre acceleration." Edmunds notes “the V6 is connected to a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional four-speed automatic.” Cars.com observes “the six-speed manual rowed the gears in precise, if clunky, fashion.” Automobile Magazine points out the “lack of an optional five-speed automatic.” Two-door Wranglers have standard four-wheel drive; one version of the four-door comes in rear-drive form. ConclusionThe 2009 Jeep Wrangler is a capable enough commuter, but it’s meant for where the pavement ends. 2009 JEEP WRANGLER STYLING | [8 out of 10] Cars.com: "You could almost call it a civilized design" Edmunds: "larger and more refined" USA Today: "Fancy and genteel by Wrangler standards" Two versions of the 2009 Jeep Wrangler are available, a two-door and four-door model, as well as ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

While some compact trucks come close to the same performance envelope of the 2009 Jeep Wrangler, there is no direct comparison. The Nissan Xterra is a four-door sport-ute with a rugged look and off-road versions that offer some, but not all, the Wrangler's rocky-road prowess. The Nissan Frontier has a big V-6 option, a four-door body style, and a unique canvas sunroof that opens its cabin to the elements. The Toyota FJ Cruiser is the Wrangler’s closest rival for pure style; it gets its retro design from the 1960s FJ, yet has modern components from the Toyota 4Runner that are a bit more road-friendly than those of the Wrangler.

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See the Jeep Wrangler in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

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