Being recognized and instantly identifiable is a double-edged sword. Ask any celebrity nowadays and part of them probably wishes they could just go back to being “normal.” Since its introduction in 1941, the Jeep Wrangler has been the poster child for mass-produced automotive simplicity, which can’t be said for other long-serving off-roaders like the Toyota Land Cruiser, and the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, both of which cost way too much since their evolution into comfort and luxury vehicles.

The Wrangler has evolved too, but in a simpler way. It has also been slated for an entirely new refresh for the 2018 model year. Though we may not know exactly what the new model will entail in terms of luxuries and amenities, it is perhaps the best time to take one of the last looks at the four-door Wrangler as we know it.

In 1941, a Jeep would roll off the line with bare necessities. In this day and age, a Jeep comes to the consumer with disc brakes at all four corners, traction control, heated seats and a leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls to name a few. Not too bad for a dinosaur. Its on-road performance statistics however are quite antiquated.

Averaging 15.9 L/100km during my test week and taking an eternity to get up to 100 km/h became frustrating when you needed to be somewhere in a timely fashion. On the highway, the Wrangler delivers a bumpy ride, an uncanny amount of tire and wind noise, and it delivers the steering precision of a cruise ship stuck in the middle of a typhoon. Going around corners at speed, you feel the entire weight of the Wrangler sag to one side, threatening to capsize if you push it too hard.

But don’t assume the Wrangler has become soft, let us remind you that despite the appurtenances, the basic formulation behind the Wrangler remains the same: solid front and rear axles, a utilitarian part-time four-wheel-drive system, and a ladder frame bundling it all together.

Torque from the 285-hp 3.6-litre Pentastar V-6 is routed through a 6-speed manual or an optional 5-speed automatic. Power can be sent to the two rear wheels, or all four at your choosing. Underneath, you’ll find rugged skid plates that protect the transfer case and fuel tank from any sharp obstacles.

The standard six-speed manual was featured on this specific tester, and for my first time driving a Wrangler with the standard transmission, I absolutely loved it. It takes a fair bit getting used to if you’ve been driving manual hatchbacks all your life, it feels a bit truck-like at first. But after a few days I began to adore the long and exaggerated throws. You feel like you’re driving an Army surplus Jeep, just looking for a beach or mudpit to storm.

Climb behind the wheel and you’re smacked with sensory overload. The doors close shut like they were ripped straight from a Humvee, the seating position is upright like you’re prepped for driving into a combat zone, and the thrum of an engine is ready to take on any terrain that lays ahead.  Suddenly, 75 years of progress to this point seems reduced to an annotation. This is what it is all about: being able to just get in and be surrounded with an aura, a vibe, and a new state of mind. The removable top, the grippy tires, the foldable windshield all accentuate the feeling.

Our tester came fitted with the black soft top, which is part of the $1,420 Dual Top Group. On hot and humid days, it became second nature to undo the top and peel it back leaving the whole roof exposed. The process is quite intimidating at first but with practice, it can be done in a jiffy. Looking back, we should have taken the doors off too to complete the experience. No matter, rest assured there’s always an online tutorial to take you through it.

All in, this Wranger rings the register at $51,545. Considering you can leave the dealership with a Willys Wheeler with a just as capable 3.73 axle for a sticker price just under $35,000, consumers will have to think long and hard about their use for a $50,000+ Wrangler before dropping the pen to the paper.

Unfortunately, a lot of adults can’t justify spending their days carelessly four-wheeling across endless terrain in search of cold beers and warm nachos. But thanks to the modern iteration of the Wrangler, they can at least justify having one to daily drive during the winter months, all in preparation for the one binge week of off-roading that promises to cleanse the soul and restore all that is right in the world. Okay, maybe it’s not that biblical, but we can only hope that the next-generation of Wrangler doesn’t lose touch of its roots. 

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