Jeep Wrangler JL Review.

[HeinrichC]

I started this thread to give some feedback on the new JL Wrangler.

My feedback will be specific to the JL 2-Door Rubicon 3.6 V6 with the 8-Speed auto gearbox that I recently bought with 4200 Kms on the odo.

[HeinrichC]

I took ownership of the JL earlier today therefore my first impressions are based on a thorough visual inspection of the JL as well as a 20Km drive in the East Rand.

Notable differences that were "irritations" to me on the JK:

1. Door stays that prevent the door swinging open or shut on a steep sideways angles when getting in and out of the JL.
2. No more banging the doors closed, the JL's doors have a self close function when you close the door past the door stay point.
3. Doors are aluminium.
4. The rear door catch mechanism is different, hopefully no more rattling rear door.
5. Much quicker to remove the freedom panels, they did away with those 2 long bolts and large plastic caps you had to unscrew to remove the freedom panels.
Rear spare wheel is mounted lower giving you better view of what is behind you.
6. Huge improvement of the infotainment system.
7. Different hood wranglers, hopefully no more hood flutter (I will check on the trip back to PE)

Some other differences that caught my eye:

1. The angle of the rear socks are more vertically mounted compared to the inward angles of the JK shocks.
2. Some suspension parts are aluminium and not steel any longer, my eye caught the aluminium steering knuckle.
3. Difference in the mounting of the steering stabiliser. The drag link and tie rod end no longer share a pivot point.
5. Turning radius feels better, could be placebo (Must still compare spec).
6. Gear ratio of 1st and 2nd definitely changed the JL is very quick out the blocks. (I must still compare the gear ratios to the JK)
7. Very beefy rear recovery hook (Yes, an open hook).
8. Higher fender flares.
9. Front and rear PDC with rear camera.
10. Stop/Start tech.
11. Keyless start.
12. It comes with 2H, 4H Auto (AWD), 4H and 4L.
13. All front and rear lights are LED.
14. Front windscreen more angled and not so upright any longer (Explains the "flat dash").
16. 255/75R17 is standard size on the Rubi.
17. Electric power steering pump, no more belt driven power steering pump.
18. Dual climate control.

I will post a video of all the differences, driving experience (On and Off Road).

Shout if there is anything in specific you want to know.

[NicoP]

Thanks for the info so far!

[jelo]

How do you feel about the flat colour-coded dashboard? I'm not very sold on that retro look.

[Jeepiscool]

Thanks Heinrich I'll follow this!

[DCTheron]

Very nice looking new Jeep , many miles of smiles

I still miss my heavily modified TJ a lot, just hate it when we visit my sister and it's parked at their home and not mine

Have a safe journey Heinrich and it'll give you time to bond with the new machine . Also interested to read your comparisons with the JK.

[Alwyn777]

Very nice! Love the colour.
How does the 8-speed box compare to the previous 5-speed?
This must have been the biggest improvement from the JK?

[dirtshark]

Congrats, very nice, if you don't mind how much moolah?

[Rebel 4x4]

I took ownership of the JL earlier today therefore my first impressions are based on a thorough visual inspection of the JL as well as a 20Km drive in the East Rand.

Notable differences that were "irritations" to me on the JK:

1. Door stays that prevent the door swinging open or shut on a steep sideways angles when getting in and out of the JL.
2. No more banging the doors closed, the JL's doors have a self close function when you close the door past the door stay point.
3. Doors are aluminium.
4. The rear door catch mechanism is different, hopefully no more rattling rear door.
5. Much quicker to remove the freedom panels, they did away with those 2 long bolts and large plastic caps you had to unscrew to remove the freedom panels.
Rear spare wheel is mounted lower giving you better view of what is behind you.
6. Huge improvement of the infotainment system.
7. Different hood wranglers, hopefully no more hood flutter (I will check on the trip back to PE)

Some other differences that caught my eye:

1. The angle of the rear socks are more vertically mounted compared to the inward angles of the JK shocks.
2. Some suspension parts are aluminium and not steel any longer, my eye caught the aluminium steering knuckle.
3. Difference in the mounting of the steering stabiliser. The drag link and tie rod end no longer share a pivot point.
5. Turning radius feels better, could be placebo (Must still compare spec).
6. Gear ratio of 1st and 2nd definitely changed the JL is very quick out the blocks. (I must still compare the gear ratios to the JK)
7. Very beefy rear recovery hook (Yes, an open hook).
8. Higher fender flares.
9. Front and rear PDC with rear camera.
10. Stop/Start tech.
11. Keyless start.
12. It comes with 2H, 4H Auto (AWD), 4H and 4L.
13. All front and rear lights are LED.
14. Front windscreen more angled and not so upright any longer (Explains the "flat dash").
16. 255/75R17 is standard size on the Rubi.
17. Electric power steering pump, no more belt driven power steering pump.
18. Dual climate control.

I will post a video of all the differences, driving experience (On and Off Road).

Shout if there is anything in specific you want to know.

Whats a decent price range to look for second hand?

[jeepfamily]

Very nice. I think Jeep did well with this one. Everyone in the US thinks it’s a major improvement. Enjoy your new ride

[HeinrichC]

Time for an update.

We left Jhb this morning at around 09h00 and arrived in PE at about 19h30. With more than a 1000km of driving on the open road I have some non bias feedback.

Things that stood out
1. The attention to detail is incredible, I will share some examples in a next post. FCA did not hold back on the JL.

2. White noise reduction - The Jeep has this tech built into the premium sound system and it works great! Listening to the radio or music at a low volume level (10 to 12) drowns out all other sounds like road, wind noise. Quite a surreal experience and a very similar effect as the over ear noise cancelling ear phones.

3. Bonnet flutter - Much better but it is not completely gone, trucks and tour buses that approach from the opposite side at high speed, punching a hole in the air as the move along, creates a gush of wind hitting you from the front, it makes the bonnet flutter Other than that there is no bonnet flutter.

4. Fuel consumption - I am speechless. The Jhb to PE trip average was 10Lr/100Km. My opinion is the 8-Speed gearbox plays a huge part. It loves cruising in 8th gear and it does not gear down to a lower gear when you slow down from 120 to 85. The box remains in 8th, when you pass the slower vehicle (Mostly trucks) the box kicks to 7th, you feel the power surge as you accelerate back to cruising speed but it switches from 7th to 8th quickly. 7th and 8th was the gears mostly used on the trip by the gearbox.


5. JK parts bin - With the exception of the 3.6 V6 I am yet to find any part or component on the JL that comes from the JK parts bin, everything is new.

6. Infotainment & dash display - chuck away your OBD2 reader the new UConnect system has it all, and more. It is more of a built in PC than a touch screen sound system. Thick user guide with a plethora of options I still need to learn the functions/settings of.

7. Stability on road - Look, it is a solid axle off road vehicle, the ride quality and stability does not match an all round independent suspension. But it is much better than the JK 2-door. A lot less "body twisting" and squeaks and noises. The steering play is still there but there is a slight improvement.

8. Very comfortable seats for the long road but this is relative to the size of the driver (I am 1.75meters tall and weigh 73Kg). Driver seat has lumbar support.

9. Led Headlights - no need for spotlights the new LED headlights is incredible.


10. Carplay (iPhone) - A very practical and functional feature, works well.


11. Stop/Start Tech - This is not everyones cup of tea but it works very well to save fuel in town driving. Wow, I love it.



Some answers to your questions posted in the thread;

No, I do not like the red dash but I will leave it as is while under warranty. Lots of videos how to respray the red dash with your preferred choice.

No, I am not disclosing the purchase price or recommend a retail/trade price.

What did I like the most? The 8-speed gearbox
What disappointed me the most? The bonnet flutter.

[Rainier Vermaak]

10km/l at 120km/h?

That is seriously impressive.

Sounds like an impressive vehicle.

Enjoy, we are jealous.

[HeinrichC]

Not an average speed of 120, no. To achieve that I would have to do 170 at times to catch up the time lost for fuel stops, stuck behind trucks, driving at 60 through towns, etc.

My driving style was to keep at the speed limit; so I did 120 where I could and 60/80/100 where I have to. Our distance and time travelled comes to about 100Km/Hr average for the complete trip from Jhb to PE.

Remember the Jeep have BFG KM2 MT 255/75R17 tyres, a decent AT tyre could improve fuel consumption even more.



To add to the feedback list, some more things that comes to mind:

1. Although the front windscreen is noticeably at a lower angle (Improved wind resistance and less wind noise) it is still a very attractive surface area for insects at night, they cannot resist coming closer to have a look ending in a splash.

2. The TPMS warning is set at a crazy limit of 2.5Bar. Tyre pressures lower than that sets off the low tyre pressure warning display on the digital screen and the tyre pressure light on the dash. Seems the limit cannot be changed in the settings, maybe the dealership would be able to lower the warning limit.

[jeepfamily]

Thank you for the great feedback. I think Jeep nailed this one. I kind of like the red dash, but it’s funny as in the US you get some with a grey dash.

[Rainier Vermaak]

Not an average speed of 120, no. To achieve that I would have to do 170 at times to catch up the time lost for fuel stops, stuck behind trucks, driving at 60 through towns, etc.

My driving style was to keep at the speed limit; so I did 120 where I could and 60/80/100 where I have to. Our distance and time travelled comes to about 100Km/Hr average for the complete trip from Jhb to PE.

Remember the Jeep have BFG KM2 MT 255/75R17 tyres, a decent AT tyre could improve fuel consumption even more.



To add to the feedback list, some more things that comes to mind:

1. Although the front windscreen is noticeably at a lower angle (Improved wind resistance and less wind noise) it is still a very attractive surface area for insects at night, they cannot resist coming closer to have a look ending in a splash.

2. The TPMS warning is set at a crazy limit of 2.5Bar. Tyre pressures lower than that sets off the low tyre pressure warning display on the digital screen and the tyre pressure light on the dash. Seems the limit cannot be changed in the settings, maybe the dealership would be able to lower the warning limit.

I did not mean an average speed of 120km/h.

[HeinrichC]

The new short stick with the new 4H Auto option:

[dirtshark]

Deleted, question too personal.

[HeinrichC]

What did you pay Heinrich?

That is a bit of a personal question but it was less than the new Hilux, Amarok, Ranger, DMax 4X4 Automatic Double Cabs.

[dirtshark]

That is a bit of a personal question but it was less than the new Hilux, Amarok, Ranger, DMax 4X4 Automatic Double Cabs.

My humble apologies, see post #8... enjoy your jeep.

[HeinrichC]

My humble apologies, see post #8... enjoy your jeep.

No worries