DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: The 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Willys Wheeler was my Woodward Dream Cruise daily driver for this year (as opposed to the handful of classics I drove the course of the weekend), and it was a flat-out blast. The first order of business was yanking the doors off and dropping the soft top, a process that took about 30 minutes total; with practice an owner could easily get it down to half that, and if you just want to lower the folding soft top it can be done in about five. There's a lot of versatility in the standard package, and if you don't deal with too much inclement weather, the soft top is all you need. For those of us in winter climates, the Freedom Top hardtop would be better, or the rather expensive Dual Top group that gives you both.
Since the Dream Cruise mostly involves sitting in traffic, the optional five-speed automatic transmission was also selected for our Wrangler. No, it wouldn't be my choice for my own personal Jeep, but it's really well calibrated for the Wrangler and gives relatively snappy performance; if you think you need a slushbox, at least Jeep offers a good one with minimal compromises.
That's kind of the whole thing with the Wrangler Unlimited, actually -- making the classic Jeep experience available to more people by removing compromises. The company has done an admirable job, too. Four people fit very comfortably in the cabin (and can get in easily thanks to the four doors) and there's a generous cargo area behind the second row for dogs, luggage, groceries and other items. A regular Wrangler is surprisingly small; that Jeep managed to add so much space and utility without taking away the "Jeepiness" is an impressive feat.
The Willys Wheeler package is a "love it or hate it" thing much like most of the Jeep Wrangler special editions; the badging is fun, almost perfectly duplicating the stampings and logos on Wes and Rory's 1948 CJ3. The Amp'd paint, on the other hand, is a cross between civil defense yellow and newborn baby poop, skewing more to the latter. Your mileage may vary.
Actually, your mileage won't vary; it's gonna suck. The Wrangler Unlimited is a heavy box with a big V6 and it gets gas mileage similar to that of old body-on-frame SUVs, particularly with the automatic transmission. That's the price of fun in this case…well, that and the $35,000 MSRP.
Expensive and thirsty, yes, but ridiculously fun in the way only a Jeep Wrangler can be. I'm not a traditional "Jeep person," but I spent most of the morning after the Dream Cruise configuring Wranglers online. Or maybe a nice CJ7…
Although the 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Willys Wheeler platform is small, it offered more than enough room for four adults and a bunch of other cargo.
ASSOCIATE EDITOR GRAHAM KOZAK: The Wrangler Unlimited Willys Wheeler, while a mouthful, is a fairly reasonable way to go if you want a no-nonsense four-door Jeep. It doesn't get all of Jeep's extreme off-road goodies, (you could step up to the Rubicon if you really need those lockers and 4.10 axle ratio), but you do get a good mix of features without having to pay for leather.
Andy's right about the automatic transmission -- perhaps the biggest point of contention on the spec sheet here for the purist -- not being bad. I prefer the manual on principal and the $1,300 savings is a pleasant bonus, but if you're gonna be stopping and going constantly, this wouldn't hurt your Jeep experience too much. The V6 is not exactly a legendary motor for the ages at this point, but it is a solid source of motivation that never seems to want for power.
A wicked engine and mind-bending acceleration aren't really what Jeep's about (though much respect for AEV's Hemi-packing creations). It's about the throwback experience, the butch styling, the feeling you get from knowing you could plunge off the road and into the wilderness. Not that you would, mind you -- you have to pick up the kids from soccer practice.
It's a Jeep thing, as they say. You either understand, or you don't.
If you do understand, you probably won't be thrown by the fuel consumption. The nearly 18 mpg fuel economy, which probably included some amount of creeping along in cruise traffic, didn't really faze me. It's right on target, and it actually seems reasonable for a vehicle with the Wrangler's flowing, sinuous curves.
There are a few minor things that do bother me, though. Love the Willys Wheeler decals, for example (they're shockingly tasteful, for Jeep), but hate the artificial weathering on them. Fake patina is stupid, especially on a gleaming new Jeep. Some of the more hard-core options, like electronic locking differentials, aren't available with this model.
Tire noise also annoying. This Jeep came equipped with knobby rubber suited for mud, not pavement. The wail isn't anything the radio can't block out, but it's something that you should take into consideration. Be honest with yourself: Are you actually going to be hitting the muddy/dusty trail in this?
Given the wheels, tires and lift kits I see on seldom off-roaded Wranglers around here, though, I can't fault Jeep here -- either it makes money off of Jeep enthusiasts' love of overkill, or the aftermarket suppliers will.
If you don't have kids to cart around, consider the two-door. Either way, consider the manual for a truly old-school American vehicular experience, sympathetically updated to suit modern tastes.
Options: Willys Wheeler CPOS 24W including Willys Wheeler grille, 17-inch x 7.5-inch high gloss black Willys Wheels, LT255/75R17 BSW off-road tires, Trac-Lok differential rear axle, 3.73 axle ratio, performance suspension, rock rails, Willys hood decal, 4-wheel drive swing gate decal, slush mats by Mopar, auto dimming mirror with reading lamp, connectivity group with Bluetooth hands-free, electronic vehicle information center, individual tire pressure monitoring display, power convenience group, power heated mirrors, power windows with front one-touch-down feature, power door locks, remote keyless entry, security alarm, leather-wrapped steering wheel, rear passenger assist handles kit, deep tint sunscreen windows, SiriusXM satellite radio with one-year subscription ($5,700); five-speed automatic transmission with hill descent control ($1,295); Uconnect 430 CD/DVD/MP3/HDD ($695)
Vehicle Model Information
BASE PRICE: $27,190
AS TESTED PRICE: $34,880
POWERTRAIN: 3.6-liter V6; 4WD, five-speed automatic
OUTPUT: 285 hp @ 6,400 rpm, 260 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
CURB WEIGHT: 4,100 lb
FUEL ECONOMY: 16/20/18 mpg
FUEL ECONOMY: 17.9 mpg
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.jpg "Although the 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Willys Wheeler platform is small, it offered more than enough room for four adults and a bunch of other cargo.")
