The Wrangler gets some new factory-engineered performance parts from the Mopar catalogue, turning it into the undisputed king of all-terrain travel
The Jeep Wrangler is among the greatest American icons and arguably the most recognisable SUV in market. True open-air motoring – usually limited to motorcycles – and unparalleled off-road prowess was never better. And that’s not some marketing spiel; it’s a testimony from the folks who abandon their executive suites for a date with the desert every weekend. In their Wranglers.
But for some people, stock Wranglers just don’t cut it. They need their SUVs to wield more intimidating looks and have extra agility over sandy slopes or rocky trail. For them, there’s the 2016 Jeep Wrangler Level Red.
DESIGN & AESTHETICS
The Jeep Wrangler is, in many ways, the facsimile of the SUV. In fact, in many countries, the SUV is simply called Jeep. Besides that boxy silhouette, what makes the 2016 Wrangler instantly recognisable are styling cues like the classic round headlamps split by an almost-perpendicular 7-slot grille; the exaggerated plastic trapezoidal wheel flares; the removable doors and the fold-down windshield; and last, but not least, the removable roof tops – all of which allow the Wrangler to retain its unique presence and functionality.
With this Level Red model – available on both the popular 2-door and practical 4-door Unlimited models – you get Mopar’s performance parts catalogue that appears on the Rubicon, which, until now, is the meanest stock Wrangler out there.
Our test car came painted in jet-black paint with overt accents of red. Why red? To align with the ‘Level Red’ name, of course! There’s red paint on the insides of two of the 7-slot grille, the external door hinges and the circumference of the alloys. And that’s just the stuff that’s immediately visible. The biggest change is the elevated presence, thanks to the 2″ lift kit and unique 17″ beadlock wheels wrapped in tractor-like 35″ tyres with immensely deep treads.
In our eyes – and especially in those of the sedan-driving civilian – the Level Red is the ultimate purchasable mini monster truck, ready to eat up tarmac, sand, dirt and whatever comes its way. But that’s where we faced a problem. The bigger they are, the harder they are to get into, and in this case it’s down to the vehicle’s height and lack of a fixed or retractable side step. Then again, the cargo shorts-wearing off-road enthusiastic for whom this SUV has been built will be right at home.
Inside, you get a two-tone dashboard divided between black and brown-coloured light and seemingly-flimsy plastics. That being said, we were surprised by the lack of squeaks and rattles from, what is essentially, a kit car. The undisputed highlight was the set of flame red Tuscany Katzkin leather-wrapped seats with a ‘rustic’ and quality handcrafted appeal to them, thanks to the suppleness of the hide and the red embroidery. Front seating is spacious and the mild bolstering serves well over jagged terrain and the softness kept our backs sore-free on long drives. In the 4-door Unlimited version, the rear cabin is spacious enough for three adults with ample headroom and legroom. They also get their own centrally-placed cup holders.
The steering column is manually adjustable, but only for rake – reach adjustability remains a discussion in Jeep’s design rooms. Even so, the driving position is optimal for both city and off-road purposes. Having a 3-spoke steering with a decent rim thickness and diameter also helps. Besides the controls on the spokes, you also have, in typical Dodge-fashion, buttons for radio stations concealed behind the wheel at the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions.
The heads-up display is of a less complex variety with just a monochromatic LCD screen. For this day and age, we think a larger colour screen that displays navigation and the rear view would serve better. At least the instrumentation is nice and simple with round gauges, and the controls are ergonomically set and within reach. The cabin was always kept cool via four round vents with twist-and-turn style internal vanes; we must mention that the chill factor and the blower power really made up for the lack of vents in the rear.
Lastly, who needs a sunroof when the sky can practically be the ceiling? Of course, there are some pluses and minuses to that: yes, you can take off the doors to show off those calves, but the downside is, the doors don’t have door checks, so they may slam into your limbs, if you are not careful. You can fold down the windshield, but due to some random safety regulations, you need to remove some 18 bolts to do that. And lastly, you can strip the roof of the three plastic panels, but that also involves a bunch of nuts and bolts. Freedom comes at a cost. Mind you, in these summer months, exposing yourself to the sun may also cause you irreparable damage. So take our advice and keep it on for now.
POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE
The power dome on the bonnet may suggest that the Level Red gets more power, but that’s not the case. It does, however, get a new cold air-intake. Over the years, Jeep has purposefully downsized the Wrangler’s powertrain. What was once a 4L motor became the last generation’s 3.8L, which then got downsized to what we have today – an efficient Pentastar 3.6L V6 equipped with variable valve timing, mated to a 5-speed automatic. An extra cog could have been better but at least there is a 6-speed manual available for those who prefer stick.
The horses come on gradually when you step on the pedal, but past 3,000 rpm, they rally hard, making a racy, loud growl that will definitely wake the neighbours. At 6,400rpm you can extract as much as 280bhp; and two-thirds up the tachometer at 4,800rpm, some 353Nm of torque will come your way.
In our runs to the 100km/h mark we managed 8 seconds pushing hard, but there is more gusto than what the number suggests. Place it anywhere off the tarmac and it will spit sand, mud and rubble like a giant 2t mutant burrowing rabbit.
On the road, the ride is a little wiggly, mostly because of the massive tyres, which may offend any civilian who traded his Honda in for this. Then again, this is purpose-built for the dirt, and dirt is where the Level Red truly feels at home. Let’s just remind ourselves the Wrangler has a good base to begin with – it has a body-on-frame design, front and rear five-link suspension system and live axles.
We noticed that visibility, especially out the driver’s seat, is great. The elephant-ear-sized large side-view mirrors can be angled in such a way that you can see neighbouring traffic and the curb when parallel parking; and it helps with negotiating rocky surfaces as well. Even so, the lack of a rear camera, or a few parking sensors – at least one, Jeep – can’t be excused.
As we ventured deeper into the sands on our drives, we appreciated many of the Level Red’s mechanical aspects besides the obvious advantages that come with a 2″ lift and bloated tyres. It also borrows the Rubicon’s heavy-duty Dana 44 front and rear axles and the Rock-Trac NV241 two-speed transfer case with an extremely low range 4.0:1 gear ratio. The Level Red also improves on the Rubicon’s best-in-class approach angle of 44.3°, breakover angle of 25.5° and departure angle of 40.4°. This means you can take on the slopes and retreat from them with ease of mind.
In addition, Level Red also includes Rubicon’s electronic locking differentials, which allows the front and rear axles to turn at the same pace, and electronic sway bar deactivation, which grants the suspension greater wheel articulation at the front wheels, both of which are crucial while traversing through difficult terrain. So, if you are going anywhere far away from civilisation, this is the one to take you there, we think.
We could joke that the Wrangler has a bit of drinking problem and that it would empty your tank even when the engine is switched off. Jokes apart, due to the brick-like aerodynamics, high rolling resistance of the tyres, and the human nature to floor the gas, the fuel economy can be less than average. At least the range is decent.
FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY
Level Red may lack the big infotainment screen. But what it does have is a voice command system with a very clinical and instructive AI that helped us sync our phone with ease, despite taking the good part of five minutes to do so.
Our four-person entourage agreed that the Alpine audio system with its bass and good fill of frequencies took EDM to new levels. We’re sure it’s just as good with other genres. The Level Red also comes with a USB port and a few 12V power accessory outlets. You’ll also notice that they’ve used the rear cargo cabin to boost the bass with the sub-woofer planted into the floor. However, the need to constantly load and unload items could diminish its black finish. Wrangler Unlimited models feature a new release handle with one-hand application for the rear seat fold-down function. And trust us, there is a ton of space back there.
As for safety, the Level Red, besides the mandated driver discretion, also comes standard with electronic stability control (ESC), electronic roll mitigation, trailer-sway control, Hill-start Assist and brake traction control, etc. Other conveniences include a tyre pressure monitor system and dual windshield washers.
VERDICT
The Jeep Wrangler is and always has been an iconic piece of engineering that has represented identity, off-road prowess, and practicality; and by retaining these values it has outlived rivals like the Nissan Xterra and Toyota FJ Cruiser.
And for the price, we believe that Jeep has created the ultimate hardcore expression of the Wrangler with the Level Red. Not only is it painted black and red, they let you keep the extended warranty on the mods, which beats the limited warranty you get if you had to buy them and customise it yourself.
Specifications:
Body type: 5-seater; 5-door mid-size high-performance SUV
Engine: Front-engine; 3.6-litre V6; four-wheel drive
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Peak output: 280 bhp @ 6,400 rpm; 353 Nm @ 4,800 rpm
Top speed: 170 km/h (drag limited; estimated)
0-100km/h: sub-8.0 seconds (estimated)
Price: Starting at Dh770,700
Good: Hunky-Chunky styling; true off-road capability; MPV like practicality
Bad: Need a stairway to get in; rickety ride on tarmac thanks to balloon-esque tyres; could use a rear camera or sensors
Author’s Rating: 7.5/10
FUN FACT
Level Red refers to the highest level of difficulty that an off-road trail can be designated.
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