All-new Jeep Wrangler launched in India

After months and months of testing on Indian roads, Jeep has finally launched the legendary Wrangler JL on-off road SUV in India. The American SUV maker got former Indian cricketing great Kapil Dev to do the unveiling honours late yesterday. The latest generation Wrangler (Called the JL) replaces the JK Wrangler, and comes with a slew of changes thanks to the all-new, JL platform. It’s priced at Rs. 63.94 lakhs, ex-showroom India, and is sold through 10 Jeep Destination stores across the country. This makes the Wrangler JL about Rs. 8 lakhs pricier than the outgoing model’s petrol trim.

The Jeep Wrangler dumps the diesel engine, and is now available solely with a 2 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that makes 265 Bhp of peak power and 400 Nm of peak torque. Comparable outputs for the outgoing Wrangler’s 3.6 liter V6 engine were 280 Bhp-347 Nm. The new Wrangler JL uses a 8 speed torque converter automatic gearbox as standard, and gets a four wheel drive transfer case with low and high ratios as standard. Apart from the new engine and gearbox, the Wrangler JL has a slew of changes that make it significantly better than the outgoing model.

First, the styling changes. The new Wrangler JL gets a complete redesign on the outside but retains the traditional Wrangler looks including the 7 slat grille. However, the panels are new and the SUV is a lot more curvier than the version it replaces. It gets better crash worthiness, and is sold in India only in long wheelbase (Unlimited) trim. While Jeep has been spotted testing the short wheelbase variant of the Wrangler JL on Indian roads on multiple occasions, the launch of that version could happen sometime next year.

On the inside, the Jeep Wrangler JL gets a complete revamp and there’s a large touchscreen infotainment unit that dominates the center console, and offers a range of entertainment and connectivity options including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As for safety, there are 8 airbags, traction control, roll over mitigation, ABS, reverse parking camera and sensors, ESP with an off-road bias built in, hill hold assist and hill descent control. A true-blue Jeep, the Wrangler JL has some impressive off road credentials. It’s water wading depth is rated at 762 mm while ground clearance is a tall 215 mm. The approach, breakover and departure angles are rated at 41.8 degrees, 21 degrees, and 36.1 degrees. To ensure that the Wrangler JL gets Jeep’s Trail Rating, the off roader gets locking differentials at the front and rear, a Selectrac off road system with multiple off road modes and finally on-off road all terrain tyres.

Kevin Flynn, the MD of Fiat Chrysler India had this to say about the Jeep Wrangler JL’s launch in India,

We are pleased to present the legendary all-new Jeep Wrangler to our Indian customers who have been eagerly waiting for this New Generation model. The iconic Wrangler is an important vehicle for us to have in our portfolio as it is the flagbearer of Jeep values and has been part of the brand’s illustrious history for nearly eight decades, across the globe, and in India since its introduction in 2016.