2004 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

Tom Collins
The Auto Answerman
KEZW Radio Denver

Vehicle Type: Small SUV
Base Price: $24,385
Price as tested: $25,520

The latest version of the Wrangler is the stretched version dubbed the ‘Unlimited. Wheelbase is up 10 inches to 103 resulting in 2” additional rear seat legroom and a doubling of available cargo space. Those aren’t the only benefits. The longer wheelbase gives the Wrangler Unlimited a smoother ride but there is no mistaking that this is a Wrangler, made more for the trail than the freeway.

I had heard that Jeep would be using the 3.7-liter V6 from the Liberty in future Wranglers but our just-introduced Unlimited came with the old 4.0-liter ‘Power-Tech’ inline 6. It’s been around almost as long as I have but it gets the job done producing 190 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. On the road acceleration is decent but not exciting. Expect 16 MPG around town and 19 out on the hi-way.

The ‘Unlimited’ is the only Wrangler model with a standard automatic transmission. The 4-speed unit shifted well but many will opt for the available 5-speed manual. A locking Dana 44 with 3.73 gears is standard too. All ‘Unlimited’ Wranglers come with ‘Command-Trac 4wd, 4-wheel disc brakes, next generation air bags and a 4-speaker stereo with am/fm and CD. The 15” tires look nice on the standard aluminum wheels. A matching spare wheel is mounted on the rear of the Unlimited. Fog lamps and Air-Conditioning are also standard.

Our Wrangler Unlimited was ordered with ‘Customer Preferred Package 24E’ including Sentry key theft-deterrent, Bodyside Steps, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise and a black soft top. With destination charge the $24,385 base price was bumped up to $25,520. The unlimited is nicely equipped but I would have liked power-mirrors. The seats and the windows are manual and there is no remote keyless entry.

I enjoyed my week with the Wrangler Unlimited but, of course, it’s not for everybody. The ride is still bouncy and hi-way travel is noisy due to lots of wind noise. A trip to Home Depot confirmed the usefulness of the additional cargo space. The king of the off-road is now a little more user friendly. For more on the Wrangler Unlimited log on to www.jeep.com

Tom Collins
5-12-04