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What's New for the 2005 Jeep Wrangler?
For 2005, a new model debuts called the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. The Unlimited Rubicon model adds locking Dana 44 axles front and rear, four-wheel disc brakes, a 4.0:1 low-range gear, diamond plate sill guards, and 31-inch tires. On other Wranglers, a new six-speed manual transmission debuts, and gray replaces black for the top and fender flare colors. A new Premium package for the Wrangler Unlimited includes unique cloth seats, silver interior trim, a chrome grille, and body color fender flares. The mid-year Rocky Mountain Edition adds 30-inch wheels and tires, fog lights, and fender flares. New colors for the 2005 Jeep Wrangler include Impact Orange and Deep Beryl Green. Advantages of the 2005 Jeep Wrangler:
- Incredible off-road bang for the buck
- Few vehicles possess this much sheer panache
- Extremely fun to drive
- No convertible surrenders occupants to the elements as completely as a Jeep Wrangler
- Unlimited model is actually roomy enough for four adults
Objections to the 2005 Jeep Wrangler: - Fuel economy
- Seat comfort
- Rear seat room in regular Wrangler
- Limited cargo volume in regular Wrangler
- Difficult entry and exit
- Mediocre interior materials
- Soft top sounds like a tent flapping in the wind on the highway
- Soft plastic side windows a major pain in today’s drive-thru world
- Paved road handling limits are quickly reached
Editor's Advice:
Retro before retro was cool, the Jeep Wrangler has an undeniable and undying appeal. It represents American adventure, authenticity, and audacity. Plus it's almost unstoppable no matter what the terrain. We think the Jeep Wrangler is plenty of fun to drive even though it performs terribly on paved roads and is among the most uncomfortable vehicles for sale today. This Jeep is noisy, rough riding, difficult to enter and exit, and the convertible top takes minutes rather than seconds to raise or lower. Operating the manual shifter is like rowing the towering stick of a school bus. The Wrangler lurches, rocks and tosses about on its short wheelbase and stiff suspension. Steering is utterly lifeless yet transmits so much road shock you might as well be gripping a jackhammer. Cargo space is quite limited, accessed through a tailgate that swings curbside to make loading that much more difficult. Interior materials rank sub-par, the front seats are mounted low and stuffed full of mushy foam, and the cabin drones like seat 25A on a Boeing 757 – and that's with the hard top installed! But you know what? We love this damn thing.
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