Note: This interior review was created when the 2017 Jeep Wrangler was new.
Interior: | 6.7 |
The 2017 Jeep Wrangler prioritizes function over form, which is why the cabin is pretty austere compared to some class rivals. The materials are mostly hard plastics, and there’s nothing to evoke any feelings of luxury. However, this also means that when you get the Wrangler dirty, it’s easy to clean because you can just take off the top and the doors and hose down the cabin.
Whether you’re up front or in the back, the Wrangler’s seats don’t offer much in the way of support or comfort. The front seats at least provide ample room; the back seats don’t even offer enough space for most adults to sit comfortably.
There’s not much in the way of cabin tech, but at least the audio, climate, and infotainment controls are easily reachable from the driver’s seat. There also aren’t really any active safety features.
If you need cargo space, you’re better off going with the four-door Wrangler Unlimited, which has one of the largest cargo holds in the class. The two-door Wrangler, on the other hand, has one of the smallest, though you can remove the back seat to give yourself some extra space.
The two-door Wrangler seats four people, and the four-door Wrangler Unlimited seats five. The two-door Wrangler is the only vehicle in the class that seats less than five. Cloth upholstery is standard, and leather upholstery and heated front seats are available.
Comfort is not the first priority inside the Wrangler. The front seats offer enough space for most occupants, but many people will wish they had more support, especially if you plan to take the Wrangler off road. Drivers will appreciate the outstanding forward visibility, but the large spare tire limits rearward vision and may make you wish the Wrangler had a rearview camera.
The rear seats have about the same level of comfort as the front, which is to say not much, only they also lack adequate room for adult passengers. Even getting into the rear seats can be a challenge in the two-door Wrangler.
The Wrangler Unlimited comes with two complete sets of LATCH connectors, making it a passable family vehicle. However, the anchors are difficult to find and easily confused with other hardware. On the bright side, once you find and identify the anchors, securing a car seat is relatively easy.
Compared to almost every class rival (and most vehicles in general), the Wrangler is bereft of standard features. Even power windows and locks are options, which sounds ridiculous when you say it out loud. However, since you can take the Wrangler’s doors off, you may not miss these features as much as you would in other SUVs.
In addition to taking the doors off, the Wrangler’s roof is removable as well. A removable top is standard, and a removable hardtop is available. The soft top is easier to remove because it weighs less, but it can also be cut through with a knife, so it doesn’t provide as much security as the hardtop.
Available features include air conditioning, a removable hardtop roof, satellite radio, remote start, navigation, a 6.5-inch touch-screen infotainment system, a nine-speaker Alpine stereo, and automatic climate control.
There are some available features that make the Wrangler feel more modern. Bluetooth and a Wi-Fi hot spot make it easy to sync your smartphone and get internet access while on the go. The dashboard controls, including the available infotainment system, are within easy reach of the driver, but the available navigation system absorbs some climate and audio functions, making them more complicated.
See 2017 Jeep Wrangler specs and trims »
With the rear seats up, the Wrangler provides just 12.8 cubic feet of cargo space, less than many sedans. Cargo volume expands to 56.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. In two-door Wranglers, you can also remove the rear seats, which lets you reach the Wrangler’s maximum cargo capacity of 61.2 cubic feet.
While that’s plenty of room for sporting gear or a weekend’s worth of luggage, it’s still less total space than you’ll find in class rivals like the Honda CR-V and the Ford Escape. It may not be worth the trouble of removing the rear seats, however. Doing so only gives you an extra five cubic feet of space, and the rear seats are heavy.
If you’re looking for a cargo hauler, you’re better off considering the four-door Wrangler Unlimited, which has much more space. The Wrangler Unlimited has 31.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and a max capacity of 70.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Unlike the two-door Wrangler, the Wrangler Unlimited does not have a removable rear seat. Even so, the Unlimited has one of the largest cargo holds in the class.
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