It's been documented on this blog before, but the Wrangler is surprisingly fun to drive around the city in. The engine, which is hopelessly outgunned on the highway, is torquey enough to zip through this congested concrete jungle. What I'm particularly taken with, though, is the Wrangler's steering. It's light, but transmits a surprising amount of feedback and doesn't have an intense desire to whip itself back to center...
Also aiding the steering is a wheel that is easily in my Top 10. Those thin cross spokes allow you to wrap your fingers perfectly at 3 and 9, creating a great balance. It looks pretty cool, too, and I wish more automakers offered a similar design. By comparison, check out our Compass' wheel (or the ones in the JGC and Commander) -- not particularly comfortable (at 3 & 9) and it's pretty dull-looking too. It does offer audio controls the Wrangler lacks, but with such an excellent steering wheel (and the radio so close to my hands), I'm willing to make that sacrifice.
James Riswick, Associate Editor @ 6,315 miles
tackepj says:
10:14 AM, 09/13/07
The Wrangler's wheel looks reminiscent of the tiller in the PT Cruiser, which is also very nice (albeit bus-sized in the little PT).
mopar424 says:
11:04 AM, 09/13/07
This large diameter wheel looks better suited for the jeep here than i is in the PT (i agree- too big).
ateixeira says:
01:09 PM, 09/19/07
I'm not crazy about either one. Gimme 3 spokes. Thin spokes, not too big in diameter.