Jeep Wrangler Named Best 4x4 Of The Decade

Four Wheeler magazine named the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon as the two-door Best 4x4 Vehicle of the Decade, and the four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon as the Most Significant 4x4 vehicle.
And, on top of those two accolades, the 2010 Jeep Wrangler has earned the "Best New Car for Off-Roaders" Lifestyle Award from top automotive web site Cars.com.
Jeep has earned many awards in the almost 70-year history of the brand, but few have been as prestigious as those from the editors at Four Wheeler magazine.
According to Four Wheeler: "The JK (current version) Wrangler represented a big step up in on-road ride and handling for Jeep's flagship off-roader, yet its off-road capability wasn't compromised in the least. If anything, it was only enhanced.

"Considering how competent in the dirt the previous-generation TJ was, that was no small feat for Chrysler engineers to pull off. But somehow they managed to do it, creating the decade's best four-wheel drive in the process."
And the magazine was equally enthusiastic about the Wrangler Unlimited, saying the decision by Jeep to produce a four-door Wrangler "will probably go down in history as one of the smartest product moves any automotive company has ever made...... pure genius, opening up the sport of ‘Jeeping' to families."

Nearly 60% of Wrangler sales in the US and around the world, including New Zealand, are four-door Wrangler Unlimited models. The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited remains the only true convertible four-door vehicle on the market and even the hard-top version can open up to the fresh air thanks to removable panels in the front and rear sections of the roof.

Meanwhile, Cars.com has joined the fans of the Wrangler, saying: "The legendary Jeep Wrangler tops our Off-Roaders picks again this year.
"Long on capability, the scrappy Wrangler Rubicon has 27 centimetres of ground clearance, as well as approach, departure and breakover angles its competitors can only envy. When the shortest distance between two points is an obstructed straight line, you'll want to be in a Wrangler.

The popularity of Jeep is further underlined by a report from the US industry bible Kelley Blue Book, which has just reported in its first edition of 2010 that Jeep ranks as the top domestic brand in the United States for residual value.
The Blue Book says Jeep vehicles are projected to retain nearly 36% of original retail price after five years of ownership, more than 3% above industry average. And what's more, Jeep resale values have improved over the past year whilst virtually all of the other brands have declined - Jeep gained 2.8% whilst the rest slid an average of 1.6%.

Todd Groves, Divisional Manager, Chrysler Group at Sime Darby Automobiles NZ, says Jeep also has an excellent track record for resale values in this market.
"There is always strong demand for Jeep vehicles on the second-hand market as well, which is reflected in the strong resale values they are reaching," says Mr Groves.
"It's a testament to strength and popularity of the Jeep brand that it delivers a such a unique blend of freedom and adventure, capability, best-in-class features, versatility and value. It just seems to suit the lifestyle of New Zealanders so well.

"And when you see the awards that models like the Wrangler continue to draw year-in, year-out, it's not hard to see why our products are so popular. Currently we are experiencing an unprecedented demand for new Wranglers and it is showing no signs of waning as Autumn approaches, when sales of the soft-top model usually wind back."