If you are looking for a fun in the sun vehicle, look no further than the 2016 Jeep Wrangler. Why? Apart from having the most comfortable interior in its class, and best-in-class off-road capability, the Wrangler is also labeled as best-in-class fun to drive by Wards small sport utility vehicle segment. It’s got the looks and design, an engine that’s fun on and off the road, and a great sound system that can play tunes to match any type of driving environment.
I’m sure there are many more reasons the Wrangler was labeled as a best-in-class fun to drive vehicle, but these are a few that stand out the most.
The Official Fun-in-the-Sun Design
The 2016 Wrangler comes in a variety of flavors. By flavors, I mean it has multiple design options. It can come as a classic hard top for those who live in the cold, bleak, and boring parts of America. But, for those in the year-round warm climates? It’s got the iconic fun-in-the sun design.
That design is a Wrangler without a top or doors. This way, you can experience complete freedom, and soak up as many rays as possible. Granted, the hard top can be removed like a soft top, just not as easily. Plus, there is something about the look of a soft-top Wrangler that ignites a sense of excitement and adventure. With a hard top, it might as well look like the other smaller SUVs that are tromping around on the streets — especially if it’s a body color hard top that blends in with the rest of the vehicle.
Bottom line: Wranglers are meant to be driven around with no doors and no top. It looks natural when doing some dune-running on the coast, or driving along sandy beaches. That’s why this is basically the staple design for warm-climate areas, and why 90% of people get the image of a topless and doorless Wrangler into their heads when someone asks what their idea of a fun-in-the-sun vehicle should look like.
Aside from the specific warm-weather configuration, the general look of the Wrangler is perfect for any environment. The famous seven-slotted grille, bumper, and headlights are just as iconic as the brand name — and the enlarged fenders above the wheels add a sense of flair. Throw a small body lift on one with some bigger tires, take the top and doors off, and then watch everyone watch you as you drive around bronzing yourself in one of the coolest and most universally recognized vehicles on the planet.
That open-air freedom on a topless and doorless Jeep isn’t just for tanning either. It also provides a big, empty space that’s practically begging to be filled with sound waves.
Great Audio System
Along with the other seemingly endless amount of best-in-class ratings the 2016 Jeep Wrangler receives, it also has best-in-class audio when equipped with the Alpine Premium sound system. Worried about sand or rain getting the best of it? No need! Since it’s an all-weather design, you can keep the top off and the tunes going, regardless of the driving conditions. It has nine speakers, with the main ones measuring 6.5-inches, and the two tweeters boasting weather-resistance with a subwoofer that provides plenty of deep bass beats. Take the top and doors off your Wrangler, and blast your favorite metal, rock, rap, or electronic song in all its glory. You know you want to!
Pair this best-in-class audio with the top-of-the-line Radio 430N with Uconnect technology, and you just upgraded to a high-resolution 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a QVGA display that offers multiple ways to play your favorite music. You can use the standard one-year subscription of SiriusXM Satellite Radio (that comes standard) to discover some new songs in your favorite genre, or use a basic CD/DVD player for a more retro listening experience. Still need another way to play your music? Good thing it also has MP3 format capability, an audio input jack, and a USB port. Since it’s essentially a computer, it even comes with a hard drive to store your favorite MP3 files. Naturally, it also has AM/FM radio.
It can do so much more than just play music, too. If you need it to, the Garmin GPS Navigation is able to provide you with audible turn-by-turn directions. SiriusXM Travel Link can even tell you about the weather, sports, find movie showtimes at theaters near you, provide traffic updates, and find a place to eat nearby.
With this combination of practicality and bass-bumping beats, it only makes sense to upgrade to this sound system and infotainment touchscreen. Why get one if you aren’t going to get the other?
An Engine That’s Fun On and Off the Road
While the design is cool and the sound system is a nice touch, we all know it’s what’s under the hood that truly dictates how much fun you can have in a vehicle. This is why the Wrangler is home to a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, able to get 17 mpg city and 21 mpg highway, while still putting out 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. This combination of power and fuel-efficiency means that you will be able to get the capability and fun of a 4×4 ride, without paying the price a truck would at the pump. Plus, you’ll just look much cooler when you’re filling the Wrangler, instead of a truck, anyway.
The Command-Trac system is what provides the Wrangler with that off-road capability, and is what will allow you to safely and effectively power the Wrangler through beaches and sand dunes. If you want to kick it up a notch, you can always grab the Rock-Trac system, which gives the Wrangler best-in-class off-road performance. So if you plan on doing anything other than cruising down the road or along sandy beaches, you’ll have that possibility, thanks to this optional system.
Since this vehicle is obviously willing and able to travel on any type of terrain, you’ll be happy to drive on any type of terrain as well. Combine that with the head-turning looks you’ll get when cruising around in a 2016 Jeep Wrangler, poised atop a pair of big tires, sans top or doors, blasting Metallica, and I guarantee you’ll find yourself cruising around a lot more than you ever did in that boring sedan.
