4x4 6cyl on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2013 Jeep Wrangler Moab Edition

There will forever be a soft spot in my heart for the Jeep Wrangler. The last one I owned was red, and, as a 1990 model, had the square headlights derided by Jeep enthusiasts who grew up on the Civilian Jeeps that descended from their General Purpose military ancestors. As a teenager, I couldn't have cared less what shape its headlights happened to be - to me, a Jeep Wrangler represented freedom; a carefree do-it-all machine equally at home with the top stowed away in the summer or with the heater on full blast in the snowy clutches of Old Man Winter. In Dr. Seuss parlance, my square-headlighted Sneetch was just as worthy as any round-headlighted Sneetch.
All that said, I'll be the first person to advise against buying a Jeep Wrangler of any sort for owners who don't plan to use it as its makers intend. There's no good reason to punish yourself with a stiff and springy ride, a loud and somewhat drafty (though generally water-resistant) interior or the poor fuel economy expected of a block-shaped vehicle if you don't enjoy its other, more exciting benefits.
Of course, Jeep has done its darndest over the years to make the Wrangler as civilized as possible while keeping it as capable as federal law will allow. The 2013 Jeep Wrangler Moab edition is one of Jeep's latest attempts to attract attention from the upper reaches of the active lifestyle set, and I spent a week with one to see what makes the Moab special.

Going high-tech, the 4x4 way

Is It An Off-Road Adventure Or Just A Walk In The Park?
I remember having to get out and lock hubs and shift into neutral to engage low range.
Coming off press previews of the 2013 Land Rover Range Rover and the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee that involved some heavy-duty off-road rock climbing, I'm simply amazed at the capabilities that these vehicles possess. But even more impressive (or troubling depending on your perspective) is the relative ease with which you can operate these vehicles in seemingly impossible terrain.

Autoblog Minute: Wrangler Pickup, Triumph Fined, Cherokee Production Moves

Autoblog senior editor Greg Migliore reports on highlights from the week in automotive news on this edition of Autoblog Minute. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] Triumph Motorcycles in violation of the Safety Act, Jeep looks to adjust its vehicle production strategy, and a Wrangler pickup may soon be be produced in Toledo. I'm senior editor Greg Migliore, and this is your Autoblog Minute Weekly Recap. Triumph Motorcycles was hit with a $2.9-million fine because of a failure to submit safety documents to NHTSA in a timely fashion. An investigation of 1,300 bikes in September of 2014 led to this finding. Other violations were then discovered, like the late reporting of quarterly recall completion rates, and Triumph's failure to supply warranty data. Fines for these violations may seem harsh but U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said: "Manufacturers must comply with their reporting obligations. The law requires it, and public safety demands it. When companies fail to meet those obligations, we will hold them accountable." In FCA news, it seems that production of the Jeep Cherokee will be moved from the Toledo plant to a nearby state. Automotive News first reported on this adding that Jeep may produce a pickup alongside Wrangler to fill the void left by Cherokee. Jeep declined to comment on this news. Speculation surrounding Jeep's production plans depends on the automaker's ongoing negotiations with the UAW. Those are the highlights from the week that was. Be sure to check out my full recap this Saturday, including details on Ford's performance Fusion. For Autoblog, I'm Greg Migliore. Autoblog Minute is a short-form video news series reporting on all things automotive. Each segment offers a quick and clear picture of what's happening in the automotive industry from the perspective of Autoblog's expert editorial staff, auto executives, and industry professionals. Jeep Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video Triumph Motorcycles