The new transmission also has the added benefit of helping make the Wrangler's cabin quieter than before by keeping engines rev lower. The cabin of our loaded tester, equipped with an optional hard top and hard top headliner, leather, and heated seats, is a much nicer place to spend time than the previous Wrangler. I wouldn't go so far as to call the Wrangler Sahara's cabin luxurious, but it feels premium, with soft, high-quality leather, soft-touch plastics, comfortable seats, and a modern infotainment system.

2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited interior driver seat

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Arguably Jeep's biggest challenge with the new 2018 Wrangler was ensuring it hadn't gone soft on off-road performance. I'm happy to report it hasn't. I spent a rare rainy Southern California morning exploring the state's Hungry Valley off-road recreation area. I started out familiarizing myself with the new Wrangler on a particularly easy course that nonetheless required four-low from a couple of Japanese SUVs when I was there recently for an upcoming story. As I motored up the steep hill climb in two-wheel drive, the Jeep started to slip a bit, so I shifted into the Wrangler Sahara's 4A mode, and it continued up without skipping a beat.

Confident I was familiarized with the new Wrangler's dimensions, I headed out for more challenging trails.

Call it typical millennial anxiety, but I'm always reluctant going anywhere off-road by myself without the most capable hardware possible. When alone, I rarely go exploring anywhere off-road that I don't think I can get myself out of, but regardless I still want aggressive, puncture-proof off-road tires, low range, and locking diffs front and back. Despite the Wrangler Sahara's road-oriented tires and lack of locking diffs, the Jeep never once made me anxious; it easily tackled whatever I threw at it. On the toughest obstacle I faced—a steep, heavily rutted hill climb with loose-packed dirt and mud that frequently put me on three wheels—the Jeep was struggling a bit for grip in 4H, so I shifted down to 4L. In that mode traction control comes off and the electronic brake lock diffs go into action; I could feel the calipers being grabbed as the Jeep routed power to the wheels with most traction, and without any further delay, it motored right on up.

2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited grille closeup

Just about the only place the new 2018 Wrangler can't match the old is in price. With JK Wranglers already flying off the lots, Jeep upped prices across the board on its new JL Wrangler. Prices for the 2018 Wrangler Unlimited Sahara start at $38,540 for a soft-top, six-speed manual-equipped version. Our nearly loaded tester stickered for $50,220—though it's worth noting if you spec an identical Wrangler Sahara on Jeep's configurator the cost has crept higher, to $51,115, due to some option package changes. A similarly equipped 2018 Wrangler JK Unlimited Sahara will set you back $45,640, a $5,475 difference. That's a significant price increase, but given how much nicer the new Wrangler drives and the newfound interior quality, it's worth the premium.

After all—this Jeep is the first Wrangler to actually be as nice to drive on the road as it is off. The 2018 Jeep Wrangler has some pretty big shoes to fill and some competing goals to accomplish, but Jeep's absolutely nailed it. Welcome to the 21st century, Wrangler.

2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara
BASE PRICE	$38,540
PRICE AS TESTED	$50,220
VEHICLE LAYOUT	Front-engine, 4WD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV
ENGINE	3.6L/285-hp/260-lb-ft DOHC 24-valve V-6
TRANSMISSION	8-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST)	4,391 lb (52/48%)
WHEELBASE	118.4 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	188.4 x 73.8 x 73.6 in
0-60 MPH	6.9 sec
QUARTER MILE	15.3 sec @ 89.9 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	128 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.73 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT	28.3 sec @ 0.58 g (avg)
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON	18/23/20 mpg
ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY	187/147 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB	0.97 lb/mile

2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited water fording info