2020 Jeep Wrangler Willys Limited Edition Packs a Lot of Vim & Vigor
New Jeep keeps its roots strong throughout, but with an upgraded turbo powertrain and off-road capability.
We were thrilled to hear that Jeep would be bringing back a special-edition Willys for the 2020 Wrangler. The 2020 Jeep Wrangler Willys is strongly influenced by the seminal Willys Overland CJ-3A that first rolled on the scene in 1948. They have always been quintessential Jeep cool; not to mention capable and tough as nails off-road.
But given the new technology at its disposal, how does the new Willys benefit? Automotive review Ben Hardy had the same question in his latest video review and test drive. Hardy reviews a nice, fresh off-the-lot Wrangler Willys with the Sport Package, especially eye-catching in yellow.
He starts out by popping (or more accurately, unlatching) the hood. The big story with this Jeep is the turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder engine. Mated to an 8-speed automatic, this is good for 270 hp and 290 lb.-ft of torque. As for fuel economy, this is rated at about 21 city and 22 highway.
There are quite a few features that stand out as definite advantages to this model. In the front, the LED lights with projector bulbs and fog lights is a great touch, especially for increased visibility off-road at night, or through dust, rain, and the other factors. The whole front end looks pretty sharp, the blacked out grille is beautiful, definitely well designed.
It also has a beefy tire setup, riding on 33″ with 17″ black rims. As Hardy points out, the Sport Package really gives the front end some heft.
The Willys emblems and badging is exactly what we like in a special or limited edition. It rises above the herd with some old-school style lettering, as well as sleek and modern blacked out Jeep lettering.
Moving to the back, you have the classic spare tire, and that incredibly useful backup camera. Hardy opens up the rear hatch, and shows the ample cargo area. This includes extra storage, and an area for drivers to put bolts for when they remove the top.
Inside, there is generous leg and head room for passengers in the front and the back.
A major upgrade to this Willys is the on-board technology. Hardy does a great job of going through all the controls, the center gauge cluster, and off-road options offered. He shows that the infotainment is user friendly and has a responsive screen.
Once Hardy gets going, one design feature that really impresses is the visibility. Another is that turbo 2.0L. It gives a nice, juicy acceleration. Hardy loves the torque, feels it is a definite improvement. He thinks this might just the best premium engine–well, until an ecodiesel is offered.
As for the ride quality, he says “It is smooth for a Wrangler.” For the uninitiated, sure, this is going to a ride a little rougher. But Wrangler fans will be pleased with the overall performance.
“It drives more similar to a Rubicon than a Sport in terms of how the steering feels,” Hardy says. And he certainly brings up a valid point that the 2020 Wrangler Willys could indeed challenge the Rubicon. It might not have have some of the Rubicon’s extras–no axle lock or sway bar–but starting at around $35,000, the Willys is considerably cheaper than a specced-out Rubicon.
“The Willys Wrangler is definitely the 4-door Wrangler to look at for the 2020 model year,” he concludes. And we agree, the 2020 Willys delivers classic Jeep performance with a powerhouse engine.
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