Fast Lane Truck takes the new Wrangler JL out for lunch and learns what separates it from the JK.
After more than a decade of off-road dominance with the JK version of the Wrangler, Jeep has finally overhauled it inside and out to create the JL model. While visually similar to its predecessor, the newest Wrangler is significantly improved in terms of its weight, technology, and comfort levels. Outside of Jeep engineers and JK Wrangler owners, perhaps no one knows how much better the JL feels compared to the JK than the guys at The Fast Lane Truck.
Presenters Andre and Nathan drove a JK Rubicon more than 37,000 miles through 40 states back in 2015. When you’re in such a capable vehicle that long (an entire year) in so many different places, you’re bound to get a great idea of how it performs both on- and off-road. So when the two guys get the chance to drive a 2018 JL Wrangler Unlimited Sahara, where do they take it? Across a river? Down the Rubicon Trail?
Nope.
Andre and Nathan take it to the historic Colorado city of Gold Hill to get some quiche. Duh! They had planned on encountering plenty of snow along the way and testing the JL’s traction on it, but they don’t seem to come across much of it. However, their travels do give them time to notice how much better the new Wrangler rides and how much more modern its interior is. They do their best to get in some sort of off-road action by doing launches in a snow-covered lot. In 4HI, the guys can truly feel the JL splitting its power front to back. Of course, they also use the new Wrangler to make donuts – which look a lot more satisfying than quiche.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
