The Jeep Wrangler is a true icon of the off-road world, its name synonymous with the best 4x4 vehicles. It can handle itself better than almost anything when the road turns rough, and is able to venture far into the wilderness without any fuss. This isn't your everyday SUV.
It has very few real rivals, with only the latest Land Rover Defender offering a real alternative to the Jeep Wrangler’s rugged prowess. The Jeep manages to undercut the Land Rover on price, yet still comes packed with lots of technology – and even a removable roof. The Mercedes-Benz G-Class also offers similar ability in the mud, but for a much higher price.
It is important not to think of the Jeep Wrangler as ‘just another SUV’ like an Audi Q5 or BMW X3. Yes, it may cost a similar amount to buy or lease, but the ethos of the Jeep Wrangler is completely different. This is still very much a true off-roader, and that brings charm and challenges in equal measure.
At present, the Jeep Wrangler is offered solely with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. It helps it feel unbeatable off the road, and it can easily keep up with traffic on the highway. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is standard, shifting smoothly if not always rapidly. Where the Jeep Wrangler really shines is with its all-wheel drive system, which includes a proper low-range option for when you decide to go off-grid.
On the open road, the Jeep’s steering can feel light and inaccurate, while its ride can feel bouncy. This is the price paid for being so capable off the beaten track.
The same is true for the interior, which is solid and well made, but not in the same league as other SUVs when it comes to quality or refinement. At least the equipment count is strong, with even the entry-level Sahara featuring plenty of technology.
Although the two-door Jeep Wrangler has the coolest look, it can feel cramped on the inside. The four-door version is a more practical choice, and it still comes with the bonus of being able to completely remove the roof. Not many SUVs can do that…
It might not appeal to everyone, but for those who want the American dream in off-road form, there is nothing to rival the Jeep Wrangler. It possesses heritage and capability that only a Land Rover Defender can compete with. However, the Jeep Wrangler’s image is much more blue-collar than the social-climber Brit.
We like that the Jeep Wrangler can trace its heritage all the way back the 1940s, and the styling makes it instantly recognisable, even to those with no interest in cars. Being able to go further off-road than almost anything else on sale today is a real USP, too.
It may feel a little compromised when used on the road, but those who want a Jeep are unlikely to care. Buying a Jeep Wrangler is not like buying a typical new SUV - you’re buying into a different way of life.
A Jeep Wrangler not for you? We've got 1000s of used cars for sale to suit all budgets and needs.
The first choice you need to make is an easy one. The car comes in two main forms, the two-door and the four-door. The four-door is much bigger, much roomier and has a much bigger boot, yet it doesn’t cost all that much more to buy or run. Seems like a no-brainer to us.
There’s a fifty-fifty choice in the engine department too, either a 200PS diesel or a 272PS petrol. Both are powerful enough, and the petrol is much smoother, while the diesel delivers better fuel consumption, that edges it for us, so the diesel gets the nod. Both engines come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, so there’s no choice to make there.
Regarding trim level, we’d avoid entry-level Sport trim because it misses out on a few things you’ll want. The next level Up, Sahara, checks all the necessary boxes, so that’s the one that’ll suit most regular buyers. However, a decent proportion of buyers will be hardcore off-roading enthusasts, and if you’re one of those, you’ll want the range-topping Rubicon because it gets all sorts of rufty-tufty off-roading hardware.
Jeep Wrangler 2.2 MultiJet II diesel: When this version of the Wrangler launched in 2017 it came with a 2.2-litre diesel engine with 200PS and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Although it was torquey and promised reasonable fuel economy at around 30mpg, it was phased out in favour of the petrol engine from 2021.
Jeep Wrangler 2.0 TC GME petrol: All examples of the 2022 Jeep Wrangler use the same turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which is connected to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. With 272PS, it gives the Jeep Wrangler all the performance it needs, whether on the street or when exploring off-road. Jeep’s famed all-wheel-drive system is standard, with the Rubicon using an even more capable Rock-Trac version.
The Jeep Wrangler is offered with a choice of just three trim levels. However, with Jeep’s legendary status among enthusiasts, there are endless accessory options to personalise your Jeep Wrangler with.
Jeep Wrangler Sahara: The entry-level version of the Jeep Wrangler is available in both two- or four-door configurations. Like all Jeep Wranglers, it comes with a removable three-piece hard top roof, along with satellite navigation and climate control. On the inside, it has seats finished in cloth trim, a nine-speaker audio system and a multimedia touchscreen.
Jeep Wrangler Overland: For additional luxury, the Jeep Wrangler Overland is offered only for the four-door model. It marks itself out as the premium option with an interior trimmed in plush McKinley leather. The seats and steering wheel are heated, while the spare wheel gains a solid cover.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon: Should you want to take your Jeep deep into the wilderness, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is the one to go for. Sold in both two- and four-door versions, it has 17-inch wheels with huge mud-terrain tyres, Tru-Lok differentials for extra traction, and even the ability to disconnect the front anti-roll bar. Yet it still boasts leather seats and other refinements found lower down the range.
Several special edition Wranglers have been released over the years, including the lifted Wrangler 1941, which was limited to just 41 examples, and an 80th anniversary edition, which featurered special metallic grey exterior trim and two-tone alloy wheels, as well as a commerative plaque.
The Jeep Wrangler’s exterior dimensions are:
Length: 4334mm (four-door: 4882mm)
Width: 1894mm
Height: 1901mm
Ground clearance: 242mm
The Jeep Wrangler’s boot size is:
192 litres (two-door)
533 litres (four-door)
The latest Wrangler was launched in 2018, after the Government decided to change the VED tax laws to apply a flat rate of tax to petrol and diesel cars, and to apply a five-year surcharge to cars that cost over £40,000 when new. All that applies to every version of the Wrangler, so it’ll be relatively pricey on VED with a combined cost of £570 per year.
Buy used, and you’ll dodge getting clobbered by the hefty first-year tax payment (or ‘showroom tax’, which is between £1850 and £2175 depending on model), but then between years two and five of the car’s life, you’ll pay a annual bill of £570. After that, you just pay the £180 flat rate. The hefty CO2 emissions will mean company car drivers are very unlikely to consider a Wrangler, because monthly BIK bills will be very pricey indeed.
As a large off-roader, the Jeep Wrangler falls into either insurance group 40 or 41 (out of 50). Curiously, it is the more expensive Jeep Wrangler Rubicon that gains the lower group 40 insurance rating, with the Sahara and Overland in group 41. This is slightly higher than the equivalent Land Rover Defender, but still reasonable given the Jeep Wrangler’s size and price.