2021 Jeep Wrangler Review

　　

2021 Jeep Wrangler Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The Wrangler is the original go-anywhere, do-anything vehicle that still has the spirit of the original military Jeep of World War II. In an era when SUVs have become the de facto family vehicle, the Wrangler is a throwback to rougher and more rugged off-road vehicles. It's not as comfortable as rival SUVs such as the Toyota 4Runner or Land Rover Defender, but in return it provides excellent off-road capability, two-door and four-door configurations, and a removable top.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sport 2dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$184/mo  for Wrangler Sport

　　Wrangler Sport

　　Sport 2dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $29,370 MSRPWillys Sport 2dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $31,430 MSRPUnlimited Islander 4dr SUV 4WD w/Prod. End 09/21 (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $32,400 MSRPUnlimited Freedom 4dr SUV 4WD w/Prod. End 09/21 (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $32,400 MSRPSport S 2dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $32,570 MSRPUnlimited Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $32,870 MSRPIslander 2dr SUV 4WD w/Prod. End 09/21 (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $33,795 MSRPUnlimited Willys Sport 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $34,930 MSRPFreedom 2dr SUV 4WD w/Prod. End 09/21 (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $35,295 MSRPWillys 2dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $35,425 MSRPUnlimited Sport S 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $36,070 MSRP80th Anniversary Edition 2dr SUV 4WD w/Prod. End 09/21 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $36,595 MSRPUnlimited Sport Altitude 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $38,065 MSRPUnlimited Willys 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $38,925 MSRPUnlimited Sport RHD 4dr SUV 4WD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $39,235 MSRPUnlimited Sahara 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $39,770 MSRPRubicon 2dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $39,820 MSRPUnlimited 80th Anniversary Edition 4dr SUV 4WD w/Prod. End 05/21 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $40,095 MSRPUnlimited Rubicon 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M) (Most Popular) - $43,320 MSRPUnlimited Sahara Altitude 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M) - $43,365 MSRPUnlimited High Altitude 4dr SUV 4WD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $51,175 MSRPUnlimited Rubicon 392 4dr SUV 4WD (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $74,795 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　For 2021, there's also something unexpected: a Wrangler plug-in hybrid. Called the Wrangler 4xe, it has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine plus hybrid components that provide 375 horsepower plus about 22 miles of all-electric range. If that all sounds a little too much like witchcraft, don't worry. The Wrangler 4xe retains the Wrangler's eight-speed automatic transmission and is even available in the Rubicon trim.

　　At the opposite end of the fuel efficiency spectrum, Jeep has also introduced the Wrangler Rubicon 392. Packing a 470-hp 6.4-liter (392-cubic-inch) V8 engine, the 392 Rubicon retains all of the Rubicon's impressive low-speed off-road ability but adds a new dimension of muscle-car-like speed and sound to the Wrangler.

　　The Wrangler's competition is heating up. Besides its long-running rival the Toyota 4Runner, the Wrangler now has to contend with the all-new Ford Bronco, a rough-and-tumble SUV that also offers a removable top and doors for those who enjoy open-air driving. There's also the Land Rover Defender, which takes a more upscale approach to the off-road SUV formula. Which one should you get? Check out the categories of our Wrangler Expert Rating below to help you decide.

　　

What's it like to live with?

When the redesigned Wrangler was revealed in 2018, we knew we had to have one for our long-term test fleet. We ended up buying a top-of-the-line Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited. We tested it for two years and 50,000 miles. Check out what it's like to live with the Wrangler by reading our long-term Wrangler road test.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.7

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Wrangler drive? There's no doubt the Wrangler is a beast when it comes to off-road prowess. That's especially the case with the Rubicon trim and its 33-inch tires and lockable differentials. But everyday steering and handling suffer because of the traditional body-on-frame construction, solid-axle suspension and old-school steering. The brake pedal travel is long, which is great for modulation off-road but not ideal for everyday driving.

　　The 3.6-liter V6 is stout and makes plenty of power — our four-door Sahara test Wrangler scooted to 60 mph in a respectable 7.6 seconds. The eight-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and always seems to be in the right gear.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Wrangler? The Wrangler doesn't place a great importance on passenger comfort, but there are a few highlights here. The front seats are well shaped and remain livable on long trips. The rear bench is flatter and firmer, but it reclines a bit. We like the effective climate system, which also features rear air vents.

　　But the body-on-frame construction that gives the Wrangler its ready-for-anything personality also contributes to a brittle ride on anything but the smoothest road surfaces. The boxy design and large tires create a heap of wind and road noise, though it offers a quieter cabin than previous Wranglers. The hardtop is significantly quieter than the soft top.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? Though there are many controls (especially in the Rubicon and its numerous adjustments for off-road driving), the layout is refreshingly intuitive. The slender pillars and square windows greatly reduce blind spots. The driving position is fairly upright, but there's a useful range of adjustment from the seat and steering wheel. The soft top's new design makes it easier to remove than the previous Wrangler's.

　　Because of the Wrangler's high stance, most people will need to use the grab handles to help get inside. We're also unimpressed by the amount of interior room — the Wrangler has less shoulder and legroom than rivals.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The Jeep Wrangler is surprisingly modern when it comes to infotainment and smartphone integration. The optional 8.4-inch Uconnect system offers sharp graphics, quick responses, and one of the best infotainment interfaces in the industry. Plenty of charging ports (USB and USB-C) are available. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard with the Wrangler's 7- and 8.4-inch touchscreens.

　　The Wrangler falters when it comes to advanced driving systems. You can get some features, such as blind-spot monitoring, but you won't find high-tech aids such as automatic emergency braking or lane keeping assist.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The Jeep's narrow body is an off-road strength, but it does limit ultimate cargo capacity. There's a decent amount of cargo space, but competitors offer a bit more. Even so, the rear seats fold neatly into the floor if you want to carry extra stuff. And there are even six rugged tie-down points and an underfloor compartment. Up front, there aren't many places to store small items, and the door pockets are nothing more than shallow nets.

　　Car seats are easy to fit in the Unlimited so long as they're not too bulky — you might have to move the front seat forward to fit a rear-facing seat. The Wrangler can tow up to 3,500 pounds and can be flat-towed behind a motorhome.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? At 20 mpg combined, the Wrangler Unlimited with 4WD and the V6 is 2 mpg better than the Toyota 4Runner, its closest SUV competitor. However, we've struggled to meet these estimates in traffic-clogged Los Angeles; our average fuel economy over 30,000 miles in a long-term Rubicon was 17.6 mpg. The optional 2.0-liter turbo is rated at 22 combined (22 city/24 highway), which nearly matches mainstream crossovers such as the Ford Edge and Toyota Highlander.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Wrangler a good value? The Wrangler looks like Jeep put real effort into the interior. Much of the switchgear looks distinct and is satisfying to use. The dash and seat materials are attractive and have a good tactile feel. The Wrangler's price tag is a little high, but the improved materials and design feel worth the cost. Jeep's warranty coverage is average.

　　

Wildcard

10.0/10

　　Few vehicles are as distinctive as the Jeep Wrangler. This is one of the few no-compromise off-road vehicles left. And it happens to be an iconic convertible! Forget about steering and handling because, after all, these things are forgettable. You can go anywhere with one of these.

　　

Which Wrangler does zzdcar recommend?

Recommending anything specific is tricky given the Wrangler's wide range of configurations, features and engines. The Sport S trim is a good place to start your Wrangler search, though the Rubicon is pretty much a requirement if you're going to be doing a lot of hard-core off-roading. As for engines, the V6 and four-cylinder are fine, but certainly consider the diesel six-cylinder or new 4xe plug-in hybrid if you've got the budget.

　　

2021 Jeep Wrangler models

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler SUV is available as a two-door or four-door (Unlimited). Both have a removable roof (either a soft top or hardtop) and doors as well as a folding windshield. The two-door is available in three trim levels — Sport, Sport S and Rubicon — while the four-door Wrangler is also available in the more street-tuned Sahara trim. Jeep offers a huge range of additional features and configurations, and it can be confusing to figure out what you're getting. Here's our breakdown:

　　Most Wranglers have part-time four-wheel drive (it works as rear-wheel drive or 4WD) with low-range gearing. A full-time 4WD system is also available.

　　Then there are five (yes, five!) engines to choose from. They include:

　　3.6-liter V6 (285 horsepower, 260 lb-ft). Comes with a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. Also available with Jeep's eTorque mild hybrid system for improved fuel economy Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (270 hp, 295 lb-ft); automatic transmission only Turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel V6 (260 hp, 442 lb-ft); automatic and four-door only 6.4-liter V8 called the 392 (470 hp, 470 lb-ft); automatic, four-door Rubicon only Plug-in hybrid powertrain called the 4xe (375 hp, 470 lb-ft); automatic and four-door Rubicon and Sahara onlyThe Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain combines the four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic with two integrated electric motor-generators. A hybrid battery pack that you can recharge at home or at a public charging station is mounted underneath the rear seats. The EPA estimates that with a fully charged battery you should be able to drive about 21 miles on all-electric power. After you've depleted the battery, the powertrain switches to normal gasoline-powered hybrid operation.

　　Got all that? OK, here's a rundown of the Wrangler's trim levels:

　　Sport

　　The base Sport trim is relatively bare-bones, though it does include a number of standard features such as:

　　17-inch steel wheels Skid plates Tow hooks Foglights Crank windows Manual door locks 5-inch touchscreen displaySport S

　　Think of this as the base Sport model with a few extra creature comforts, including:

　　Alloy wheels Air conditioning Leather-wrapped steering wheel Power windows and door locks Tinted windowsThere are also a bunch of available subtrim packages for the Sport and Sport S such as Willys, Altitude, 80th Edition, Freedom and Islander. These bundle distinctive cosmetic changes such as different wheels and trim but can also include extra features that would otherwise be optional on the Sport and Sport S.

　　Sahara

　　This midtier trim is only available on the four-door model. Features include:

　　18-inch wheels Full-time 4WD Body-colored grille and fender flares Automatic climate control 7-inch touchscreen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integrationJeep offers the Altitude and High Altitude upgrade packages for the Sahara. Similar to the Sport's subtrims, these bundle cosmetic upgrades along with some extra features.

　　Rubicon

　　Named for the 22-mile off-road trail in Northern California, the Rubicon is focused on being the most capable production off-roader available from Jeep. Features include:

　　17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires Heavy-duty Dana 44 front and rear axles with shorter 4.10 gear ratio 4:1 low-range gearing (provides extra traction when off-roading) Electronic locking front and rear differentials (provides extra traction when off-roading) Electronic disconnecting front stabilizer bar (enhances wheel articulation when off-roading) Rock rails (protects underbody when off-roading)Note that the Rubicon 392 is more thoroughly equipped than a regular Rubicon. It has the V8 plus unique Fox shock absorbers, a 2-inch lift, special exterior styling and most of the optional features listed below. It doesn't have the shorter axle ratio and 4:1 low-range gearing of a regular Rubicon, but the V8's extra torque easily compensates.

　　Many optional features are also available as part of the subtrim packages or other bundled packages. With the understanding that not everything is available for every configuration, here are the highlights to look out for:

　　LED headlights Forward-facing camera (to help better spot terrain when off-roading) Trailer towing package Upgraded infotainment system with 8.4-inch touchscreen display Alpine audio system Leather upholstery Heated front seats Sky One-Touch Power Top (combines hardtop sides with a retractable fabric roof-length cover) Xtreme Recon package (35-inch tires on bead-lock capable wheels; 4.56:1 axle gearing; 1.5-inch suspension lift) Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)

　　zzdcar Latest Jeep Wrangler News

　　You Can Now Order a 2-Door Jeep Wrangler With 35-Inch Tires

　　

2021 Wrangler Highlights

Type: RubiconUnlimited Rubicon 392SUVSUV

　　Trim: SportWillys SportUnlimited FreedomUnlimited IslanderSport SUnlimited SportIslanderUnlimited Willys SportFreedomWillysUnlimited Sport S80th Anniversary EditionUnlimited Sport AltitudeUnlimited WillysUnlimited Sport RHDUnlimited SaharaRubiconUnlimited 80th Anniversary EditionUnlimited RubiconUnlimited Sahara AltitudeUnlimited High AltitudeUnlimited Rubicon 392Sport

　　

Base MSRP	$29,370
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	20 MPG
Cost to Drive	$184/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	four wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles