2024 Jeep Wrangler Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The Wrangler has plenty of powertrains and off-road systems available, but every model shares the same burly, body-on-frame look. Those with a keen eye might spot larger all-terrain tires on the most capable models, like the new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X and Rubicon 392 trims, but by and large the Wrangler looks the same regardless of what’s under the hood or in the transfer case.

One new Wrangler feature for this year is a redesigned grille, first spotted on the 2023 20th Anniversary edition of the Wrangler Rubicon. This grille is shorter and wider but allows for more airflow into the engine bay. Another cool little upgrade is the antenna integrated into the windshield. The traditional antenna easily snagged bushes and tree branches when off-roading. This new design keeps the foliage undisturbed. Lastly, drivers have their choice of 10 new wheel designs on the Wrangler.

The Wrangler is built for rugged adventure with a variety of roof options. You can grab a traditional soft-top roof, a full hard top, a hard top that has a retractable sunroof over the front seats, or a power-retractable sunroof that brings the sunshine into the whole cabin. The windshield can fold down and you can take the doors off completely. If that’s a bit too much for you, order your Jeep with full doors or half doors, or you can get a set of tube doors from Mopar.

Within the Wrangler lineup, you can grab with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with power specs of 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, the same engine in plug-in hybrid form for 375 ponies and 470 pound-feet of twist, a 3.6-litre naturally aspirated V6 engine making 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, or a stonking 6.4-litre V8 powerplant pushing out 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque.

There are a variety of transfer cases available as well, each offering different levels of off-road capability. If you’re just in it for the looks, the Command-Trac four-wheel drive (4WD) system in a Sport- or Sahara-trim Wrangler should do you just fine. You’ll still get 4WD with low range, but you don’t get locking differentials or the best crawl ratio. Those who want a ridiculous amount of speed should look at the Wrangler 392 with the full-time 4WD Selec-Trac system. The Rubicon trim gets the Rock-Trac transfer case in either part-time or full-time 4WD.

Most models get an eight-speed automatic transmission, but drivers can opt for a six-speed manual transmission with the 3.6-litre powerplant.

While the 392 is a blast to drive, chirping its standard 35-inch tires on the pavement in third gear, we like the 4xe PHEV Wrangler the best. By combining the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine with two small electric motors and a battery, it offers up 35 kilometres of all-electric range in addition to its excellent power rating. Only the 392 trim has more horsepower, and the 4xe actually matches that monster in torque—but it does it much more efficiently.

For this review we drove the 4xe Rubicon with locking front and rear differentials and a new Offroad+ button. Making its way to the 4xe for 2024, this drive mode calibrates the throttle, traction control, and shift points for either sand dune driving in 4WD high or slow-speed rock crawling in 4WD low.

The rig’s solid front and rear axles mean there is plenty of articulation so the Wrangler can keep all four wheels on the ground for better traction in rough terrain. When the going gets really rough, locking differentials help with traction as well. Our tester was outfitted with BF Goodrich KO2 tires that have plenty of grip off-road and are strong enough to withstand punctures from all but the meanest and sharpest rocks.

However, we also like the Wrangler's Willys trim level with its new standard equipment. Now this mid-trim model features the Offroad+ mode, 33-inch tires, a rear locking differential, and rock rails. For those who want capability but don’t want to spend the money on the full Rubicon, the Willys is a great option.

The Wrangler’s Achilles heel is its ride quality while on the pavement. The solid front axle makes for a bumpy ride, and the steering—though improved over the years—remains vague. However, for the 2024 model year, Jeep added sound deadening material to make the cabin much quieter than in years past. The BF Goodrich KO2 tires can be pretty noisy on the road, but hardly any of that din reached our ears.

This year a WARN winch is finally available as a factory-installed option on Rubicon models. This 8,000 pound winch has 90 feet of synthetic line and can get you, or your pal, out of pretty much any bad decision you could make on the trail. A modified set of front springs are included to handle the extra weight of the winch.

The big news for 2024 is the Wrangler’s upgraded towing capacity. Previously, the most you could tow with a Wrangler was a mere 1,587 kilograms (3,500 pounds). Now thanks to a full-float solid rear axle that puts the weight of the vehicle on the axle housing instead of the axle shaft, the Wrangler is rated to tow 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds). That’s enough to tow an open trailer with a side-by-side and a few spare parts.

But don’t get too excited. Only four-door Rubicon-trim Wranglers with the gas-powered 2.0-litre or 3.6-litre engine, automatic transmission and 33-inch tires receive this tow rating. All other models still sit at a mere 3,500 pounds.

Inside you can get heated seats and a heated steering wheel, but ventilated seats are not on the menu. However, this year Jeep added available 12-way power adjustable front seats for quick and easy adjustments. The company says that even though the mechanism is underwater when the doors are off when fording the maximum 34 inches of water, front seat passengers can still adjust their seats with no fear of an electrical short or shock.

We really dig the new 30-amp Power Box that comes with the 4xe, too. This inverter runs off the 17.3-kWh battery and can power whatever accessory you’ve brought with you, be it a blender, power tools or a portable refrigerator.

Every 2024 Jeep Wrangler gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Uconnect5, although navigation is optional. Graphics here are cleaner and the interface is much easier to use than in past Wrangler models. There are many USB-A and -C ports scattered about the cabin, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the board.

Most noticeable is the speed of the new system, an upgrade that is especially noticeable when accessing the Off-Road Pages. What used to take a few seconds to open now comes on screen instantly. Here, you’ll find more data like transmission temperature, battery charge and the like, as well as pitch and roll gauges and drivetrain indicators.

Other new features for 2024 include a wireless hotspot, dual Bluetooth phone pairing and the ability to store up to five user profiles.

2024 marks the year Jeep finally integrated first- and second-row side-curtain airbags into the Wrangler. The off-roader comes with forward collision warning standard on all but the base model, but many advanced driver aids are part of a package. Blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and park assist are all optional, save for the High Altitude and 392 models. There is no lane-keeping assist, lane-follow or other highway assist feature available on the Wrangler.

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler has not yet been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

However, the NHTSA scored the 2023 Wrangler with four-out-of-five stars for frontal crash protection and three-out-of-five stars for rollover protection. Those ratings apply to both two- and four-door Wranglers with the 2.0-litre or 3.6-litre engines. Neither the Jeep Wrangler 4xe nor the 392 were rated in 2023.

IIHS gives the four-door Wrangler the top score of “Good” in roof strength and head restraints and seats. However, it rates the Wrangler as “Moderate” in frontal and side crashes.

We expect these ratings from both testing sources to change with the addition of side curtain airbags for the 2024 model year.

In Canada, pricing for the 2024 Jeep Wrangler starts just shy of $45,000 MSRP for a two-door Sport model, not including destination charges and other fees, which vary by region. A four-door Sport can be had for just under $50,000 MSRP. If you really want to spend money, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 with the V8 engine is a little under $120,000 before options.

Meanwhile the 4xe plug-in hybrid starts at just under $60,000 MSRP for the new base Wrangler Sport S 4xe model. Five additional trims are offered, exclusively in four-door configuration, including Willys 4xe, Sahara 4xe, Rubicon 4xe, High Altitude 4xe, and Rubicon X 4xe, which tops off pricing at just under $85,000. The Wrangler 4xe qualifies only for a partial $2,500 rebate from the federal government’s iZEV rebate program due to its below-50 km electric range, and only in its three lowest trims. The same applies for provincial incentive programs where they exist.

Fuel economy ratings for the 2024 Wrangler run the gamut from 4.8 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres combined in the 4xe to 16.8 L/100 km combined when equipped with the 6.4-litre V8. Most 2024 models manage mid-11s to mid-13s in L/100 km combined.

The Wrangler’s biggest competitor is the Ford Bronco. It features the same open-air driving experience and has stellar off-road chops, but its independent front suspension makes it easier to live with during commuting and trips to the grocery store. You may also want to look at the Toyota 4Runner, whose renowned reliability might sway some customers.

If you’d like to spend some money, the Lexus GX470 is a great choice (and a new, redesigned GX is coming for 2024), as is the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen. Daredevils might look at the Land Rover Defender, but its electrical system's spotty reputation means it's a riskier buy.

You’ll get a 3-year/60,000-kilometre basic limited warranty on the Jeep Wrangler as well as a 5-year/100,000-kilometre powertrain warranty.

The updated features on the 2024 Jeep Wrangler make an already great off-road machine even better. It offers the most powertrain options in the segment with various dirt-driving capabilities to match and its upgraded tow rating is a boon to those who have dirt or water toys to haul around. However, drivers must be willing to live with its poor on-road manners.

Note: Images show a US model.