Pros: Outstanding off-road prowess; unmistakable Jeep character and rugged personality
Cons: Poor value for money; noisier and less refined than most every class competitor; subpar on-road handling
CG Says: Jeep’s iconic off-roader is redesigned for 2018 on an all-new body-on-frame platform, gaining fresh-but-familiar styling, an available turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, and a host of new features. The standard 285-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 carries over from the previous-generation Wrangler (which continues for the 2018 model year as the “Wrangler JK”), but it gets a fuel-saving start/stop feature and is now paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission in place of the previous 5-speed (a 6-speed manual transmission is available). The newly available turbo 2.0-liter 4-cylinder puts out 270 hp and comes only with the 8-speed automatic; it features 48-volt “eTorque” mild-hybrid technology that includes regenerative braking, intelligent battery charging, electric power assist, and auto start/stop. A 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 and a plug-in hybrid are slated to join the lineup for 2020. Full-time 4-wheel-drive is newly available for 2018; previous Wranglers only offered a part-time system that needed to be engaged by the driver. Other newly available features include a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-path alert, rearview camera, push-button starting, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality, and a Sky One-Touch power-folding canvas roof. The redesigned 2018 Jeep Wrangler delivers better all-around comfort, refinement, and economy than its predecessor while sacrificing none of its renowned rugged-terrain capabilities. You’ll pay for those improvements though; base prices are up roughly $3000 across the board from the 2017 Wrangler, which wasn’t exactly bargain-priced itself. Most any other compact-SUV competitor is a better dollar value and is more refined in everyday driving, but the Wrangler’s one-of-a-kind personality and off-road prowess make it a must-have for large numbers of adventure-seeking buyers.
| Class | Compact SUV |
| Body Style(s) | 2-door convertible, 4-door convertible |
| Passenger Count | 4 (2-door) or 5 (4-door) |
| Drive Wheels | 4-wheel drive |
| Manufacturer | Jeep |
| Nation of Manufacture | USA |
| Base Prices | Sport 2-door: $28,190 Sport 4-door: $31,690 Sport S 2-door: $31,390 Sport S 4-door: $34,890 Sahara 4-door: $38,540 Rubicon 2-door: $38,190 Rubicon 4-door: $41,690 |
| Base Engine 3.6-liter V6 |
| Horsepower 285 |
| Std. Transmission 6-speed manual |
| Avail. Transmission 8-speed automatic |
| EPA City Range (mpg) 17-18 |
| EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 23-25 |
| Optional Engine turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder/electric |
| Horsepower 270 |
| Std. Transmission 8-speed automatic |
| Avail. Transmission NA |
| EPA City Range (mpg) 22-23 |
| EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 24-25 |
