2022 Jeep Wrangler

Like its ancestors, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler is an SUV designed with the capability to manage everything from mild dirt roads to rock crawling baked in from the factory. Sure, you can keep to the highway, but you’ll miss out on the fun of owning a Wrangler. Available as a two- or four-door, there’s also a choice of a hard or soft top, the latter in several configurations. For the ultimate open-air driving experience, the Wrangler includes the ability to remove the doors and roof and even flip down the windshield like the original Willys. There are multiple trims and engine options, including V6, V8, diesel and even plug-in hybrid choices. In addition, several special editions dot the lineup. 

Now in its fourth generation, the Wrangler gets infotainment upgrades this year with a standard 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen on everything but the base two-door Sport when ordered without air conditioning which gets a 5.0-inch screen; adding A/C brings the 7.0-inch screen. The Rubicon and Sahara get a standard 8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen with premium audio and remote keyless entry. The four-door Willys trim gets a new Xtreme Recon Package, and a new limited-edition Wrangler High Tide comes standard with 35-inch tires on beadlock-capable wheels, body-color hardtop with Sunrider Fliptop and a windshield made from high-durabilty Gorilla Glass. The plug-in hybrid 4xe adds standard blue tow hooks to the Sahara trim, while other 4xes get new wheels.

The closest competition is the Ford Bronco, which offers similar capability and the fun of removing the doors and roof but has no plug-in hybrid. The Toyota 4Runner has more cargo room and strong off-road chops but doesn’t offer the option of removing the top. The Land Rover Defender and Discovery offer similar off-road talent, but in posher and more expensive packages. Finally, the Subaru Forester and Outback have all-wheel drive—rather than traditional four-wheel drive—and are more of an off-road light option with the best on-road manners of the lot. 

Engine options are plentiful, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 with 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Optional are a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque and a 3.0-liter V6 diesel with 260 horsepower and a substantial 442 lb-ft of torque. Performance enthusiasts can opt for a 6.4-liter V8 with 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque in the Wrangler Rubicon 392. There’s also the 4xe, with its 2.0-liter 4-cylinder plug-in hybrid with a total system output of 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. Depending on the configuration, an eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual is available with four-wheel drive standard across the lineup.

The Wrangler excels at providing off-road capability first, but the interiors have come a long way in terms of style and comfort. Base trims are more modest, but as you move up the lineup, the Wrangler gets surprisingly plush, as exemplified by the standard leather-trimmed seats and Alpine audio system of the Sahara 4xe. Likewise, those who desire the most off-road goodies will find top trims, especially the Rubicon, provide the most robust off-road performance. There are some tradeoffs, however, as the Wrangler can be an unruly handler on the pavement.

Infotainment, which was always easy to use with good standard features, gets an upgrade with bigger screens lower in the lineup this year. The Wrangler also has a wide range of safety features; however, not all are standard. The range of engines, numerous trims and special editions and a choice of two-door or four-door body styles make the Jeep Wrangler a top contender for off-roaders.

Performance: 13/15

The base Wrangler engine is the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque that can be found in numerous applications across the Stellantis empire. A known quantity, the V6 provides good acceleration but isn’t particularly engaging. The optional 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque makes it a touch easier to get the Wrangler up to highway speeds.

It’s the turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 diesel with 260 horsepower and an impressive 442 lb-ft of torque at 1400 rpm—that’s barely off-idle—that offers the low-down grunt off-roaders crave. It doesn’t come free, however, typically adding about $3500 to the price. For those that must have a V8, Jeep offers a 6.4-liter V8 with 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque that puts an undeniably fun amount of power under the hood. It’s available only in the Rubicon 392, a trim that starts at over $80,000 with the $1,595 destination fee.

The secret surprise of the powertrain lineup is the hybrid, dubbed 4xe. Comprised of a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine and pair of electric motors, the plug-in hybrid has a total system output of 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque that delivers strong performance but also helps save money on gas.

Depending on the configuration, an eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission is available with four-wheel drive standard across the entire lineup. There’s also a maximum tow rating of up to 3,500 pounds across the lineup. The competition lacks a plug-in hybrid or the high horsepower of the Wrangler’s V8 engine. The Bronco comes the closest with its 418-horsepower Bronco Raptor, but it’s more of a high-speed desert driver than the Jeep. The Toyota 4Runner has only a 270-horsepower V6, while the Subaru Forester gets a 182-horsepower 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy: 11/15

The number of engines and possible configurations of the Wrangler yields a dizzying array of fuel economy figures. The best fuel economy for the gasoline models comes from the two-door with the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, which returns up to an EPA-rated 23 mpg combined, 22 city and 24 highway. Four-door models also do their best with the 2.0-liter getting up to 22 mpg combined. Depending on the configuration, the 3.6-liter engine gets from 19 mpg combined to 21 mpg combined. The diesel is the least thirsty, EPA rated for up to 22 mpg city, 29 highway and 25 mpg combined while the big bruiser V8 engine unsurprisingly returns just 14 mpg combined and only 13 around town. 

The plug-in hybrid is the standout, returning 49 MPGe combined gas and electric with an all-electric range of 21 miles. It also offers up 470 lb-ft of torque, the same as the 6.4-liter V8, so you’re not giving up much muscle for the added efficiency. For comparison’s sake, the Ford Bronco averages close to 18 mpg combined across its lineup, while the 4Runner comes in with 17 mpg combined. The Subaru Forester gets an average of 27.5 mpg combined across its trim range, making it the most fuel-efficient gas-only choice. Excluding the hybrid, if fuel economy is a priority over extreme off-road capability, the Forester Wilderness might be a better option.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 5/15

The Jeep Wrangler has not been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which negatively impacts its score in this category. It has been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but only in its four-door configuration with mixed results. It received a top rating of Good for most tests, but the Driver Small Front Overlap and Side crash tests both received a rating of Moderate, which is two steps below Good.

Standard safety features include front and supplemental front-seat side airbags, a rear backup camera with dynamic gridlines, and hill start assist, but at least the first two are legally required on all new vehicles. Blind-spot monitoring, rear park assist, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision warning are available by adding various packages on all but the base trim. These features are standard only on the Rubicon 392. Hill descent control is also available across the entire lineup, but standard only on the Sahara 4xe, Rubicon 4xe, and Rubicon 392. Almost all of the other off-road competition offers superior safety systems, and Toyota, Land Rover and Subaru make many advanced features standard.

Comfort & Room: 12/15 

The Wrangler finds a balance between passenger comfort and the durability to withstand the mud and muck without doors or a roof. Base trims have modest features with cloth seating surfaces, while top trims get leather, power adjustability, and heated seats for chilly mornings. It’s attractive and fits with the outdoor vibe of the Wrangler. Front seats are comfortable, even over longer trips, and there are many spots for storing smaller items.

The second row, which seats two in two-door models or three in four-door models, offers calls-competitive legroom (35.7- and 38.3-inches) with the Bronco (36.3) and more than the 4Runner (32.9). Only the Forester comes in with more by just one inch. While the Wrangler’s rear seats are roomy, they aren’t as comfortable over long drives and get a little stiff after a few hours on the road.

If the ability to carry more passengers is a priority, then the 4Runner should be on your list as it has an optional third row. Although tight and not especially comfortable, it gives you seating for two extra people in a pinch. Land Rover’s Defender 130 will have more room starting this fall, but it’s also much more expensive. Overall, the Wrangler delivers a rugged, attractive, and versatile interior ideal for active lifestyles.

Infotainment: 11/15 

The base Sport without air conditioning has a very modest infotainment system. Since our scoring is based on standard features, this significantly lowers the Wrangler’s score in this category. The base system a 5.0-inch touchscreen with optional Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Most of the lineup gets a 7.0-inch or 8.4-inch touchscreen with smartphone connectivity. The 8.4-inch system includes standard navigation and SiriusXM. It’s easy to use with intuitive menus that reduce frustration and driver distraction. Expanding that larger 7.0-inch screen to all but one particular configuration of the Wrangler is an excellent enhancement to this model year’s lineup.

Eight-speaker audio is standard, with a 9-speaker Alpine system and an all-weather subwoofer and 552-watt amplifier optional on Sport S trims and standard for higher trims. Two USB ports are standard. with two charge-only rear USB ports available on the Sport S and standard for the rest of the trim range. There’s wi-fi hotspot connectivity, but it’s optional for most trims and standard only at the top of the lineup. There’s also a black and white TFT instrument cluster with a 7.0-inch color display on higher trims. Two 12-volt power outlets are standard, one in the dash and one in the cargo area.

Cargo & Storage: 10/15 

Those who plan on weekend outings with lots of gear will find the Wrangler an accommodating choice, if not class-leading. It has good room for cargo with 31.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. Accessing that storage space is easy with a tailgate that swings open to the right before flipping up the glass rear window. The split is nice for letting you reach in to quickly grab or stow small items without the need to open everything fully. Inside there are lots of places to stow your stuff, including a center console with multiple areas for tucking in your smartphone and keeping it secure.

The Forester has just 28.9 cubic feet for cargo behind its rear seats, but it’s also smaller than the other competitors in this class. The 4Runner offers 47.2 cubic feet behind its rear seats, putting it at the top for cargo room. The Bronco offers up to 38.0 cubic feet. This puts the Wrangler in the middle of the pack.

Style & Design: 9/10

It’s hard to knock the iconic styling of the Jeep Wrangler. Though the exact look of that seven-slot grille has changed over the years, few cars are more instantly recognizable than a Wrangler. This latest generation, which debuted in 2018, updates that look without losing its character. Lines are bold with a boxy design that looks rough and ready. Nevertheless, it gives the impression of an SUV that can withstand some off-road abuse and backs up that initial impression with genuine capability.

The interior builds on that theme with attractive styling that’s never fussy and overwrought. Instead, it has a functional feel. There are durable yet attractive materials, good storage space, and chunky knobs that are easy to grab with gloved or muddy hands. Top trims add features like leather seating surfaces and contrast stitching that create a more premium feel without losing the innate ruggedness, making this an excellent off-road vehicle. Inside and out, the Wrangler has lots to recommend it for the outdoor set.

Is the 2022 Jeep Wrangler worth it? Which Wrangler is the Best Value?

The two-door body is best only if rear passengers are a rare occurrence. Otherwise, stick to the four-door for easier rear-seat access and room for a third rear passenger. As for engines, the 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder offers good performance and good fuel economy as a no-cost option. The plug-in hybrid is also a great option but comes at a premium. 

We’d aim toward the middle of the lineup with the Sahara for the best mix of standard safety and convenience features and packages to tailor your Wrangler to your personal style. Those with plans for aggressive off-roading should consider the Rubicon, but its capability comes at a price. On the other hand, you don’t need to go that high up the trim ladder for anything but the most challenging off-road environments.

The Ford Bronco is the Wrangler’s nearest competitor. It doesn’t have the same range of engines, but it does have the same capability, including the desert racing Raptor trim and the swamp-ready Everglades. The Toyota 4Runner is a capable option without the heavy-duty off-road trims, but on the plus side has a smoother ride. The Subaru Forester is off-road light, with a comfortable interior and road manners that make it ideal for longer trips.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the Jeep Wrangler? 

Insuring the Jeep Wrangler is more reasonable than one might expect. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $1,807 for the base Sport trim ranging to $2,185 for the Unlimited Rubicon, though these numbers average all 50 states. That compares to $1,961 for a base Ford Bronco four-door with V6, $1,944 for the Toyota 4Runner and $1,727 for the Subaru Forester Wilderness. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.