2025 Jeep Wrangler

The Iconic Jeep brand set the stage for versatility, off-road assignments and movement of people with all their gear. The diminutive Wrangler may be the most recognized go-anywhere namesake within the Jeep brand.  

The first-generation Jeep Wrangler dates back to 1987, targeted with an eye towards suburbanites and city dwellers, rather than just off-road champions as was CJ-7 (Civilian Jeep, generation seven) its immediate predecessor. The four-door Wrangler version arrived twenty years later tagged as the Wrangler Unlimited. The CJ model broke ground in the mid-1940s shortly after the conclusion of World War II as a civilized version of the open air four-wheeled Government trooper stationed throughout Europe, Asia and Northern Africa during the conflict era.  

Wrangler looks the part of a work-ready opportunity. The exterior provides minimal curves with lots of angles and a roof that’s straight across from front to back. In fact, the static back side window between the C and D pillars form a perfect square rather than a narrowing slice of glass. Wrangler ages well since exterior looks change little from decades earlier. Those seeking subtle ride quality or whisper quiet interiors while traveling at highway speeds need not apply as this versatile vehicle targets adventurers who enjoy the messiness of life assisted with standard four-wheel drive. It’s also one of the only compact-sized offerings in any crossover/sport utility format still available with a V-8 engine, but for a price.  

A wide selection of Wrangler trims and pricing includes: Sport (starting at $32,690), Sport S, Willys, Rubicon, Sahara, Rubicon X and the V-8 Rubicon 392 topping the $100,000 plateau. Wrangler includes a host of available options and packages. Also, a plug-in hybrid version sub trim marketed as the 4xe arrives with a half-dozen varieties of its own with an electric motor combining with the inline four turbo engine. Many include both two-door and four-door variants with Sahara, 4xe selections and Rubicon 392 ranking as the versions with four side doors standard. Three different internal combustion engines are available within the non-4xe electrified selections.  

Wrangler’s sturdy body-on-frame structure delivers true off-road capabilities compared with unibody (carlike structured) rivals. During on-road adventures, provide extra braking distance as added weight and a taller construction contribute to a nose-dive effect when hard stopping. 

Wrangler enjoys several removable roof variants including a one-touch power design mimicking a power top convertible available in Sahara and Rubicon trims. Four, four-wheel drive designs include: Command Trac, Rock Trac (part time and full time) and Selec-trac.  

In 2024, Wrangler underwent a substantial mid-cycle refresh adding the larger 12.3-inch multi-function center screen in all trims and additional safety features. The whip-like radio antenna once protruding up from the passenger-side fender now integrates into the front windshield. For 2025, power windows and locks now adorn all trims including the base model and a new military-inspired drab olive green exterior hue arrives.  

Jeep supplied us with a Wrangler Sahara four door sporting an inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine connected with an eight-speed automatic transmission and delivering 270 horsepower. Sahara rates as the sole four-door Wrangler trim with this engine. Many Wranglers opt for a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine with 285 horsepower teamed with an eight-speed automatic transmission or six-speed manual while the 6.4-liter V-8 HEMI engine powers the low-volume Rubicon 392 delivering 470 horses.  

The four-door Sahara includes a starting price of $49,370. Factory extras add up quickly including Joose orange premium exterior paint ($895), trailer tow package ($1,195), Sahara popular package with automatic high beams, power seating improvements and radar-inspired cross path detection ($2,995), three-piece hardtop (1,995), hardtop headliner ($665), Mopar floor mats ($170), all-terrain tires ($495) and 18-inch aluminum wheels ($1,095). Factoring in a hefty destination charge ($1,995), the bottom line reached $60,860. 

Our Wrangler Sahara arrived with Command-Trac part-time four-wheel drive provided a range of opportunities that the driver selects manually from a floor-mounted shift knob separate and immediately to the left of the floor-mounted automatic transmission shifter. The 4 x 4 shifter moves from two-wheel drive to four-wheel high (suggested at speeds below 55 miles per hour) just by manually pulling the gear knob back rather forcefully. Summon two-wheel drive again by simply reversing the process and manually move the knob forward. Four-wheel low involves stopping the vehicle and placing the transmission into neutral then moving the 4 x 4 shifter in a Z pattern to 4L. An old-school, manually-operated pull-lever nearby summons the parking brake., 

The straight across dashboard includes a grab handle above the lockable glove box. Grab handles adorn inside A and B pillars, not the ceiling as that’s a removable appendage within Wrangler. The narrow dashboard’s top side reflects the vertical nature of the removable windshield compared to mainstream crossovers with an angled approach, but it’s enough room to handle a row of small plastic ducks*. With the tools provided, the entire windshield folds forward but the windshield wipers first need removal as do four inside bolts.  

As with all self-respecting Jeep products, a seven-slot vertical grill adorns up front flanked by a circular headlight design. Wrangler continues promoting the larger-sized slots as the three-seat Jeep Wagoneer evolved its front end with smaller-sized, shorter slots. Rather diminutive square light fixtures flank the rear door with the outer trim serving as taillights with the interior portion blinking in red when the turn signal stalk summons. Side view mirrors incorporate a small, rectangular stature with a portrait stance.  

The versatile rear hatch includes an attached full-size spare tire and a refrigerator-style lower door opening with hinges positioned on the lower right side. A vertically-situated black handle to the far left unlocks the lower half while the window flips up independently once the bottom portion swings out. The tire’s door-mounted location allows better ground clearance as some on-road crossovers position the spare tire under the cargo region. Even the fuel door offers a bit of retro flare as the circular, black flip-out door on the driver’s side rear fender stands out from our bright orange body color and includes the word ‘fuel.’ 

Wheel wells feature a squared design bottom framed by a black, protective composite helping protect from dings and extends front and rear bumpers. The two front fenders flare out slightly more than the rear pair. Our Sahara tester featured body-colored fenders while some versions opt for black hues. All trims include static black running boards along the lower sides.  

A small zippered Wrangler tool kit found in the center arm rest bin includes a small wrench set if the spirit moves folks to remove any of the four side doors (or windshield) delivering natural air flow and air conditioning. No tools needed when removing the tri-panel hard top roof our tester provided as two vertical plates easily unlatch from the top windshield frame. A third section runs horizontally over the second row with a thick, structurally sound solid center frame running side-to-side. One person can easily remove the panels with relative ease, a much easier chore than door removal. It’s the recommended roof choice for Midwest riders by offering an open air experience in the summer and a solid choice to battle inches or feet of snow in wintertime. Other versions include a removable soft top (standard in Sahara) and aforementioned one-touch power top.  

The electronic push button start on the dash just right of the manually-adjusting tilt and telescoping steering column includes very useful ‘run’ and ‘off’ amber indicators alerting driver’s of the engine’s present state.  

The seven-inch instrument panel cluster display includes two three-dimensional analog gauges with orange needles flanking an animated center customizable screen featuring multiple panels. The left-side tachometer includes an insert reminding drivers if Wrangler currently resides in two-wheel front drive, four-wheel high or four-low. It’s also where sizeable, vertical gauges highlight remaining fuel and oil temperatures and also features a welcome N, S, E, W letter to quickly gauge the direction Wrangler is headed. The right-side orb includes the speedometer reading. A left-side steering wheel face button rotates through a half-dozen animated window choices between the orbs including: current audio selection, off-road information, navigation feed, engine start-stop status, messages and radar cruise control feedback.  

The sound system works splendidly well with secondary audio and pre-set controls mounted on the steering wheel’s back side, letting fingertips monitor listening comfort in their natural positioning; one of the industry’s best designs and found within many Stellantis products. One modern appliance Wrangler lacks; a wireless charging pad so one must make use of the seven USB ports. I found myself storing my Smartphone in the inline cupholders south of the tall-standing automatic transmission shifter.  

Below the center screen resides two small horizontal, manually adjustable vents. Circular vents adorn the ends of the dashboard. Below the center vents resides the tactile HVAC system with large twist dials at each end with push buttons in between controlling dual front zone temperatures. A center dial works in tandem with the audio system monitoring sound volume and on/off. Climate controls also fine tune through the multi-function touch screen but most front seat occupants will gravitate towards the sizeable dials and buttons.  

Lower down on the center dash reside four push tabs controlling power windows. While a majority of cars locate this feature on the door itself, Wrangler chose the dash since the doors can be disassembled from the frame.  

Uconnect version 5 connectivity (the latest version available from parent company Stellantis) works in tandem with the in-dash, swipeable, 12.3-inch touchscreen including a vertical menu along the far-left side for quick selections of home, media, comfort, navigation, phone, vehicle and applicable application. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work in tandem with this screen allowing quick Smartphone downloads and interactions. The detailed, intuitive screen proved easy to navigate with quick response time when pressed.  

While headroom remains plentiful, longer-limbed folks will notice tight front legroom and a desire that front buckets could travel further rearward. A narrow entry way into row two needs extra body torquing in and out. When not in use, the 70/30 split seat backs manually fold relatively flat onto seat cushions that extend forward during the process. Seatbacks unlock from a pull latch on top of the seatback.  

Fuel economy rates below many compact crossovers as our Wrangler’s inline four-cylinder engine coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission listing at 20 miles per gallon city and 22 highway. The 21.5-gallon fuel tank recommends premium fuel for optimal engine performance.  

At a Glance: 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 

Starting price: $60,860 
Engine: 2.0-liter, turbocharged inline four 
Horsepower: 270 
Wheelbase: 118.4 inches 
Overall Length: 188.4 inches 
Overall Width: 73.9 inches 
Overall Height: 73.6 inches 
Fuel Economy: 20 mpg city/22 mpg highway 
Curb Weight: 4,369 pounds 
Powertrain warranty: Five years/60,000 miles 
Assembly: Toledo, Ohio 

*Yellow ducks. For those less Jeep-centric, families of small, yellow, floatable rubber ducks sometimes populate Jeep vehicles, particularly Wranglers. If seeing one while driving by on dashboard or even hoods, you’ve been warned. It’s known to those in the know as ‘Ducking Jeeps.” This whimsical tradition started relatively recently (some estimates peg 2020 in somewhere in Canada as ground zero) and thanks to the internet’s far reach, quickly expanded throughout Jeep-dom. These ducks are akin to smiley faces or ‘have a nice day’ reminders. Nothing too sinister. If flat-bottomed, ornamental ducks just aren’t enough to make your day, another Jeep interaction dates back presumably to the end of the second world war also delivering friendly undercurrents. Best described as the “Jeep Wave,” this gesture usually takes place while traveling on or off road in a Jeep and encountering another Jeep product approaching from the opposite direction. It’s a simple recognition indicating, “I see you, drive safe.” Purists insist the right hand/palm stays in touch with the steering wheel utilizing the bottom two fingers and Mr. thumb with the two ‘peace sign’ fingers elevated as recognition. Holding up the pointer finger solo is also acceptable in most situations. Things get a bit fuzzy when enthusiastic drivers go into full production mode and stick their whole gyrating arm out of Jeeps open top when making a human connection. This may or may not constitute as an official wave.