What you need to know
The all-new 2018 Jeep Wrangler does everything the previous-edition Wrangler could do, but it does it in a significantly more driver- and passenger-friendly way. Some might suggest that Jeep is trying to domesticate the Wrangler, but that is not the case. The seminal Jeep model will still rock-crawl with the very best of them, but when it comes to a day-to-day commute to work or picking up the kids at school, it will do so without the noise and ride comfort sacrifices of the previous Wrangler. The Jeep design and engineering team has done all it could think of to make the new Wrangler easier to live with. The windshield folds more easily; the soft top comes off and goes back on more easily; the carpet comes out and is replaced more easily. You get the picture.
Driving Today Expert Rating
Poor | Good | Better | BEST
Driving it
When we got behind the wheel of the new Wrangler we immediately became aware that something different was at work here. The interior quiet, even in our soft-top test vehicle, was palpable. But did that mean that Jeep had pulled the fangs from its off-road bite? Happily, no. What we discovered in a Sonoran desert ascent up a cliff-like rock wall is that a stock Rubicon model is as capable as any four-wheeler we’ve ever driven. Sahara versions are off-road capable as well, but they skew more toward creature comforts.
Best alternatives
2017 Jeep Wrangler, no other model compares
Price range
Base: $28,000 Fully Equipped: $44,000 Typically Equipped: $31,000
Best feature
Fuel-efficient, torquey turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 8-speed automatic transmission
Lacks
Adaptive cruise control
Typical buyer
Male/Female – 55/45 percent Married/Single – 60/40 percent
Median age – 51 Median Household Income – $114,000
Safety
NHTSA Crash Test Ratings
Overall not rated Frontal 3-star Rollover 3-star
Electronic Stability Control, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Crash Imminent Braking, Dynamic Brake Support
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Rating
Not rated
Fuel Economy (EPA miles per gallon city/highway/combined)
Lowest: 17/25/20 Highest: 18/23/20
Predicted Reliability
Poor | GOOD | Better | Best
Predicted Cost-to-Own (versus key competitive vehicles)
Poor | Good | Better | BEST
