[Auto] 2021 Jeep Wrangler Review

[HiTLeR]

KBB Editors’ Overview
The Jeep Wrangler is the rare vehicle that needs no introduction. Its off-road capabilities are legendary, it’s as at home crawling over boulders as it is dropping off the kids at school, and its roots date to World War II, where it is credited for helping bring victory to the Allies. So how’s that for heritage?

Today's Jeep Wrangler is a satisfying mix of classic design and real-deal off-road chops with modern safety systems, amenities, and technology.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler is now three years into its latest generation, known as the JL. It remains offered as a 2-door or the more po[CENSORED]r and roomier 4-door Wrangler Unlimited. All models come with a soft-top that can be removed (along with the doors) for open-air adventures. An optional hardtop is available.

All Wranglers are 4-wheel drive, and a variety of engines are available. Standard is a V6, or buyers can opt for a spunky turbocharged 4-cylinder, a V6 with mild-hybrid assistance, or a wonderfully stout diesel V6 that debuted last year. New for 2021 is the Wrangler 4xe, a plug-in hybrid Jeep with an estimated 25 miles of electric-only range.

The Wrangler is a top-seller and boasts class-leading resale value. But competition is heating up. Whereas the aging Toyota 4Runner has been the Wrangler's main rival, arriving shortly or here now are the Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport, and the reborn Land Rover Defender.

How Much Does the 2021 Jeep Wrangler Cost?
The 2021 Jeep Wrangler has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price starting at $ 28,295 for a 2-door model and $ 31,795 for the more po[CENSORED]r 4-door Wrangler Unlimited. These prices are before the rather hefty $ 1,495 destination fee. In reality, you’re likely to spend thousands more. Unless you’re OK with your Jeep Wrangler having a manual transmission, crank windows, and a small infotainment screen, you’ll probably step up to at least a Sport S or Sahara (4-door only) trim.

In that case, plan on being in at least the high $ 30,000 or $ 40,000 range. The luxurious High Altitude model starts right around $ 50,000. These prices are right in line with rivals. The Toyota 4Runner begins over $ 36,000 and ranges to over $ 50,000.

Perhaps the Jeep’s biggest new rival, the forthcoming Ford Bronco, is set to start at $ 28,500. Like the Wrangler, the Bronco is a body-on-frame off-roader offered in wither 2- or 4-door variants. The unibody Bronco Sport crossover will begin under $ 27,000.

Before buying, check the KBB.com Fair Purchase Price to see what others in your area are paying. The Jeep Wrangler has fantastic resale value, as evidenced by winning the latest Kelley Blue Book Best Resale Value Award in its class.

Driving the 2021 Jeep Wrangler
The 2021 Jeep Wrangler remains first and foremost an off-road vehicle. Yes, this Wrangler JL is its most refined yet, but don’t expect plushness. Its body-on-frame chassis and solid axles prioritize off-road ability vs. on-road comfort.

On highways and at speed, the Wrangler can be squirrelly. In our tests, it required lots of steering input to keep things on track. Wind noise is also an issue. You won’t find many rounded edges here, and all those flat angles mean wind resistance. Will you get used to this? Most likely. And if you actually use Wrangler for what it's made to do, you’ll be amazed.

Simply put, few vehicles can match the Wrangler's off-road prowess. Even in base form, it will easily tread over terrain that would make a unibody crossover SUV cringe. Amp it up in Rubicon trim with features like front and rear locking differentials and sway-bar disconnect, and it can tackle terrain as severe as, well, the Rubicon Trail. (We did just that years ago in the prior-gen Wrangler and were astounded at its capabilities).

We might also add that, if you don’t know what a sway-bar disconnect is or why you might need it, you can probably skip the Rubicon model. Yes, we know it looks cool, but it seems a waste of money and hardware if you’ll never actually use it.

The Wrangler's V6 is capable. With the standard manual transmission, it can feel a bit taxed, and the transmission isn’t all that gratifying. Then again, most buyers will opt for the automatic transmission, which works well. Another benefit is that for 2021, all V6 automatic models get the eTorque mild-hybrid assist as standard.

The turbocharged 4-cylinder packs surprising punch. It puts out nearly as much horsepower as the V6 and more torque.

Our favorite powertrain (at least for now) is the diesel V6. Potent and guttural, it enables the Wrangler to push through just about everything. We have yet to test the new 4xe plug-in hybrid Wrangler, but look forward to this new era.

We should also mention that we spent a year driving and living with a Jeep Wrangler and came away impressed overall.

 

Favorite Features
DIESEL ENGINE
It's the engine that Wrangler fans desired for years, and Jeep has delivered. Making 260 horsepower and an even more impressive 442 lb-ft of torque, we love the locomotive force this turbodiesel. At up to 29 mpg, it’s also relatively efficient.

RESALE VALUE
The Wrangler also stands out for its tremendous resale value. Its class-leading residual value means that if you decide to sell your Wrangler, you can expect top dollar compared to other used vehicles.

2021 Jeep Wrangler Interior
The Jeep Wrangler has total seating for either four or five depending on model. The 2-door Jeep Wrangler has only a pair of seats in back, which means it holds four people total. The more po[CENSORED]r 4-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is more family-friendly with a traditional rear seat that holds up to three people for a total capacity of five passengers. As you might guess, the longer 4-door Wrangler also has better rear-seat legroom and cargo room behind the rear seat.

Like its exterior, the Jeep Wrangler's interior design is marked by its simple, upright nature. The dash is wall-like with a center screen that ranges in size from 5 to 8.4 inches. Controls are simple and minimalistic.

Base Wranglers still have manual door locks and crank windows. Models with power windows have the switches not on the doors (which are removable) but in the front console. The $ 50,000 High Altitude model is more spruced up with Nappa-trimmed leather upholstery, but you still won’t find power adjustments for the seats. Remember, this vehicle is made with the idea in mind that you will have to wash out its interior after a day in the dunes or fording watering.

2021 Jeep Wrangler Exterior
This latest version of the Jeep Wrangler is only a few years old, but it still takes a pretty keen eye to tell this gen from the last one. That’s by design. The Wrangler is one of the most iconic vehicles in the world, and Jeep knows better than to drastically change the formula.

As with the prior generation, the Jeep Wrangler comes in two forms: 2-door or 4-door. The 2-door model is markedly shorter at just 166.8 inches in length. The 4-door Unlimited model is nearly 20 inches longer. Both have a boxy design that dates to the Jeep's WW II ancestors.

All models come with a soft-top that can be removed. Also like past models, the doors can be removed and the windshield folded, turning the Wrangler into a truly open-air adventure mobile, like a dune buggy with air conditioning and Apple CarPlay.

For better insulation and protection, two hardtop roofs are available: one with twin removable panels, the other with a power-operated retracting cover.

2021 Jeep Wrangler Standard Features
The 2021 Jeep Wrangler comes in four primary trims: Sport, Sport S, Sahara (4-door only), and Rubicon.

At its most basic in the Sport trim, the Wrangler includes the base-model Wrangler Sport comes standard with the V6 and 6-speed manual transmission. It also comes standard with 4-wheel drive, in this case, Jeep's Command-Trac system. You also get standard fog lights, underbody skidplates, push-button ignition, and Jeep's new Sunrider with its clever sunroof panel.

What’s more noteworthy is what’s missing. No air conditioning (it's optional on this base model), no power windows, no power door locks. The infotainment system is basic, just a 5-inch touchscreen display. No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto on this one, but it does have Bluetooth and a USB input.

Most buyers will have a better experience stepping up to at least a Sport S model. That gets you power windows, door locks, and A / C, keyless entry, and opens the door for more options like active safety features and a better infotainment system.

2021 Jeep Wrangler Options
The Sahara 4-door Wrangler gets a 7-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay / Android Auto, 18-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, and opens the door for more options. The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is made for serious off-road duty and boasts a low-range crawl ratio, front and rear locking diffs, electronically controlled sway bar disconnect, rock rails, and more. It also comes with the 7-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay / Android Auto that's

In addition to the four primary trims, the Wrangler has other variants like the Willys, Altitude, and premium High Altitude. For 2021, there is an 80th Anniversary edition that can be had with leather seats and Granite Crystal interior accents, while the cheeky Wrangler Islander has a beach-theme interior and exterior with an white hard top roof.

Options abound and vary with trim, but main highlights are the diesel V6 or turbocharged 4-cylinder engines, locking rear differential, forward-facing off-road camera, plus heated front seats and steering wheel, Alpine audio system, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen with navigation.

Optional active-safety features include forward-collision warning with automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring.

 

2021 Jeep Wrangler Engine
The 2021 Jeep Wrangler comes standard with the venerable Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 that makes 285 horsepower. It is fitted standard with a 6-speed manual transmission. Most buyers, however, will want the optional 8-speed automatic transmission. For 2021, the 3.6-liter V6 connected to the automatic comes standard with the eTorque mild hybrid system to enhance fuel economy.

Optional on all models is a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 270 horsepower. It comes standard with an 8-speed automatic. Note the former 2.0-liter with eTorque assist has been dropped.

Optional on 4-door Wranglers is the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6. As noted in Favorite Features, this engine has good horsepower (260) and even better torque (442 lb-ft). It comes standard with the 8-speed automatic.

Coming later is the all-new Wrangler 4xe, a plug-in hybrid with up to 25 miles of electric-only range. It pairs a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder and two electric motors. Total output is estimated at 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, making this the most powerful Jeep Wrangler in the lineup. It also uses an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Four-wheel-drive systems include the Command-Trac part-time 2-speed transfer case, Selec-Trac 2-speed transfer case with full-time 4-wheel drive, and the Rubicon's Rock-Trac 2-speed transfer case with 4.0 : 1 low-range gear, front and rear electric locking differentials, and disconnecting front sway bar.

The Jeep Wrangler is rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds. Like other modern vehicles, the Wrangler uses a start / stop system to cut engine power at idle, such as stoplights. The system can be defeated with the press of a button.