2024 Jeep Wrangler

It’s one of the most identifiable vehicles on the road
and for 2024 it gets updated styling, more capability, and new
technology. The Wrangler is an off-road oriented vehicle that is
available with two or four doors and various types of roof options. For
2024, the Jeep Wrangler is available in eight trims with a traditional
powertrain and six trims as the plug-in hybrid 4xe model. Looking ahead
to 2025 and the standard Wrangler will be offered in six different
models as the V8-powered 392 variants climb into the sunset. The range
of powertrains available in the 2024 lineup includes:

•    2.0-liter turbocharged
PHEV 4xe: 375 horsepower, 470 lb.-ft. of torque

•    2.0-liter turbocharged
I-4 engine: 270 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque

•    3.6-liter V-6: 285
horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque

•    6.4-liter V-8: 470
horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque

Other
changes include a refined interior with more technology and amenities,
including available 12-way power adjustable front seats, an all-new
instrument panel featuring Uconnect 5 system with best-in-class
12.3-inch touchscreen radio and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and
Android Auto. Exterior changes include an updated seven-slot grille,
windshield-integrated trail-ready stealth antenna, 10 all-new wheel
designs and multiple open-air freedom options, including exclusive Sky
One-Touch power top.

2024
prices start at $31,995 for a 2-door Sport or $36,595 for the 4-door
sport and climb to over $100k for the 4-door Rubicon 392 Final Edition.
With such a wide range in prices, your Wrangler experience can vary
greatly. I spent a week in the top trim Rubicon 392 Final Edition that
checked in at $108,475 and was intended to be a limited model for 2024
only, however Jeep recently announced that it will bring it back for one
more year in 2025. Here’s what stood out on the most expensive Wrangler
to date…

The 2024 Jeep
Wrangler 392 Rubicon Final Edition is immediately recognized by unique
Final Edition hood and front fender vent decals, and, via the standard
Xtreme 35 Package, bronze 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels wrapped in
35-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires. Just looking at it, you know this
is the ultimate go-anywhere Wrangler. In addition to the updated grille
across the lineup, this model also adds several exterior enhancements
and Mopar parts standard. Up front is a factory-installed 8,000
pound-capacity Warn winch, a Mopar triple loop grille guard, and LED
lighting. All Final Edition models get a half-inch suspension lift and
Mopar heavy-duty rock sliders to increase their capability off-road
while also visually enhancing the Wrangler. Around back, the dual-pipe
performance exhaust system is finished off with unique quad exhaust
tailpipes.  Like all Wranglers, the tops and doors come off and
the windshield folds down. A Mopar fold-out swing gate table and Mopar
Jeep 83-piece toolkit are also standard, with a Mopar on-board air
compressor optional for trailside tire pressure management. There are
eight different colors available that are all more of a muted palette
rather than bright, loud colors… the exhaust is plenty loud for making a
statement. 

There are a variety of top options including both a hard
or soft top. I have previously had the 3-piece hard top which is nice
for Chicago winters and looks great on or off, but it does need at least
one other person to lift off the Jeep. The process of removing the top
is simple and can be done in 15 minutes, but due to the size and shape
of the back portion of the roof, the second set of hands is necessary,
as is a place to store the pieces when the top is off. The front two
pieces, however, can be popped off in a matter of minutes by one person
and easily stored in an optional storage bag to give you some open-air
up front. 

Comparatively, this time around my test Jeep came with
the Sky One-Touch Power Top. At the touch of a button, the full roof
slides back for open-air freedom making it very adaptable to the Midwest
weather. This top is not intended to be removed like the other options.
I did like this option for ease of overall use. Other options include a
Sunrider for hardtops, mesh sunbonnets, body-colored  3-piece
hard tops or black
variations. 

The Wrangler Rubicon
392 was first unveiled in 2020 with its class-exclusive 6.4L HEMI V8
that pushes out 470 horsepower and 470-pound feet of torque. This is one
of a handful of  ‘mainstream’ V8s still available and is
limited in production to 3,700 units globally. This is an impressive
powerhouse that will push this heavy Wrangler from 0-60 MPH in around
4.5 seconds and the quarter mile in 13 seconds. It mates to an 8-speed
automatic and a Selec-trac full-time active transfer case. It quickly
shifts through the gears smoothly on the highway and if you want to
control the gears yourself, there are also steering wheel-mounted paddle
shifters. This is a powerful vehicle that will roar down the highway or
climb boulders. On the roads, it’s definitely loud thanks to an active
dual-mode exhaust that is standard. The system engages automatically,
opening valves in the exhaust system, under higher engine loads to
reduce exhaust back pressure. The driver can also activate the system
with the press of a button to amplify or minimize exhaust sounds.
Handling this Jeep takes a little more effort than your average Wrangler
thanks to both its size and power. It feels a bit wild on the highway
and noisier with the 35” off-road tires. Steering is looser which is an
advantage off-road, but can be tiresome for long highway drives.
However, if you’re looking for Wrangler that’s better suited for the
highway, the Sport or Sahara models may be better options. 
Heavy-duty brakes bring the Wrangler Rubicon 392 to a composed stop no
matter what the terrain.

The 392 Rubicon has 11.6 inches of ground clearance and
is capable of fording up to 34.5  inches of water. The transfer
case has four driver-selectable modes: 4WD Auto, 4WD High, Neutral and
4WD Low. This full-time two-speed transfer case is intuitive and allows
the driver to set it and forget it, while constantly sending power to
the front and rear wheels. The Selec-Trac transfer case also allows for
Wrangler Rubicon 392 to be flat-towed. It also comes with Off-road Plus
that has both Sand and Rock modes for added traction. The modes adjust
throttle, transmission shift points and traction control for peak
performance on higher speed passes on sand terrain, as well as during
low-speed rock crawling. The Off-road Plus drive mode also gives drivers
the ability to lock the rear axle at high speeds while in 4H. The
Wrangler Rubicon 392’s off-road prowess flows from wide track,
heavy-duty Dana 44 front and rear axles with thicker axle tubes and
Tru-Lok electronic locking differentials. An electronic front sway-bar
disconnect maximizes suspension travel for the most demanding off-road
conditions.  

I did have
the chance to take it off-roading on a complex course at the Midwest
Automotive Media Association Spring Rally and this Wrangler tackled the
harder course with ease. It traversed through the wooded trails climbing
over rock and tree obstacles, splashing through mud, and putting its
five-link coil suspension to the test through uneven grounds. It climbed
muddy hills with ease and the trail control took it back down nice and
easy. The course also included a rock garden filled with boulders and a
fairly deep mud/water pit that were both no match for this Jeep. The
built in trail cameras were put to good use with clear visuals all
around the Jeep.

New for
2024 the Jeep brand is the first automotive brand to feature built-in
off-road adventure trail guides with the introduction of Jeep Adventure
Guides featuring Trails Offroad, a leader in off-road trail guides and
maps. The available Jeep Adventure Guides deliver detailed guides and
maps for the 62 Jeep Badge of Honor trails, which include the Rubicon
Trail in California, Hell's Revenge in Utah and Jericho Mountain in New
Hampshire. For even more adventures, owners can upgrade to a premium
subscription that unlocks Trails Offroad's full catalog of 3,000-plus
trail guides.

Hopping
inside the Wrangler receives a  more refined look with more
premium features and technology. New is a standard 12.3" infotainment
touchscreen with a heritage-inspired center stack and soft-touch
surfaces all around. New AMPS bracket provisions are also now featured
on top of the dash for mounting accessory electronics. Materials are
durable and the layout is well-planned. There are two cup holders in the
center stack capable of holding a Yeti or Stanley.  It has a
traditional gear selector for everyday use and a second shifter for when
you need to manually shift for four-wheel drive. Steering wheel
controls are well placed and make it easy to answer phone calls hands
free. For those living in colder climates like Chicago, the Cold Weather
package adds nice features such as heated front seats, heated steering
wheel and a remote-start system (automatic only).

Black
Nappa leather, 12-way power performance seats, new Mayan gold stitching
and Tupelo highlights throughout the cabin are unique to the 392 Rubicon
Final Edition. A special shifter medallion and swing gate plaque denote
the 392 Final Edition’s special, high-powered place in Wrangler’s
80-plus year history. Climate controls and radio tuning knobs are placed
under the touch screen and have a rugged look with notches that are
easily within reach. Window controls are in the middle of the center
stack adjacent to power outlets and USB connections. The seats are
comfortable and provide better than expected support. The leg room was
substantial in both the front and back seats. Three kids comfortably fit
across the back seat including a booster seat. While storage is
limited, Jeep made good use of space by adding lockable bins and
compartments under and behind the seats.  Also, behind the rear
seat was a portable Bluetooth speaker perfect for
tailgating.

Technology (+)

In addition to the new 12.3" touchscreen, the Wrangler
now comes standard with the latest Uconnect 5 operating system that
wirelessly integrates with both Android Auto and Apple Car Play
seamlessly. The updated system provides crisper graphics, a better
camera view, and over-the-air updates. Additionally, it can be
programmed for five different user profiles, has a fully customizable
home screen, Alexa Home to Car functionality, TomTom navigation, Maps
OTA updates, and more. Also, standard is an integrated front off-road
camera for the ultimate visibility on the
trails. 

Functionality is enhanced for front-row passengers with
standard dual USB Type C ports that allow devices to charge up to four
times faster. The Gladiator delivers a total of up to seven USB Type A
and Type C ports for both rows. Standard 12-volt accessory outlets are
located throughout the new Gladiator and a 115-volt AC outlet is
available to power select three-pronged home electronics.

Whether you're driving
on city streets or across the desert, the Wrangler comes with standard
safety features that are ready for action.  Features such as
blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control with full stop, forward
collision warning with active braking and rear cross path detection are
extremely beneficial and seemingly essential in today's world.
Additional features such as Parksense rear park assist with the Parkview
rear back up camera make all kinds of driving easier. Other features
more specific to your lifestyle such as the trailer sway control will
detect when your trailer is swaying and apply brake pressure to
individual wheels to bring it back in line. 

While the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Final Edition is the
most powerful Wrangler ever, it’s also the most expensive. This Jeep
leaves no stone unturned as it has everything you need to go anywhere,
including that factory-installed winch. With its beefy 35” tires,
growling HEMI V8, and sensible updates inside, there’s not much to
fault…other than maybe the six-figure price
tag. 

Test Vehicle: 2024 Jeep Wrangler
Rubicon 392 Final Edition

Exterior Color:  Silver
Zynith

Interior
Color: Black

Options: Paint ($595), Customer
Preferred Package 27J ($8,450), Sky One-Touch Roof ($3,995), Air
Compressor by Mopar ($1,995)

MSRP as tested: $108,475 (With
Delivery/Destination)

Pros: Off-Road Capability, Open-air
freedom, Power & performance

Cons: Fuel Economy, on-road handling,
high price point