You can't argue with Jeep's off-road cred. Jeep® - battle born. When I think of Jeep I think of WW2 movies, and I think of my time back in Connecticut driving a bare bones CJ for winter road service. Crude, rude, and utterly unstoppable.
While the 2024 Wrangler I drove may look like a Jeep of old (squared and upright) it sure wasn't crude or rude. I didn't drive it through four foot snow drifts, or even on a gravel road, but I have no doubt it is capable. But the problem is this particular Jeep® was just too nice to get it all dirtied up. At least in my opinion.
This Wrangler is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) which means you can plug it in and run it as an EV, or you can use the gas engine, or both. Like most PHEVs there is minimal electric range; it really is to be used as a boost in either power or economy.
The 4xe has a 2.0-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder plus 2 electric motors for a combined power output of 375 hp and 470 lb-ft. The only transmission with this engine combo is an 8-speed automatic.
If you are a purist and you really need it, a 6-speed manual transmission is available with the V6 engine.
Inside the 4-door Wrangler Rubicon is, well it wasn't what I expect in a Jeep®. Open the door and you are greeted by an almost full-on luxury interior - heated, power, Nappa leather front seats, heated steering wheel, acoustic glass and front carpets, and so much more! Someone chided me because the Rubicon was too clean, and my response was "Are you kidding me?"
But really how many Jeep® owners actually go off-road? It's probably more than the overall percentage for other 4WD vehicles but I'd guess it's still less than 50%. The thing to remember is the capability is there if you need it.
You can tow up to a 5,000 lb. trailer with either the V6 (with an automatic transmission) or the 4xe in the 4-door models; 3,500 lbs. otherwise. There is up to 72.4 cubic feet of storage behind the front seats, 31.7 behind the rear seats. One thing I don't understand is why the tailgate opens to the left, the curb side. It would make more sense to me for it to swing the other way, or down like a normal tailgate.
Prospective buyers should recognize that a Jeep®, and by that I mean a Wrangler, is not a sports car. The suspension and steering are designed for slow, rough going. The suspension has a lot of articulation; it is not super stiff. The steering feels a little loosy-goosy. This isn't a criticism; it is what's needed off-road. Instead of dumbing down the Wrangler for suburbia, the engineers kept in off-road capabilities. It only took me a couple of hours to get used to the Wrangler's road manners so it was no big deal.
I think the designers struggle to keep that quintessential "Jeep®" look and still meet government standards. So far so good. No matter how cushy a Wrangler gets it still says "I can go anywhere."
Now comes the part that threw me - the price. A 2024 and 2025 Wrangler 4xe starts at $50,695. The test Rubicon X 4xe starts at $70,395, and it had a final price of $78,995, including a few options and destination fee. That is a lot of money. Thankfully if you want you can go with a base Wrangler for $31,995 (2025 is $32,690). All prices are from jeep.com.
If a Jeep® is on your wish list visit your local dealer.
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