How do you distinguish one Jeep Wrangler model from another?
The Wrangler has a classic design along with a host of accessories to customize the look. The design of the Wrangler mixes the power and durability of an SUV with a cool factor of a convertible. Its height advantage over most vehicles provides visible superioty. It is a simply made vehicle that is easy to repair.
Let’s talk about the difference between Jeep Wrangler models that are available. This should help you if you are looking to buy a Jeep Wrangler and you’re not sure which model to pick, or maybe you’re just curious about what’s included in all of the different packages.
Keep on reading to find out what works for you!
What Makes Jeep Wrangler Stand Out?
The Jeep Wrangler is a series of mid-size and compact 4-wheel-drive vehicles that are made by Jeep. This unique series of vehicles has been in production since 1986!
The Wrangler is a unique figure on and offroad. Not to mention that you can use it as a convertible when the weather is excessively hot. It is the great-grandchild of the original Willys Jeep. The original Wrangler was a completely new, small, sport utility vehicle. It was envisioned as a sophisticated vehicle for its class with a modern interior and exterior appearance.
Its short wheelbase, powerful drivetrain, body size, and tight turning ratios are all suitable for offroading. It is small in size and lightweight, making it a great choice for getting into tight spots. It is rugged and durable. It has lots of miles that will last you many years. This heavy-duty offroad machine handles well on pavement, sand, mud, water, snow, and more.
It comes with a durable interior and is made for weathering all the elements. Not to mention that it is relatively low priced with excellent resale value. Let’s face it, it can be downright fun to drive, especially when you’re in the great outdoors.
Difference Between Jeep Wrangler Generations
To best understand the difference between Jeep Wrangler models, we first have to go through the different generations.
Jeep Wrangler YJ
The YJ was produced from 1987 to 1995, which is the first generation Wrangler. It takes its heritage from the original Civilian Jeep (CJ) that was produced after World War II and after the Willys and original Jeeps were done being produced.
The YJs were very controversial because of their square headlights. Although the engineers wanted to give the YJ a different look from the CJ, the square headlights were not a favorite among Jeep owners.
The interior design was a lot more civilized and sophisticated. Instead of having a flat piece of steel, the YJ had a plastic dashboard with a row of dials across. It also had windshield wipers that rested perpetually on the windshield.
From 1987 through 1990, the YJ carried over the straight-six from the CJ, which was a 4.2 carbureted straight-six engine. It had fairly decent horsepower and torque. The only problem is that it was antiquated and old in its design.
In 1991, the YJ had a new engine, the 4.0 liter, which is a legendary engine. It is probably one of the best engines in our opinion. It was robust, reliable, and had a lot of torque and horsepower. With fuel injection and a 5-speed manual, it was ready to tackle the 90s. There was also a four-cylinder option throughout the run of the YJ, which had fuel injection.
Jeep Wrangler TJ
The Jeep Wrangler TJ was introduced in 1997, one year after the YJ’s production stopped. The TJ retained that recognizable Jeep look and it returned to round headlights. Other minor styling changes came with the TJ.
If you were to compare it to the YJ, you will notice that the gas filler is conveniently located on the left rear fender, the slant is greater than before by four degrees, the windshield is one inch shorter in height and the hood latches are outboard mounted.
The TJ has a quadra coil multi-link suspension that was inherited from the Grand Cherokee to boost drivability on the road.
The offroad capability was improved because the quadra coil suspension system increased the Jeep’s wheel travel by around seven inches. The TJ also had an impressive ground clearance of 11.2 inches at its rear axle. Wrangler owners back then could order 30-inch tires for boosted offroad performance.
The TJ experienced a 10-year production run that included three different engines accompanied by eight transmission offerings. The first engine was the 2.5 L straight-4 engine with either 3-speed automatic or 5-speed manual. The second engine was the 2.4 L PowerTech with either a 4-speed automatic, 5-speed manual, or 6-speed manual. The third and final engine for this generation was the 4.0 L straight-six with either a 3-speed or 4-speed automatic and a 5-speed or 6-speed manual.
The interior was also a great upgrade with dual airbags, a real glovebox, and a plastic modular design. Although the climb up onto the driver’s seat was high. The vehicle had a full analog gauge and a neat center stack for climate controls and stereo.
Jeep Wrangler JK
This is the third generation of the Jeep Wrangler, which started in 2007 to 2017. With the introduction of the JK, came the first full revamp of the Wrangler that included suspension and body frame.
While this Jeep series maintains the iconic status of the Wrangler that dates back to the Civilian Jeep in terms of styling, it is a much more modern vehicle.
The build quality and performance of the JK were massively improved. One of the biggest changes that were observed with the JK is the availability of a four-door model in addition to the traditional two-door Wrangler.
A very unique feature of the JK is the plastic fenders at the rear and front of the vehicle that gives you that kind of old-school appearance. The fenders also allow for larger wheels and tires, which most owners prefer for offroading.
From 2007 to 2011, all Jeep JKs sold in the US came with the 3.8 L v6, which puts out 202 horsepower along with 237 pound-feet of torque. This engine can last up to two hundred thousand miles, but it has also destroyed pistons and main bearings. In 2012, Jeep introduced the 3.6 L Pentastar v6.
The dual overhead cam engine was a great upgrade in power. Its all-aluminum block is lighter compared to the previous engine. While there was an issue with some of the heads on first run engines from 2012, most of them have been addressed or recalled.
Just as the exterior of the Wrangler is very basic and rugged, we see the same thing inside the JK. It has a very basic and rugged interior with a simple clean layout. Looks pretty nice on the inside but also very basic.
Jeep Wrangler JL
This is the fourth and the latest all-new Wrangler, which was released in 2018. The JL is the most modern Jeep out there even though it looks fairly similar to the outgoing model. That’s only because the company doesn’t want to mess with what works.
The easiest way to recognize the JL is with the lights. With the newest Wrangler, the daytime running lights are integrated into the fender. They have a new headlamp design and you will find new taillights at the back. They still feature the typical seven-slot grill to make it even stronger. They come with optional LEDs or LEDs standard with the Sahara and the Rubicon.
The brake lights are integrated with a little piece of plastic that protrudes on the side to function as the blind spot monitor. The blind spot monitor uses the little triangle in the mirror to alert you if there is a car in your blind spot. So, you don’t accidentally hit it when you are changing lanes. The third brake light is adjustable, allowing you to fit a larger tire at the back.
When compared to the previous generation, you can see that the brand has put a lot of effort into this vehicle. It is engineered to deliver more capability, better handling, and improved ride on the road. You get more efficient powertrains.
The engine option that was carried over from the previous generation is the 3.6 L Pentastar v6 with 285 horsepower. But the big addition is the 2.0 L turbocharged four-cylinder with 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.
The manual has been upgraded to a six-speed manual transmission. The JL also comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission with the 3.6 L Pentastar.
The JL is also a monster offroad. It comes with an approach angle of 44 degrees and a departure angle of 37 degrees with about 10.9 inches of ground clearance.
Read our more detailed comparison of Jeep JK vs JL.
Difference Between Jeep Wrangler Models/Trims
What do you need to know about the Jeep Wrangler models or trims before buying one and how do you decide which version to go with? That’s what we are going to find out in this section.
Before we get into all the details of the different types of Wrangler models and trims, one of the most important things to understand is that the Wrangler is not a direct replacement for a daily drive SUV or crossover.
Every single model of the Wrangler is a capable offroad vehicle. They are engineered for offroad capability before on-road comfort. If you are buying a Jeep Wrangler as a replacement for an SUV and you are expecting the same level of daily comfort and refinement, then you are likely to be disappointed. You have to be willing to compromise with the Wrangler as far as on-road use is concerned.
The Wrangler lineup does have different variants to choose from, including special editions that do come and go. There are three basic models to choose from. These include the Sport, the Sahara, and the Rubicon. The differences among them come down to features and price.
The Sport is the most inexpensive basic entry-level model in the lineup. If you go for the Sahara, you get a lot more features. The Rubicon, on the other hand, is the more committed offroad trim with a lot more offroad gear.
You can also choose between the traditional two-door body style or the more popular four-door unlimited trim (which is an upgrade that’s available for most of the Wrangler models).
The Sport
This is the very basic Jeep Wrangler model. And if you are looking at a Sport, here is what you are going to get.
You will have the command trac transfer case with 3.45 gears. It is going to come with 17-inch black steel wheels, which are going to be an all-season tire on that Jeep. They are going to be 31.5 by 9 inches.
The inside of the Sport is very basic too. You’ve got no power windows, no power locks, not a lot of options to upgrade on the interior. But there are a few options available for boosting performance. You can upgrade the anti-spin rear differential that is going to add a little bit of traction. You can also get all-terrain tires instead of all-season tires.
The Sport has standard halogen headlights and black fender flares. This model comes with painted alloy wheels as the standard.
Key Features
Here are the key features of the Sport model:
Engine and Performance
- Gas base engine type
- 3.6 L base engine size
- V6 cylinders
- Double overhead cam
- 285 horsepower at 6,400 rpm
- 260 pound-feet at 4,000 rpm
- Variable valve timing and 24 valves
- 6-speed manual transmission
- Four-wheel drive
- Part-time 4wd
- Manual hi-lo gear selection
- Automatic locking hubs
Fuel and MPG
- 19 combined mpg
- 21.5-gallon fuel tank capacity
- 17/23 Cty/Hwy mpg
- Regular unleaded fuel type
The Sahara
This is the step-up from the Sport S, which is going to be a little bit more comfortable, and it is a lot more aesthetically pleasing compared to the Sport models.
The Sahara has great standard features as well as additional optional packages. It has 18-inch alloy wheels and slightly larger 31 by 10-inch tires. It also has a body-color fender flare standard as opposed to the black one on the Sport models. Unlike the previous model, the Sahara has a surround around the headlights and each grill cutout.
You’ve got optional packages available on the Sahara that were not available on the Sport. One of the additional packages is the LED lighting group. The LED headlights, taillights, and fog lights give the vehicle a more modern appearance.
The first thing that you are going to notice on the inside of the Sahara is the luxury leather interior. Another option that you can get on this vehicle that you couldn’t get on the previous model is the electronic infotainment that makes the display an 8.4-inch screen instead of a 7-inch screen.
This package is going to add HD radio, navigation, and a premium sound system that wasn’t there in the previous model.
Key Features
Here are the key features of the Sahara model:
Engine and Performance
- Gas engine
- V6 cylinders
- 3.6 L engine size
- 24 valves
- 260 pound-feet at 4,800 rpm
- 285 horsepower at 6,400 rpm
- Four-wheel drive
- Part-time 4wd
- 6-speed manual transmission
- Manual Hi-Lo gear selection
- Automatic locking hubs
Fuel and MPG
- 18.6-gallon fuel tank capacity
- Regular unleaded fuel
- 18 combined mpg
- 17/21 Cty/Hwy mpg
The Rubicon
This is the top-of-the-line trim level or model as far as Jeep Wranglers are concerned. The Rubicon is an iconic figure on and off the road.
Under the hood, you will find something new, a 2.0 L turbocharged four-cylinder engine (an alternative to the Pentastar v6). The Jeep is a 4-wheel drive and has an 8-speed automatic option. This combination delivers 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.
Before the current Rubicon, Jeep owners complained that Wrangler interiors were very simple. The latest Rubicon has very nice leather seating with stitching and the front seats are inscribed with the word Rubicon. There is also stitching across the dash, and red accent panels around the gauge cluster and above the glove compartment.
The Rubicon boasts the 8.4-inch UConnect system, which is voice command accessible and customizable. The system does not only work great, but it is also very intuitive. The screen also operates an amazing rear-view camera and wifi hotspot.
The Rubicon steps down to 17-inch wheels, instead of the 18-inch that were on the Sahara. But it stepped up in the tire size to 33-inch tires for a little more traction offroad. To make room for bigger tires, the Rubicon has a slightly higher fender flare to give more room for articulation. If you’re upgrading your tires, you might want to check out the best 35″ tires for Wrangler.
Key Features
Here are the key features of the Rubicon model:
Engine and Performance
- 3.6 L engine size
- V6 cylinder configuration
- Four-wheel drive
- 6-speed manual transmission
- Locking rear differential
- 285 horsepower at 6,400 rpm
- 260 pound-feet at 4,800 rpm
- Regular unleaded
Fuel and MPG
- 21.5-gallon fuel tank capacity
- 19 combined mpg
- 23 highway mpg
- 17 city mpg
The Bottom Line
Regardless of which model you go with, Jeep gives you so many ways to customize and option out your Wrangler, depending on the technology and features you are after. The biggest difference between Jeep Wrangler models is the interior where you get a huge upgrade in terms of comfort, features, and technology from the most basic model to the high-end one.
