The Jeep Wrangler JL kept body-on-frame toughness through its 2024 refresh

The Jeep Wrangler JL is the fourth-generation Wrangler, sold as a two-door and as the four-door Unlimited. It was shown at the 2017 Los Angeles show, and production began that November. The JL kept the body-on-frame construction and solid axles that define the model, while adding a more road-friendly ride and a broader engine line-up.

When did the JL go into production?

Production of the Unlimited started in November 2017, and the two-door followed in early 2018. Both were built at Jeep's Toledo Complex in Toledo, Ohio. The outgoing JK stayed in production alongside the new model, so dealers could meet demand while the new car ramped up.

The JK ended production on 27 April 2018. The plant that built it was then retooled for the Gladiator pickup, which the company introduced at the Los Angeles show in November 2018.

The JL kept the Wrangler formula of solid axles and open-air fun, then added engines and tech it had never offered.

How big is the JL compared with the JK?

The two-door grew by 64 mm (2.5 in) overall, and the Unlimited by 89 mm (3.5 in). Despite the extra length, the JL is roughly 90 kg (198 lb) lighter than the JK it replaced. Overhangs increased noticeably, with 740 mm (29.2 in) at the front and 1,040 mm (40.8 in) at the rear.

The styling recalled the 1997 to 2006 TJ Wrangler. A raked grille with seven vertical slots carries round headlamps that blend into it, and the traditional Jeep badge moved off the grille. The rear spare tyre was lowered to improve rear visibility, and the windows are larger because the beltline sits lower.

Which four-wheel drive systems were fitted?

Three systems were offered, named Command-Trac, Selec-Trac and Rock-Trac. An anti-spin rear differential was available on every JL except the Rubicon, which fitted it as standard. The JL also moved to recirculating ball steering with electric power assistance, which made the car more comfortable on the road.

Solid axles remained at both ends, and the body stayed on a separate frame.

Which engines did the JL offer?

The 3.6-litre Pentastar VVT V6 was carried over from the outgoing Wrangler and became the standard engine on every JL. It produces 289 PS (213 kW; 285 hp) and 353 Nm (260 lb ft). An Aisin AL6 six-speed manual came as standard, with an 850RE eight-speed automatic optional, a unit first seen in the Grand Cherokee.

A mild hybrid system branded eTorque was optional on the V6. A 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder was also available, paired exclusively with the eight-speed automatic and eTorque. It made 274 PS (201 kW; 270 hp) and 400 Nm (295 lb ft) combined, and it became the only petrol engine sold in Europe, China, Singapore and India.

North American buyers initially had only the V6, because the four-cylinder arrived late there. Jeep cancelled the 2.0-litre eTorque hybrid in 2020, so the four-cylinder stayed a non-hybrid option.

Was there a diesel Wrangler JL?

In North America, a 3.0-litre EcoDiesel V6 built by VM Motori arrived in 2020. Output reached 264 PS (194 kW; 260 hp) and 600 Nm (443 lb ft). Outside North America the diesel was a 2.2-litre Multijet II four with 203 PS (149 kW; 200 hp), 450 Nm (332 lb ft) and start and stop.

The same engine also powered the Grand Cherokee and the Ram 1500, and it was discontinued for 2024.

What did the Wrangler 4xe plug-in add?

The Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid arrived in 2021. It was rated at 380 PS (280 kW; 375 hp) and 637 Nm (470 lb ft), and its 17 kWh lithium-ion battery returned an estimated 21 miles (34 km) of range and 49 MPGe. From 2022 it was the only Wrangler offered in Europe.

Sales in the United States were weak. In 2025 Stellantis dropped the 4xe from the American market, and it also withdrew the Dodge Hornet, the Chrysler Pacifica plug-in and the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, citing poor sales and the end of federal EV tax credits. It also cancelled a 4xe Gladiator and an electric Ram 1500, and it turned toward mild hybrid and range-extended electric models instead.

What is the Rubicon 392?

A V8-powered Rubicon, badged Rubicon 392, debuted for the 2021 model year. The 6.4-litre HEMI V8 (392 cu in) makes 477 PS (350 kW; 470 hp) and 637 Nm (470 lb ft), the same engine found in the Dodge Scat Pack Charger and in Jeep's SRT Grand Cherokee.

The 392 gave the Wrangler a level of performance that the V6 could not match, and it came with luxury leather seats and bronze stitching as part of its package.

What changed inside the JL?

The interior was inspired by the 1954 to 1983 CJ-5 and the 1987 to 1995 YJ Wrangler. Most of the switchgear is unique to the JL, though some pieces are shared with other Chrysler products. Power window switches stay in the centre of the dashboard, and the front speakers sit low in the corners of the dash.

Standard seating on the Sport and Sport S was cloth, while the Sahara and Rubicon got a premium cloth with embroidered backrests. Leather came as standard on the Moab and 392, and was optional on the Sahara and Rubicon. Every model could be ordered with a heated leather-wrapped wheel and heated front seats.

Interior colours were black or Heritage Tan on cloth-equipped cars, and black or Saddle on leather ones. Black Katzkin leather could be added as a dealer-installed accessory on any trim, in standard or perforated form. Rubicon interiors in black carried red stitching, Moab cars had gray, and the 392 used bronze.

Three Uconnect systems were offered, Uconnect 3, Uconnect 4 and Uconnect 4C, with screens of 5, 7 or 8.4 inches. Each had a pinch-to-zoom display, and all three came with a rear-view camera mounted on the spare tyre. Rear passengers on Unlimited models gained a household-style outlet and USB charging.

How did the JL perform in safety tests?

Standard side-impact airbags and strengthened B-pillars were part of the safety package, and a blind spot monitor sat inside the taillight housing. Driver-assist features sat within the Active Safety group, and the spare tyre was moved down to improve rear visibility. Euro NCAP gave the JL one star in 2018.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety was less kind in its small overlap test. In 2020 a four-door Unlimited overturned on impact with the barrier, as the front axle tucked under the structure and let the car ride over it. The institute judged the risk of ejection too high and rated the car Marginal. Jeep said it had modified the structure, but a 2022 retest overturned the car again and it received another Marginal rating.

What was the 2024 refresh?

The 2024 model year brought a mid-cycle refresh. All models received new tyre and wheel combinations, and the grille that first appeared on the 2023 Rubicon 20th Anniversary Edition was adopted across the range. Two-door and four-door Unlimited models gained a Rubicon X trim, which bundled everything that had been optional on the Rubicon.

Inside, every Wrangler got the U Connect 5 twelve-inch touchscreen, which runs CarPlay and Android Auto over both wired and wireless links. The centre stack was redesigned to accept the larger screen, which removed the metal dashboard trim and replaced round vents with rectangular ones. The Sun Rider soft top became standard on most models, and the Freedom hard top was fitted to others.

The refresh also changed engines. The 2.0-litre Hurricane turbo four became mandatory on manual and eight-speed automatic models, while the 3.6-litre V6 stayed on the Rubicon X, Rubicon, High Altitude and Sahara trims. Punk'n Metallic Orange and Bikini Pearl Coat Teal Blue returned as special-edition paints, and automatic air conditioning arrived across the range.

Which trims and awards did the JL earn?

The JL was sold in a long list of trims, from the base Sport and Willys through Sahara, High Altitude, Moab, Rubicon and Rubicon 392. The Unlimited 4xe also gained a Sport S trim for 2024, having received a lower-priced Willys model in 2023.

Awards came from several quarters. Motor Trend named the Wrangler its SUV of the Year, and Four Wheeler chose the Rubicon as its 2019 SUV of the Year. The SEMA Show gave it the 4x4/SUV of the Year title, while J.D. Power ranked it top for resale value in the compact SUV segment.

Specifications at a glance