The Jeep Wrangler has an incredibly daunting lineup and capability to match
The Jeep Wrangler is wildly popular. When that happens, automakers take the opportunity to flesh out their lineups for the most popular models, and Jeep is no exception. Now, it’s pretty daunting to hop on Jeep’s configurator and try to figure out how much Wrangler you need, what options to get, and whether they’re worth it. So, we took all the work out of it.
Even before committing to a trim level, you’re met with 19 total options – two- or four-door configurations, each with one of six available trims, plus an additional seven for the Wrangler 4xe hybrid. It’s a lot. Even in its basic forms, like the Sport trim, the Wrangler packs a ridiculous amount of off-road capability. Standard four-wheel drive is already a huge boon, and all-terrain tires are practically standard. Plus, you can order your Jeep with a six-speed, making it one of the last SUVs on the market to offer one.
Cole Attisha
The Wrangler has long been a go-to for off-road enthusiasts since its post-war inception, and the latest generation offers add-ons like beefier axles, uprated shocks, and locking differentials, assuming those aren’t already included. Some trim levels do, in fact, include equipment like this, such as the Rubicon lineup. In reality, one option stands out as the best for most buyers.
The Jeep Wrangler Willys is the best trim on sale today
Cole Attisha
We’ve based our selection on one assumption: as a Jeep buyer, you’re going to go off-road. And probably put little ducks on your dashboard for some reason. Barring the latter, the Willys, which starts at $42,715 MSRP for a two-door, makes the most sense for most, offering a solid blend of off-road features without becoming disgustingly pricey. It brings all-terrain tires and a locking rear differential to the table, which is really all 99 percent of people will ever need for their off-road adventures.
Here’s what you’ll get in addition to the Wrangler’s standard equipment with the Willys:
- 17-inch wheels with 32-inch all-terrain tires
- Heavy-duty front and rear axles with shorter gearing
- Rock rails
- Electronic locking rear differential
- LED headlights
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward collision warning
- Foglights
- Tow hooks
- Skid plates
- 12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Power windows and door locks (yes, that really was an optional extra on the Wrangler, now standard from 2025 on)
The Wrangler Willys is offered with a hard or soft top, as well as in two- or four-door configurations, and equipped with one of three powertrain choices:
- 3.6-liter V6 (285 horsepower, 260 lb-ft of torque) with 6-speed manual transmission
- Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (270 hp, 295 lb-ft of torque) with 8-speed automatic transmission
- Plug-in hybrid four-cylinder and 8-speed automatic (375 hp, 470 lb-ft of torque)
Cole Attisha
Which options are best for the Jeep Wrangler?
Even once you’ve narrowed down these choices, there’s still a staggering breadth of options to cover on the Willys. Skip 98 percent of that nonsense. Jeep has a ton of little extras designed to get its biggest fans to spend money at the dealer. Instead, you want one of a few critical option packages, plus a couple of key selections related to your roof preference.
Starting with the former, you’ll want both of these:
Active Safety Group ($1,595):
- Automatic High-Beam Headlamp-Control
- Blind-Spot and Cross-Path Detection
- Rear Park-Assist System
- Injection Molded Black Rear Bumper
- LED Tail Lamps
Convenience Group ($1,595):
- Front Door Passive Entry and Lock
- Air Conditioning with Automatic Temperature Control
- Air Filtering
- 7-Inch Driver Information Digital Cluster Display
- Emergency / Assistance Call
- Heated Front Seats
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Universal Garage-Door Opener
Both of these modernize your Jeep, adding luxury and safety options like heated seats, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Unfortunately, they also add a hefty sum to the price tag – it’s more than $3,000 for the two combined. Luckily, you can skip pretty much everything else, save one option: a headline for the $1,800 hardtop, which is another $600. It’ll make the Wrangler significantly quieter for day-to-day driving.
Cole Attisha
Splurge on a Wrangler 4xe Willys, if you can afford it
The Jeep Experience is one rooted in its simplicity. A small, relatively simple SUV that can go anywhere. There’s also a twist on that experience that offers some interesting new directions—namely, the Wrangler 4xe. The hybrid Wrangler isn’t too much more expensive than a gas-powered one, and comes with some unique benefits at its $56,000 price point (for the Willys, of course). Jeep advertises around 20 miles of electric range, for one, which means if you live close enough to work, you may not need that gas motor until you get on the highway. Moreover, you can use that range off-road.
The act of off-roading silently makes it feel like you’re going for a hike. The only noise you’ll hear is the crunch of gravel and pine needles under the tires, and it’s a truly unique experience not offered by the Ford Bronco, the Wrangler’s closest competitor. While only offered in a four-door bodystyle, the 4xe does still provide the same litany of options as the regular Wrangler, and as such, we still recommend keeping it simple.
Final thoughts: the Wrangler lineup still offers a lot in 2025
There’s still so much to like in the Jeep lineup. The Wrangler offers staggering versatility, even at its cheapest. Spend a little more scratch, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a trail the Wrangler won’t clamber its way up. The brand delivers a more modern interior as well, offering the niceties we’d all expect of a fifty-some thousand-dollar purchase, like today’s standard safety features and creature comforts. Even decades after its debut, Jeep still manages to make an argument for the Wrangler, and by now, you’ve got the tools to go out and make the smart purchase.
About the author
Chase Bierenkoven
Senior Editor, Autoblog