2021 Jeep Wrangler review
Jeep Wrangler highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- So many trim and option combinations
- A variety of engine options to choose from
- One of the greatest of all time off-road
Cons
- Ride comfort isn't spectacular
- Keep an ear out for wind noise at speed
- Steering isn't as responsive as you might expect on-road
Mileage (EPA estimate)
13 city, 17 highway, 14 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
Shop with your budget in mind
Tough off-road and easy on-road.
The 2021 Jeep Wrangler is a rugged off-road vehicle with civil on-road manners. Featuring two- and four-door options, trims, and colors to fit any personality, and versatile powertrain options (including a plug-in hybrid), the 2021 Wrangler has a lot to love. This 4x4 SUV is ready to take you wherever you want to go—and to do it in style. While we currently do not have many 2021 Jeep Wranglers on our lots, we look forward to selling more in the future. If you love the 2021 model, you should also consider prior model years of the Jeep Wrangler with similar features.
All Jeep Wrangler years
Not sure what year to select? Learn about each Jeep Wrangler generation from 2011 to 2025
What is new for the 2021 Jeep Wrangler?
- The Wrangler is available in a variety of new trims, including the 80th Anniversary, Islander, Unlimited 80th Anniversary, Unlimited Islander, and Unlimited Rubicon 392.
- The Black and Tan, North Edition, and Recon trims have been discontinued for 2021.
- Wrangler trims have been upgraded with Power Seat(s), Leather Seats, Leatherette Seats, and Targa as standard equipment this year.
- The Unlimited Freedom trim now comes with Smart Key and Turbo Diesel Engine as standard equipment.
- The Willys Sport trim now comes with Smart Key as standard equipment.
- The Willy's trim now comes with Smart Key as standard equipment.
- The Freedom trim now comes with Smart Key as standard equipment.
- The Unlimited Rubicon trim now comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard equipment.
- The Unlimited Sahara trim now comes with Hard Top, Running Boards, and Android Auto as standard equipment.
- The Unlimited Sahara Altitude trim now comes with Running Boards as standard equipment.
- The Unlimited Sahara High Altitude trim now comes with Running Boards as standard equipment.
- The Rubicon trim now comes with Smart Key and 6001 as standard equipment.
- The Unlimited Sport trim now comes with Power Locks, Power Windows, Power Mirrors, Rear Defroster, and Alloy Wheels as standard equipment.
- The Unlimited Willys Sport trim now comes with Turbo Diesel Engine as standard equipment.
2021 Jeep Wrangler trims
Sport
Includes black 17-inch steel wheels, cloth seats, seven-inch Uconnect touchscreen, soft-top, rearview monitor, and more.
Sport S
Adds 17-inch silver aluminum wheels, Command-Trac 4x4 system, available LED lights, available heated mirrors, available Corning® Gorilla® Glass, and more.
Sahara
Adds 18-inch polished aluminum wheels, body-color painted fenders, 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen, Alpine premium audio system, keyless entry, and more. (Four-door-only trim)
Rubicon
Adds Rock-Trac low-range 4x4 system, wide-track lockable axles, red tow hooks, front stabilizer bar disconnect, underbody skid plate protection, and more.
Jeep Wrangler photos
5 reasons to buy the 2021 Jeep Wrangler
1. Two- and four-door models
The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offers two- and four-door models with seating for four or five, respectively. The four-door model has seating for three across the back, with 38.3 inches of rear legroom versus 35.7 inches of legroom in the two-door model. Cargo capacity maxes out at 72.4 cubic feet of space in the four-door model and 67.4 cubic feet in the two-door—enough room for all your gear for your next adventure.
2. Removable roof and doors
One of the most iconic elements of the Jeep Wrangler is its removable doors and roof. The doors are light enough for one person and include built-in handholds for easy carrying when removed. For an amazing view, Jeep offers three main roof choices: soft-top, three-piece hardtop, and a fixed-in-place retractable canvas sunroof with removable hard rear window panels. Soft-top options are easily retractable as well as completely removable. The three-piece hardtop consists of two smaller and easy-to-remove panels over the front passengers that release with a couple of latches. The larger rear section is a two-person job due to the bulky size of the rear roof and windows. The power retractable top opens with the push of a button at speeds up to 60 mph.
3. Four powertrain options
The Jeep Wrangler has powertrain options for any lifestyle, ranging from the base 3.6L Pentastar® V6 that features a mild-hybrid eTorque assist on automatic transmission models, to electronic start-stop technology on manual transmission-equipped models. A smaller 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine is also available. If you're looking for more torque, opt for the available 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 engine. New for 2021 is the Wrangler 4xe model, which has plug-in hybrid technology for increased power and fuel economy. The 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine with the 400-volt 17kWh battery pack and hybrid drive gets an EPA-estimated 21 miles of pure electric power, and a total EPA-estimated 50 MPGe.
4. Off-road capability
The Wrangler is known for its off-road prowess. All models of the 2021 Wrangler meet Jeep's “Trail Rated" capability standards of traction, water fording, maneuverability, articulation, and ground clearance, but the Rubicon trim takes the top honors with off-road tech. Featuring Jeep's Rock-Trac® 4x4 System, the Rubicon has a low gear for slow crawling over rocks or major obstacles. You'll also find an electronic locking differential to allow all wheels to spin at the same speed for improved traction. And front sway bar disconnect helps keep all four wheels planted on the ground.
5. Refined interior
The 2021 Jeep Wrangler has a refined side that will treat you to some of the latest technology and driver-assistance features. The available nine-speaker Alpine® premium audio system offers 552 watts of sound for blasting your favorite road trip playlist. Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ connectivity are on deck to help you enjoy your favorite songs and destinations via the 8.4-inch Uconnect® infotainment screen. Heated front seats and steering wheel, dual-zone climate controls, and heated exterior mirrors can keep you warm when the temperature dips. Plus, the weather-resistant removable carpet and one-way floor drain valves in the floor panels make the Wrangler easy to clean.
Similar vehicles
If you're interested in the 2021 Jeep Wrangler, you should also check out these similar vehicles from Previous generation years.
The Ford Bronco Sport derives many of its styling cues from the larger Bronco SUV. With seating for five, 65.2 cubic feet of cargo space, and a 4x4 system capable of some of the toughest trails, the 2021-2022 Bronco Sport is a small SUV that packs a serious punch.
Standard features on the 2021-2022 Ford Bronco Sport include:
Five selectable drive modes
60/40 split fold-down rear bench seat
Rearview monitor
A highly capable off-road SUV, the Mercedes G-Class features an iconic shape and design. 2018-2022 models have three lockable differentials—front, rear, and center—so the 4x4 system in the G-Class is sure to put the power down even if only one tire is making contact. Couple this off-road prowess with a high level of luxury, and you can enjoy your next journey in style.
Standard features on the 2018-2022 Mercedes G-Class include:
19-inch wheels
10-way power front seats with heating and ventilation
Full-width grille guard
The 2020 Gladiator is Jeep's first pickup truck. 2020-2022 models are powered by a 3.6L V6 engine as standard, but you can shop for a model with the optional 3.0L EcoDiesel engine. The Gladiator can haul cargo in its standard five-foot steel bed, and up to five passengers in its standard four-door cab design. Unique in a pickup is the Gladiator's removable roof and doors, offering a one-of-a-kind driving experience.
Standard features on the 2020-2022 Jeep Gladiator include:
17-inch steel wheels
Removable soft-top with optional hardtop
Five-foot steel bed
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Ratings & reliability
RepairPal gave the Jeep Wrangler an overall reliability rating of 3 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Jeep Wrangler 28th out of 29 among Compact SUVs.
View RepairPal's full rating of the Jeep WranglerJeep Wrangler features and specs
80th Anniversary 4WD/AWD 2D Sport Utility
Standard Features
- 4WD/AWD
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- Alpine Sound System
- AM/FM Stereo
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Bluetooth Technology
- Cloth Seats
- Cruise Control
- Navigation System
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Windows
- Rear View Camera
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Side Airbags
- Traction Control
- Turbo Charged Engine
- Automated Cruise Control
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Front Seat Heaters
- Hard Top
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Parking Sensors
- Rear Defroster
- Remote Start
- Running Boards
- Smart Key
- Soft Top
- Tow Hitch
Drive Wheels
Four Wheel Drive (4WD/AWD)
Engine size
2.0L
Horsepower
270
Torque (ft-lbs)
295
Engine type
Turbo Gas
Fuel capacity
17.5
Wheelbase
96.8"
Overall length
166.8"
Width
73.8"
Height
73.6"
Leg room
F 41.2"/R 35.7"
Head room
F 42.6"/R 41.7"
Front tires
P255/70SR18
Rear tires
P255/70SR18
Seating capacity
4
Max towing capacity
200/2000 lbs.
Transmission
Automatic
2021 Jeep Wrangler FAQ
The Sahara is the more luxury-minded trim of the 2021 Jeep Wrangler. Available only as the long-wheelbase four-door model, the Sahara features standard body-color fender flares, 18-inch polished wheels, side steps, cloth seats with optional leather, and an 8.4-inch Uconnect system powered by the Alpine premium audio system.
The 2021 Wrangler offers more engine and powertrain options, including the all-new 4xe plug-in hybrid model. Other new additions include a TrailCam forward-facing off-road camera, 80th Anniversary edition models with unique colors inside and out, an Islander edition with a beach-themed exterior graphics package, updated 4WD systems, and two additional USB ports for charging electronic devices on the go.
Yes. Jeep is known for sneaking little images and homages to its heritage throughout its vehicles, and the 2021 Jeep Wrangler has several. Most notable are the Jeep “Willy's" silhouettes that can be found throughout, in places like the windshield, climate controls, and gear selector. Other Easter eggs include Morse code on the interior, seven-slot grille callbacks on the cowl and interior above the rearview mirror, and the off-road dimensions on the tailgate.
More about the 2021 Jeep Wrangler
Color options
Exterior colors:
Billet Silver
Black
Bright White
Firecracker Red
Granite Crystal
Hella Yella
Hydro Blue
Sarge Green
Snazzberry
Sting Gray
Interior colors:
Black
Black/Dark Saddle
Heritage Tan
Interior details
The 2021 Jeep Wrangler has seating for four in two-door models, and seating for five in four-door models. Seats are wrapped in cloth for all models, but Sahara and Rubicon models have available leather seating. The four-door model has 38.3 inches of rear legroom, and the two-door model has 35.7 inches. There's 72.4 cubic feet of space in the four-door model, and 67.4 cubic feet in the two-door. Dash panels on Sport and Sport S models feature dark plastic. Sahara models have silver- or leather-wrapped trim pieces based on seating material; Rubicon models feature either red- or silver-painted sections, depending on the exterior paint color.
Child seat details
The 2021 Jeep Wrangler can fit up to three car seats in the rear seats of the four-door model, and two car seats in the two-door model. This includes LATCH car seats, infant car seats, rear-facing convertible car seats, forward-facing convertible car seats, and booster car seats. Rear-facing convertible and infant seats are easy to install and have plenty of room in the rear without moving the front seat forward. Without dedicated doors for the rear seats, though, it's a bit tougher to install car seats in two-door models.
Performance
The 2021 Jeep Wrangler has four powertrain options. The standard engine is a 285-hp 3.6L V6 paired with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission, making 260 lb-ft of torque. Automatic models feature a mild-hybrid eTorque system that activates in stop-and-go traffic. A 270-hp 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine is small but packs a punch with 295 lb-ft of torque. Diesel power comes from the available 3.0L EcoDiesel engine making 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque.
New for 2021 is the 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain, which uses the 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder as the gasoline engine and a 400-volt 17kWh battery pack with two electric motors for the hybrid drive components. This powertrain produces 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful powertrain offered in a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The 4xe can operate as a standard hybrid, an EV until the battery is depleted, or a gas-only vehicle that saves electric power for when it is requested.
Year comparison
2007-2017 Jeep Wrangler "JK" (third generation)
The third-generation Jeep Wrangler was the first to offer a four-door model, allowing you to accommodate more passengers and easily access the rear seat. Power came strictly from a gasoline V6 engine paired with either an automatic or manual transmission. Overall amenities included the hallmark removable doors, roof, and fold-down windshield. Rubicon was the top trim, featuring all the off-road tech you could want. The Sahara trim was new for this generation, adding an upscale feel to the rugged off-road vehicle.
2018-present Jeep Wrangler "JL" (fourth generation)
The fourth-generation Jeep Wrangler debuted with a full redesign for the 2018 model year with subtle styling details. The JL received upgraded suspension components, new 4WD systems, and active driver-assistance technology like adaptive cruise control. New powertrains included a turbocharged four-cylinder, a turbodiesel V6, and a plug-in hybrid. Interiors received the biggest upgrade, with more comfortable seating and luxury touches like heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen.
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Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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