JEEP RISKS IT ALL BY CHANGING 2024 WRANGLER'S ICONIC GRILLE
- The 2024 Jeep Wrangler receives a refresh that brings a revised seven-slot grille and an updated interior.
- All '24 Wranglers come equipped with a new 12.3-inch center touchscreen with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- The Wrangler 4xe lineup expands with the new 4xe Sport on the low end and the new Rubicon X on the high end.
CORRECTION 4/06/23: This story has been updated to correctly state that the six-speed manual transmission is only available with the V-6 engine option, and not the turbocharged I-4, which came from an error in Jeep's press release. A Jeep spokesperson has confirmed the error to Car and Driver, and we've since updated this story to reflect this.
Now stretching back decades, the Jeep Wrangler has been a stalwart figure in the world of American off-road vehicles. Still using the same basic formula it always has, the Wrangler continues to plod along steadily with incremental changes. For the 2024 model year, Jeep restyles the Wrangler with an updated grille and a moderate refresh to the interior technology.
Familiar Faces
A quick glance at the refreshed front end shows exactly what you would expect: the same broad-nosed Wrangler face we've all grown so accustomed to over the previous decades. Under more scrutinizing eyes, you can see each slot of the grille is now more distinct, and the mesh behind the slots has been opened up. The normally flat bodywork beneath each headlight has been replaced and instead incorporated into the mesh backing. The 2024 Rubicon models may look even more distinct, as buyers now also have the option to add a factory-backed Warn winch with an 8000-pound capacity.
Inside, the most drastic change comes from Jeep dropping the old infotainment options in favor of a newly standard 12.3-inch center touchscreen that uses Uconnect 5 software. It also features standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Trails Offroad software is integrated directly into the center screen, giving access to guides for Jeep's 62 Badge of Honor trails (or the option to subscribe for access to over 3000 trail guides). Soft-touch fabrics with contrast stitching now wrap the instrument panel and round out the minor interior updates.
Electrified Off-Roading
The 4xe lineup adds what Jeep is referring to as the Power Box, which is essentially an accessory power supply unit with four 120-volt outlets supplying 30 amps of total output. The Power Box can run independently or in a hybrid mode using the SUV's engine if you need access to extra power for longer.
Jeep is also expanding the 4xe lineup for 2024 by adding two new models. The Sport S 4xe is the new entry point, mirroring the gasoline-powered Sport trim and giving customers a cheaper version of the plug-in-hybrid model. The new Rubicon X joins both the 4xe and gas-fed lineups and sits directly above the standard Rubicon trim while adding interior niceties and off-roading goodies.
Speaking of off-roading goodies, the Rubicon now comes with a full-float Dana rear axle, making it easier to install larger off-road tires. The Rubicon X we mentioned earlier adds a Rock-Trac full-time transfer case, steel bumpers, an integrated off-road camera, and 35-inch BFGoodrich A/T tires mounted on beadlock-capable wheels. The Willys trim adds steel rock rails, a locking rear differential, and 33-inch tires as standard. Plus, the 4xe Willys gets a Selec-Trac full-time transfer case with a 4LO ratio of 2.72:1.
Same Old Same Old
There are no powertrain changes to speak of, with the '24 Wrangler lineup maintaining the same four engine configurations. Sticking to the base V-6 nets you 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, and while opting for the 2.0-liter inline-four means less horsepower, it also includes more torque. The inline-four, 4xe, 392 powertrains come exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission, but 3.6-liter gas engine allows for a six-speed manual transmission or the same eight-speed auto.
Jeep also improved some of the Wrangler's standard safety features. First- and second-row side-curtain airbags are now standard on all trims. Forward-collision warning and adaptive cruise control are now standard on Sport S and above. Blind-spot monitoring and a parking assist are available on all but the base Sport.
Jeep hasn't yet revealed official pricing, but we expect the cost of the 2024 Wrangler to increase slightly over the current model, likely starting somewhere around $35,000.
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