For 2021, Jeep is celebrating 80 years of off-roading. This brand has done more to advance the off-road scene than any other, and it has no intention of slowing down as it enters its eighth decade. You’ll find that the updates and upgrades to the 2021 Jeep Wrangler stay true to the history that made it iconic while celebrating the technology of our time. There are four models of Wranglers currently for sale, with a brand-new eco-friendly model hitting the market in early 2021. Let’s look at what your Wrangler will have with it for the new model year.
Pick Your Poison
There are four primary trims of the Jeep Wrangler, with a host of options and special editions. The first trim is the Sport, with an MSRP starting at $28,295 for the two-door and $31,795 for the four-door. With the Sport, you also have the option of a black three-piece hardtop or two different soft tops. The standard engine is a 3.6-liter V6, but the Wrangler is also available with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine or a 3.0-liter V6 turbo-diesel.
The Sport has seating for five on its cloth seats (leather seats are optional), and you can connect your smartphone wirelessly and use voice commands to control the audio system. It also comes with a 5-inch display with the latest generation of Uconnect for additional tech functionality. Additional driving perks include hill start assist and the Jeep ParkView rear backup camera. But while it may be limited when it comes to luxury features, the Wrangler Sport is still an incredible off-road vehicle. It comes standard with a true 4×4 system and wears the prized Jeep Trail Rated badge. While the Sport trim may be the most affordable way to get your hands on a Wrangler, it also makes a great blank canvas for your ideal off-road build.
The Sport S model also comes with two-and four-door options, starting with an MSRP of $32,435. While it carries over most of the Sport trim features and has the same engine options, the Sport S has numerous options for a more premium experience. These include an Alpine premium audio system upgrade and a 7-inch or 8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen display. These larger Uconnect displays also bring more tech features such as SiriusXM satellite radio.
With the Sport S, you can choose to add various safety packages. These include advanced brake-assist, full-speed forward-collision warning, blind-spot and cross-path detection, and adaptive cruise control. Together, these features and more help keep you safe on the road no matter the conditions. With the Sun & Sound Package, you can include a 115-volt auxiliary power outlet, additional USB charging ports, and the one-touch open power top. Be ready for whatever winter throws at you with optional heated front seats, a heat steering wheel, and remote start.
The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sahara trim only comes in a four-door option, and MSRP starts at $38,890. The Sahara adds a third additional interior color combo, black and dark saddle. The Uconnect system available in the Sahara introduces to the midsize SUV market the forward-facing TrailCam off-road camera. There’s also an available 4G WiFi hotspot and remote-proximity keyless entry.
The ultimate off-road trim of the 2021 Jeep Wrangler remains the Rubicon, which is well worth its starting $38,940 MSRP. With 33-inch all-terrain tires and 10.8 inches of ground clearance, the Rubicon can tackle even the toughest trails (such as the Rubicon Trail that it is named for). All previous package options are available on the Rubicon.
A Variety of Special Editions
Each of the four trims has a few special edition options. The Willys Sport, for instance, includes chunkier off-road tires and larger wheels than the regular Sport, while the Islander has a tropical theme, including an available white hardtop. Both trims have additional logos and graphics, as well.
The Sport S has its own Willys trim option, and the Freedom trim includes special military-inspired branding. There are Sport and Sahara “Altitude” options with body-color fenders and glossy black accents. The Sport version has a black top while the Sahara can have a top that is color-matched. The pinnacle of the Jeep Wrangler lineup is the High Altitude, with MSRP starting at $49,495. With the cushiest interior, everything is leather-trimmed, and more technology and safety options are standard.
New Year, New Designs
To commemorate its 80th anniversary, Jeep has added an appropriately named and badged edition. The Wrangler 80th Anniversary Edition starts at $36,235 and is available with both two and four doors. It comes standard with 18-inch wheels with crystal granite accents, and the interior is black cloth with special anniversary markings. Inside, it has all the top of the line luxury features available for the Wrangler. While it may not quite keep up with the legendary Rubicon off-road, there is no better way to celebrate Jeep’s rich heritage than with the 80th Anniversary Wrangler.
But the biggest news for the 2021 Jeep Wrangler is the addition of the new Wrangler 4xe. This model has a cutting-edge plug-in hybrid powertrain. It’s possible to travel 25 miles on battery power alone with zero emissions. By combining the gas and electric capabilities, the manufacturer’s estimated total driving range is 400 miles. With three driving modes – electric, E-Save (which saves battery power), and hybrid – it’s estimated the 4xe has a fuel economy of 50 MPGe. For now, the 4xe technology is only available on the four-door Wrangler.
More importantly, this is no Prius. Built to live up to the Wrangler name, the 4xe can go 0 – 60 in just six seconds thanks to its impressive 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. That’s a full 90 hp more than the second most powerful Wrangler engine, which explains the incredible performance of the 4Xe. Further, when you go off-road with the top and doors off in the near-silent electric mode, you can enjoy the beauty of nature that much more closely. The lithium-ion battery pack is even fully sealed and waterproofed, tucked under the second row of seats so you can take this model anywhere you can take another Wrangler, with no additional ground clearance or water fording limitations.
While 4Xe will ship with a level one power cord that can work off any household outlet, Jeep has teamed up with Amazon for an officially-approved level two home charger. Made by Mopar, this TurboDX charger has gone through copious amounts of testing and is the safest available home charger on the market with thermal detection, auto-restart and recovery, and ground detection against faults. The TurboDX will charge up to five times faster than the standard power cord. Of course, any public charging station will also work to top up the electric battery on the go.
The More Things Change
Jeep is moving steadily into the future with the 4xe powertrain, on top of its existing Uconnect connectivity and other technology. Just because you want to travel mountain trails and ford 30-inch streams doesn’t mean you should give up streaming music and the benefit of heated seats on a cold morning. The plethora of 2021 Jeep Wrangler options means you’ll find just the right match for wherever or however you want to travel. After all – Jeep has 80 years of experience pushing the off-road market forward.
