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Jeep Wrangler JL

2018-present · Jeep Wrangler

72out of 100

The highest rollover risk on this list, the worst highway noise, the worst passenger comfort, and genuinely unmatched off-road capability.

Score breakdown

65/ 100Reliability×3.069/ 100True Annual Cost×1.560/ 100Safety×1.070/ 100Practicality×3.0100/ 100Repairability×1.5

Our take

What it really is

The Wrangler JL is the fourth generation of a vehicle. It has never pretended to be a car. Water intrusion is endemic and by design. Wind noise at highway speed is structural. Rear passenger comfort is genuinely poor.

Why it's on this list

For its intended purpose, off-road, nothing on this list competes. The 27.9% rollover risk is real, but ESC manages it on-road. The 32.4% 5-year depreciation is exceptional. If off-road is the use case, the score is irrelevant.

The honest trade-offs

As a daily highway commuter, the Wrangler is measurably inferior to every other vehicle on this list on every metric except off-road capability. This is not a defect. It is the product. Buyers who know this are satisfied. Buyers who do not are not.

What to buy and what to avoid

JL 2018+ only. The JL generation added ESC, meaningfully reducing rollover risk vs the JK. Unlimited (4-door) for any practical use. Sport S for the minimum equipment needed. Hard top over soft top for daily use.

Annual cost of ownership

Fuel (12k mi)
$1,980 (USD)[5]
Maintenance
$692 (USD)[1]
Tires (prorated)
$400 (USD)
Insurance (25yr male)
$2,310 (USD)[8]
Insurance (40yr female)
$1,360 (USD)[8]
Total (25yr male)
$3,524 (USD)
Total (40yr female)
$2,574 (USD)

Key specs

MPG combined
20[5]
MPG city / hwy
17 / 23[5]
Tank
21.5 gal[5]
Engine
ERB 3.6L Pentastar V6
Horsepower
285 hp
Torque
260 lb-ft
Seats
5
Cargo (behind 2nd row)
31.7 cu ft
Cargo max
31.7 cu ft
Tow capacity
3,500 lbs
Ground clearance
10.8"
Stock tires
255/75R17
Body
SUV
Rear seats
60/40 split

Safety

NHTSA overall
3/5 ★[2]
Rollover risk
28%[2]
IIHS rating
Marginal[4]
ESC standard
Yes

Rust vulnerability

Overall severity
Low
Frame rust risk
Low

Known issues by mileage

N/A
Water intrusion ENDEMIC — doors, Freedom panels, A-pillar, floor. Design characteristic.Moderate
N/A
Wind and road noise — worst on full dataset at highway speedMinor
30,000-60,000 Miles (48,000-97,000 KM)
Soft top degrades in 3-5 yearsMinor

Reliability data

RepairPal annual cost
$694 (USD)[1]
Industry avg annual cost
$652 (USD)[1]
RepairPal rating
3.5/5[1]
Unscheduled visits/yr
0.7[1]
Severe issue probability
11%[1]
250k-mile survival
40%[7]

Repairability

Headlight type
Halogen
DIY replacement cost
$40 (USD)
At major retailer
Yes
Headlight benchmark
10/10

References

Sources used to research and score this vehicle. Superscript numbers in the sections above link here.

  1. [1]dataset
    RepairPal

    Annual maintenance cost, reliability rating, unscheduled visit frequency, severe issue probability

  2. [2]government
    NHTSA Crash Test Ratings

    Overall crash test stars, rollover risk %, rollover stars, frontal and side ratings

  3. [3]government
    NHTSA Technical Service Bulletins

    Manufacturer-acknowledged technical issues and dealer fixes

  4. [4]dataset
    IIHS Safety Ratings

    Small overlap, side impact, overall safety rating, Top Safety Pick status

  5. [5]government
    EPA Fuel Economy Guide

    MPG city/highway/combined, fuel grade required, tank size

  6. [6]forum thread
    CarComplaints

    Most complained-about model years, common failure patterns by year and mileage band

  7. [7]dataset
    iSeeCars Long-Term Reliability

    250k-mile survival rate, depreciation curve, best age to buy used

  8. [8]publication
    Bankrate / Insurify Insurance Estimates

    Insurance cost estimates by vehicle class and driver profile

Before you buy

Looking to buy a Jeep Wrangler?

Start with our fully customized pre-purchase inspection checklist for you or your mechanic. Three versions: one for buyers who are not mechanics, one for enthusiasts with tools, one for handing off to a professional. Print or save as PDF.

Get the checklist

Modernize this car

CarPlay, backup cameras, blind spot monitoring, TPMS, and dashcams. Researched picks and honest watch-outs.

View options

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Jeep Wrangler JK
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