2024 Jeep Wrangler Review

If you've ever dreamt of driving a boxy icon that feels like it was sketched out on the back of a beer coaster by a bunch of mates swapping adventure stories, then the 2024 Jeep Wrangler is here for you.

It's noisy, it wanders a little on the road (thanks to those big chunky tyres) and yet, somehow, it charms your socks off.

Jeep's latest iteration of the Wrangler is a tale of two stories.

Over the last two weeks I have driven the four-door Wrangler Overland, which offers a slice of summer fun with its electric roof and the two-door Rubicon, which is as hardcore as off-roading gets.

But are they still the go-anywhere, do-anything vehicles we want them to be? Well, yes and no.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's address the obvious. Wranglers aren't cheap.

The four-door Overland starts at $91,841 driveaway, while the more off-road-focused two-door Rubicon asks for $93,727 driveaway.

You could buy a very sensible family SUV for that kind of money.

But sensible isn't why you buy a Wrangler. You buy it because you want a car that looks like it could conquer Mount Kosciuszko without breaking a sweat and a roof that can come all the way off (on certain models).

But is it all form over function? Not quite.

What's the Jeep Wrangler like to drive?

Off-road, both the Overland and the Rubicon are absolute legends.

The Rubicon, with its large offroad tyres, locking differentials and disconnecting sway bars, is practically a mountain goat on wheels.

It'll crawl up rock faces, wade through water up to 800mm deep and make you feel like a champion.

The Overland, while less extreme, still gets all the essentials: four-wheel drive, decent ground clearance and the ability to handle tracks rougher than your ex's text messages.

On-road, though, things get a bit… interesting.

In my experience, the steering is a bit vague thanks to those big tyres and requires constant micro-adjustments to keep you in a straight line.

The new 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, while more fuel-efficient (Jeep claims 9.7L/100km combined), doesn't feel as gutsy as the old V6. It's quick enough, but it lacks the burly, chest-thumping vibe you expect from a Jeep.

With the roof on, wind noise is, let's just say, enthusiastic.

In the Overland, you can pop the electric roof open or take it off entirely on sunny days and the Rubicon's manual removable roof panels are great for that open-air Jeep experience.

You're not buying a Wrangler for the hushed tones of a luxury sedan.

What's the Jeep Wrangler like inside?

Inside, it's a mix of rugged charm and modern tech.

The dashboard is upright and chunky, with grab handles and exposed bolts that remind you this is a serious 4WD.

At the same time, you get an 8.4-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plenty of USB ports and even heated seats and a heated steering wheel in the Overland.

Space-wise, the four-door Overland is roomy enough for a family, with decent legroom in the back and enough space to pack for a weekend getaway.

The two-door Rubicon, on the other hand, is best suited for couples or solo adventurers.

Rear-seat access is tight, and once you're in, it's cozy.

What's the Jeep Wrangler boot like?

Boot space is another area where the Overland and Rubicon diverge.

The four-door Overland offers a respectable 533 litres of cargo space with the seats up, which expands to 1,091 litres with them folded.

That's enough for camping gear, bodyboards, or a large dog - or all three if you're creative.

The two-door Rubicon? Well, let's just say you'll need to pack light.

With the rear seats in place, there's barely enough room for a couple of overnight bags. Fold them down and you get a bit more, but it's still not what you'd call spacious.

How safe is the Jeep Wrangler?

Jeep has added more safety tech to the Wrangler for 2024, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring.

That's a good thing because visibility isn't its strong suit, especially with the roof and doors on. The windscreen is as upright as a traffic cone and those chunky pillars don't help.

But the Wrangler feels solid and while it's not going to win any crash-test beauty contests, it's equipped to keep you safe on and off the road.

2024 Jeep Wrangler Review: Verdict

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler is not for everyone.

It's noisy, it wanders on the highway and it's not particularly practical in two-door form. But for all its flaws, it's still a lovable, characterful machine that knows exactly what it wants to be: an unapologetically rugged off-roader with a streak of fun.

The Overland is the one to get if you want a family-friendly summer cruiser with a touch of adventure.

The Rubicon, on the other hand, is for the purists - the hardcore off-roaders who want to tackle trails that make other 4WDs weep and personally - I think the 2-door configuration just looks so much better.

Yes, it's expensive, and no, it's not perfect. But that's the Wrangler's charm.