2026 Jeep Wrangler Moab 392 Review: Cheaper Than Seven Trips to Disney World

• Massive V8 power makes every drive an unforgettable event.

• Wrangler capability combines with luxury touches, and outrageous personality unlike almost anything available today anywhere.

• Buy this with your heart because your calculator surrendered long before the engine ever started roaring loudly.

There are weeks when I genuinely stop and appreciate how lucky I am to do this job. Every now and then I get handed the keys to something that completely ignores logic, practicality and common sense. Those are usually the vehicles I remember the longest.

The 2026 Jeep Wrangler Moab 392 is exactly that kind of machine.

It doesn’t exist because anyone needed it. It exists because somebody inside Jeep decided passion deserved a place in the lineup. I’m thankful they did.

I can think of a handful of enthusiast vehicles that occupy the same territory. The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing immediately comes to mind. They’re machines built because engineers and enthusiasts won the argument over accountants. They’re outrageous, wildly entertaining and completely unnecessary.

Celebrating the JL

Jeep introduced the Moab 392 as the first model in its “Twelve4Twelve” celebration, releasing a new special edition every month throughout the year. My suspicion? Once that celebration wraps up in late fall, we’ll probably see the next-generation Wrangler arrive. The timing certainly lines up with Jeep’s traditional product cycle.

If that happens, I hope one thing survives: The 6.4L, aka 392, HEMI V8. Because this engine is the entire reason this Wrangler Moab exists.

Of course, there’s one enormous obstacle. Pricing starts around $100,000, while this Mojito Green tester, with the Sky One-Touch roof and optional Warn winch, rings in at roughly $111,000. That’s serious money for any SUV, never mind one that is a glorified 4-door Wrangler that starts out at just over $57,000. And glory be to it!

Then again, I also can’t help imagining looking back 25 years from now and recognizing this as one of those unforgettable collectibles. It’ll be a Jeep for “those who understand” and then some, who remember because stories will be told about a Wrangler that shook entire neighbourhoods and off-road courses long before it arrived.

M O A B

Visually, Jeep didn’t reinvent anything because it didn’t have to. This is unmistakably a JL Wrangler, just wearing all the right hardware. Massive 35-inch tires wrapped around 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, heavy-duty rocker rails, steel bumpers, an aggressive hood scoop and those glorious dual exhaust outlets poking out the back.

That exhaust deserves special recognition. Every startup becomes an event, especially when the 392 is cold, and it’s in an underground parking structure, and the exhaust system is activated via the dash-mounted button.

Once underway, widen the throttle opening, and it transforms from entertaining into absolutely intoxicating. The dual-stage performance exhaust produces the sort of soundtrack that makes mature adults behave like teenagers. Self-control suddenly becomes much more difficult than it should be – this is my excuse.

All the trimmings

Inside, the Moab 392 balances rugged capability with genuine luxury. Nappa leather seats, power adjustment for both front occupants and Jeep’s straightforward 12.3-inch infotainment display make it comfortable without trying too hard. Best of all, Jeep continues to fill the dashboard with proper physical buttons.

I sincerely hope they survive into the next-generation Wrangler because not everything needs to disappear behind a touchscreen.

Visibility remains outstanding, something that becomes especially valuable once you leave the pavement. The Select-Trac full-time four-wheel-drive system is simple to operate, while the cabin still delivers exactly what Wrangler owners expect.

Around back, cargo space measures nearly 900 litres, still making the Wrangler surprisingly practical for road trips, camping weekends or hauling recovery gear before heading off-road. Entry requires a bit of a climb thanks to the 11.1 inches of ground clearance, but that’s simply part of Wrangler ownership.

Behind the wheel, the Moab 392 quickly reminds you that underneath all the theatre, it’s still a midsize SUV. It’s remarkably easy to drive around town despite those enormous tires and towering stance.

392

The personality, however, is anything but ordinary.

The naturally aspirated 6.4L V8 delivers 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Combined with Jeep’s full-time four-wheel-drive system, traction is never something you worry about. Instead, you worry about resisting temptation.

The steering still has the familiar Wrangler character, requiring more input than most modern SUVs thanks to its electro-hydraulic setup. Long-time Wrangler drivers won’t find any surprises there. I’ll add here that the Ineos Grenadier’s steering is unnecessarily vague and heavy for a like-minded vehicle.

The surprises arrive every time your right foot gets ambitious. Acceleration comes with a hilarious amount of body movement because the heavy-duty suspension provides tremendous wheel travel for off-road capability. The body leans, pitches and rolls while the tires simply keep digging for grip. It’s an oddly entertaining sensation that somehow adds even more personality to the experience.

The oversized brakes, unique to the 392, are thankfully up to the task because this Wrangler builds speed much faster than something shaped like a brick, this tall and narrow, has any business doing.

Official fuel economy? Let’s just say nobody buys a Wrangler 392 hoping to save money at the pumps. During my week, I averaged about 18 L/100 km, which honestly wasn’t as outrageous as I expected considering how impossible it was to resist that exhaust note. In contrast, the Grenadier guzzled 21 L/100 km.

That’s really the challenge with this Jeep. It constantly encourages questionable decisions. You see dirt roads, muddy trails, construction sites, sidewalks, gravel roads, parks differently. Somehow the Wrangler convinces you every detour deserves investigation. Puddles practically introduce themselves. All surfaces could become an entertaining challenge for the Moab…

That’s the magic of it. No spreadsheet can justify this vehicle. No logical purchasing guide recommends it. Yet every kilometre reminds you exactly why vehicles like this deserve to exist.

What to Watch For

The 6.4L HEMI is thirsty, maintenance costs will exceed those of ordinary Wranglers, and oversized off-road tires aren’t inexpensive to replace. Buyers planning serious trail use should also budget for regular inspections of suspension, driveline and underbody components after demanding off-road adventures.

More entertaining than Disney

The Wrangler Moab 392 is gloriously irrational, unapologetically loud and completely over the top. It’s one of those rare vehicles that reminds me driving can still be pure entertainment. If you can afford one, I honestly can’t imagine regretting it.

Besides, compared with seven family trips to Disney, maybe it even starts looking like a bargain. Every drive in the Wrangler Moab 392 will be like a ride on Big Thunder Mountain without the hotel bills.

Specifications
	2026 Jeep Wrangler Moad 392	2026 Ford Bronco Raptor	2026 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter
Base Price (As tested)	$99,995 ($110,845)	$109,290	$88,605
Engines	6.4L V8	Twin-Turbo 3.0L V6	Turbo 2.4L I4 HEV
Output (hp)	470	418	326
Base Torque (lb-ft)	470	440	465
Combined Fuel Economy (L/100 km)	16.8	15.3	10.1
Wheelbase (mm)	3,008	2,960	2,850
Length (mm)	4,890	4,852	4,951
Width (mm)	2,014	2,015	2.030
Height (mm)	1,918	1,976	1,920
Ground Clearance (inches)	11.1	13.1	10.12
Cargo Volume Behind 1st/2nd/3rd (L)	2,050 / 897 / -	2,350 / 1,008 / -	2,554 / 1,371 / -
Towing Capacity (kg)	1,588	2,041	2,722