The 2025 Jeep Wrangler can do a lot for a lot of people. However, buyers must know that this is no ordinary utility vehicle.
Getting bored with cookie-cutter crossovers? The 9-to-5 job is mind-numbing and the weekends just breeze by with anything being accomplished? Does being part of a community seem interesting? Well, then a 2025 Jeep Wrangler might be a solution.
The Wrangler is not only a versatile, go-anywhere SUV, it’s also a way of life, if you’re willing to use it like it was designed to be. It can take us off the beaten path without flinching, it can tow a boat or a small camping trailer, it can fetch the groceries. Heck, we can even drop its top on sunny days and get a tan.
If someone we know suddenly parks a Wrangler in their driveway, and never owned a Jeep before, there’s a good chance that person is seeking a change in their lives. Or maybe they’re just tired of fixing their car’s wheels and suspension broken by the city’s countless potholes. When we cross paths with another Wrangler, and with the Jeep Gladiator, we mustn’t forget to wave, because that’s what Jeep owners do.
The 2025 Jeep Wrangler has few direct rivals. It competes with the Ford Bronco and the Toyota 4Runner, the only other mainstream midsize body-on-frame off-road-focused SUVs on our market. Posher Wrangler variants could also be crossed shopped with the Ineos Grenadier, the Land Rover Defender and the Toyota Land Cruiser.
For the 2025 model year, the Wrangler gets few changes after receiving a thorough mid-cycle refresh last year. All Wrangler variants now get power door locks and windows as standard, which were previously unavailable on the base Sport trim level. The mobile app now features Active Cabin Ventilation, allowing owners to pre-ventilate their vehicle’s cabin before entering it.
The Willys ’41 edition is also new for 2025, which happens to be the subject of this test. For an extra $5,200 over the price of a Wrangle Unlimited 4xe Willys, the ’41 edition features olive paint, U.S. army-inspired decals, a tan soft top, unique 17-inch wheels with 33-inch all-terrain tires, tan and black seat upholstery, steel bumpers and a rear locker. In a nutshell, it looks like an army Jeep.
The Wrangler is available in two- and four-door body styles, both convertibles covered with either a hard top that can removed with tools and elbow grease, or a soft top that can be taken off in a few minutes thanks to zippers and Velcro strips. The Sport, Sport S, Willys, Rubicon and Rubicon X trim levels are available in both body styles, while the Unlimited four-door can also be ordered in Willys ’41, Sahara and Backcountry variants.
Three powertrains are on offer as well. The base engine is a 3.6L V6 that develops 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, matched to either a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic. A turbocharged 2.0L inline four with 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet is optional, managed exclusively by the eight-speed tranny.
The four-door Wrangler can also be equipped with a plug-in hybrid system dubbed 4xe (pronounced four-by-e), consisting of the turbo 2.0L four, an eight-speed automatic with an integrated electric propulsion motor, a motor/generator and a 17.3 kWh battery pack. Combined output is rated at 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, and the battery can be fully recharged in 2.4 hours on a Level 2 outlet, and in about 12 hours on a household 120-volt plug. As with almost all PHEVs, there is no DC fast charge compatibility.
Regular fuel can be used in all three powertrains. Here are the fuel economy numbers for each:
| Engine | 2-Door City/Highway/Combined L/100 km | 4-Door City/Highway/Combined L/100 km | 4-Door Combined Le/100 km | 4-Door Driving Range (km) |
| 3.6L V6 with 6-speed manual | 13.9 / 10.2 / 12.2 | 14.3 / 10.5 / 12.6 | – | – |
| 3.6L V6 with 8-speed automatic | – | 13.4 / 10.1 / 11.9 | – | – |
| Turbo 2.0L I4 with 8-speed automatic | 11.6 / 10.2 / 11.0 | 11.9 / 10.5 / 11.3 | – | – |
| PHEV Turbo 2.0L I4 with 8-speed automatic | – | 11.6 / 11.9 / 11.7 | 4.8 | 35 |
During our drive of a 2025 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4xe Willys ’41, we managed a respectable 7.5 L/100 km by plugging in every time we arrived home. If we concerned about fuel economy, the 4xe variants are definitely the ones to choose, but they cost several thousand dollars more than their non-hybrid counterparts.
Standard features include automatic headlights, fog lamps, skid plates, 17-inch painted steel wheels, a Sunrider soft top, air conditioning, cloth seats, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, cruise control, a Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, an eight-speaker sound system, SiriusXM satellite radio compatibility (with trial period), Hill Start Assist and more.
Uplevel Wrangler variants also offer a trailer tow group, power heated outside mirrors, side steps, rock rails, a three-piece hard top, a power-retractable soft top, a winch, 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, premium cloth or leather seating, heated front seats, 12-way power-adjustable front seats, a heated steering wheel, a nine-speaker Alpine stereo, navigation, Jeep Connect connected services (with trial period), blind-spot monitoring, rear park assist, and much more.
Pricing ranges from $42,895 to $85,175 for the two-door Wrangler, and from $55,490 to $87,985 for the four-door Unlimited, before adding on options. The 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain is available from $62,190. In the U.S., the Wrangler is priced from $34,090 to $72,340 before options. The U.S. market also gets the Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 392 that Canada doesn’t, which is listed from $101,990.
Why You Should Buy a 2025 Jeep Wrangler
- Because it’s cool. Like many people who need a change in their lives, who needed a break from the usual boring selection of cars and crossovers, or who needs a vehicle that can handle any off-road adventure, the Wrangler may be a cold bucket of water splash in the face. It’s an almost unique proposition on the market.
- The 4xe powertrain is plenty powerful and the most efficient available in the Wrangler lineup. It offers decent EV-only range and the hybrid system does its best to save fuel in most driving situations.
- Over time, the Jeep has improved its road manners and we’ll sound like a broken record, but it’s no longer a chore to drive on the highway. Its cabin is also much more sophisticated than before, with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen fitted as standard.
- The Unlimited four-door Wrangler offers a decent amount of cargo space, a max towing capacity of 1,588 kilograms or 3,500 pounds, excellent ground clearance and enough suspension travel to be comfortable on and off road.
Why You Shouldn’t Buy a 2025 Jeep Wrangler
- The two-door Wrangler and its shorter wheelbase isn’t the most comfortable vehicle out there. Its ride is harsher and jitterier than that of the longer four-door Unlimited. Unless we’re hardcore enthusiasts, we’d skip the shorter variant.
- The Wrangler used to be somewhat affordable, at least in bare-bones Sport trim. It’s still attainable, but the four-door variant now starts at $55K. That being said, the four-door Bronco and the 4Runner are priced about the same.
- We like the 4xe powertrain for its fuel economy, but despite its impressive horsepower and torque ratings, it doesn’t feel like it wants to engage in any type of sporty driving. Not a big deal, but consumers should know that the 375 horses on board aren’t very lively.
- As unique as the Wrangler is, some of its traits might not please everyone. Road noise never quite goes away, especially when the vehicle is equipped with the 35-inch all-terrain tires. It’s shaped like a brick, so constant steering corrections are required in windy days. The door openings are narrow and climbing in and out isn’t very graceful. The interior carpeting can be removed to hose the cabin down after some a day of off-road open-top mud slinging, but that means said materials are more rugged than upscale. This is definitely not a surprise or even a problem for loyal Jeep fans, but people stepping into a Wrangler for the first time might feel as though the interior finish doesn’t reflect the monthly payment.
Should You Buy a 2025 Jeep Wrangler?
We’re always quite impressed with the SUV every time we drive it, and how it’s become more refined over time without losing any of its capabilities. On some days, we can imagine it as a good daily driver, while on others, the noise level and still-vague steering feel challenges our patience when we just want a relaxed drive.
The important thing is that if we’re going to use it as a pavement princess, there are more comfortable and refined crossovers and SUVs out there. To fully enjoy the Wrangler means adopting an active lifestyle, closing our laptops and dropping our smartphones to head out for a new adventure every weekend. It could be the greatest vehicle we ever bought for that same reason, but it’s a costly one to get us out of the house.
| Specifications | |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited | 2025 Ford Bronco 4-Door | 2025 Land Rover Defender 110 | 2025 Toyota 4Runner | 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser | |
| Price Range Before Options and Luxury Tax ($CAD) | $55,490 to $87,985 | $53,660 to $118,220 | $79,150 to $140,500 | $56,130 to $86,131 | $72,125 to $86,887 |
| Engines | - 3.6L V6 - Turbo 2.0L I4 - Turbo 2.0L I4 PHEV | - Turbo 2.3L I4 - Twin-Turbo 2.7L V6 - Twin-Turbo 3.0L V6 | - Turbo 2.0L I4 - Turbo 3.0L I6 MHEV - Supercharged 5.0L V8 | - Turbo 2.4L I4 - Turbo 2.4L I4 HEV | - Turbo 2.4L I4 HEV |
| Output (hp) | 270 to 375 | 300 to 418 | 296 to 493 | 278 to 326 | 326 |
| Base Torque (lb-ft) | 260 to 470 | 325 to 440 | 295 to 450 | 317 to 465 | 465 |
| Combined Fuel Economy (L/100 km) | 11.3 to 12.6 | 12.0 to 15.3 | 12.6 to 14.7 | 9.9 to 11.2 | 10.1 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 3,008 | 2,849 | 3,022 | 2,850 | 2,850 |
| Length (mm) | 4,785 | 4,810 | 5,018 | 4,950 | 4,990 |
| Width (mm) | 1,877 | 1,928 | 2,008 | 1,980 | 1,940 |
| Height (mm) | 1,946 | 1,854 | 1,972 | 1,860 | 1,925 |
| Headroom 1st/2nd/3rd (mm) | 1,036 / 1,023 / - | 1,100 / 1,044 / - | 1,032 / 1,025 / 1,041 | 974 / 959 / 869 | 1,019 / 1,001 / - |
| Legroom 1st/2nd/3rd (mm) | 1,046 / 974 / - | 1,095 / 922 / - | 993 / 975 / 517 | 1,062 / 884 / 807 | 1,092 / 932 / - |
| Cargo Volume Behind 1st/2nd/3rd (L) | 2,050 / 897 / - | 2,197 / 1,085 / - | 1,826 / 743 / 160 | 2,381 / 1,269 / 343 | 2,328 / 1,308 / - |
| Towing Capacity (kg) | 1,588 | 1,588 | 3,500 | 2,722 | 2,722 |
