There are countless crossover models and quite a few SUVs, and then there is the Wrangler. The Wrangler stands apart as it has always been designed with off-roading ability as the highest priority while still offering everything needed for an on-road vehicle. The Wrangler had some very significant updates for the 2024 model year, and since they may not be evident at first glance, Benna CDJR wants you to know what they are.
Slightly New Face
Wrangler owners are as unique as their vehicle choice. To start, they don’t really want the Wrangler to change that much in appearance. So, while the face of the Wrangler has been updated, it is still instantly recognizable as a Wrangler with the trademark 7-slot grille and round headlights. The new shorter front fascia allows for more flexibility in front bumpers, including one on the Rubicon X, which can accommodate a factory installable 8,000-pound capacity Warn winch with up to a 100:1 crawl ratio.
Enhanced Capability
The Rubicon X also has a new Dana 44 HD full float solid rear axle that allows for tire upsizing by customers and up to 5,000-pound maximum towing. The axle design consists of a wheel hub assembly that is separate from the axle shaft, with a spindle bolted to the axle tube that supports the wheel hub via a pair of wheel bearings. The result is that the vehicle weight is transferred to the axle tube rather than the axle shaft itself, so the axle shaft is subjected only to torsional loads, with its sole function being to transmit power to the wheel hub. It also means the Rubicon X 4-door with the 2.0-liter or 36-liter powertrain now comes with standard 35-inch tires, a first for the Wrangler.
New for the Willys grade is a Tru-Lok rear locking differential, steel rock rails, trailer tow, heavy-duty electrical group, and larger 33-inch tires (replacing previous 32-inch tires). The Willys 4xe also adds the Selec-Trac full-time transfer case with a 4LO ratio of 2.72:1.
All Wranglers are convertibles in one way or another. The most straightforward means of open-air driving comes from the Sky One-Touch power top, which is now standard on the High Altitude model. This nearly full-length power cloth sunroof opens the cabin skyward with a simple button push.
A Big New Touchscreen and Other Upgrades
Standard on all new models is a revised dash featuring a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Behind the screen is the critically acclaimed Uconnect 5 infotainment system augmented by wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Giving you something new to look at on that big screen is the factory application of Trails Offroad, which offers comprehensive off-road trail guides for the 62 Jeep® Badge of Honor trails across the country. Though there are no Badge of Honor trails in Wisconsin or Minnesota as of yet, Michigan has the South Marble Head Loop and Holly Oands ORV Park. The inclusion of Badge of Honor Trails is standard, but a subscription offers Trail Offroad’s complete catalog of over 3,000 off-road trails, all of which can be followed on the big touchscreen.
Two New Models
The Wrangler model line also expands for 2024. The Rubicon X enhances the already capable Rubicon with the aforementioned 35-inch tires, steel bumpers, and an integrated off-road camera. Also new, the Sport S 4xe brings a lower entry price point for what is already the best-selling plug-in hybrid in the US. Newly available on all 4xe models is the Jeep power box that allows the 4xe battery to power external devices with four 120-volt outlets and 30 amps of total output.
The Wrangler remains a unique vehicle with a rich past. It is more refined than it has ever been, but still keeps rugged capabilities that could hold it back from a luxury category. But that is the sacrifice for having a whole world of non-paved surfaces to explore that other crossovers and SUVs can only view from a distance. If that sounds like the ride for you, check out the many Wrangler grades and configurations at Benna Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.
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