We were a little concerned last year when we heard that Jeep was giving its bad-boy mud-machine an overhaul. Luckily, the Wrangler hasn't received the leather interior, cellular phone makeover that has recently emasculated so much of the sport-utility segment. No, the Wrangler remains the drive-me-hard-through-the-slop beast of yesterday, with a few appreciated improvements.

Jeep Wranglers have long been the standard for those valiant explorers who truly wish to go where no one has gone before. The go-anywhere ability of the Wrangler has been improved by the Quadra-coil suspension which allows an additional seven inches of articulation over the old leaf spring set-up; thus resulting in increased approach and departure angles. Jeep boasts that the Quadra-coil suspension, as well as improved shocks and tires, also greatly improves the Wrangler's on-road manners.

The Wrangler receives minor adjustments to the powertrain by combining the Dana 44 rear axle with a 3.73 axle ratio, replacing the 3.55 axle ratio with the 4.0-liter engine. And Jeep claims that a revised torsion bar provides improved steering response. Nobody, however, will mistake this vehicle for a smooth-running family sedan; the Wrangler is very much a truck. A five-speed manual transmission remains standard and a three-speed automatic is available for those who don't plan on doing any serious off-roading.

For 1998, most people will not notice any changes to the Wrangler other than the new Chili Pepper Red and Deep Amethyst exterior colors. Front bumper guards have been added and a new underhood lamp will aid in finding the wiper fluid reservoir in the dark. A TLEV (Transitional Low Emission Vehicle) 4.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine is available for states adopting California emission regulations, so Jeep owners can feel even closer to nature: they make less smog.

Over the past two years, Jeep has done a great job improving the Wrangler. Gone are some of the nagging complaints we had about safety, wind noise and engine roar; what remains is a solid truck with hard-core capabilities and rugged good looks. This is obviously not the truck for everybody, but those willing to put up with a cloth interior and a little road noise will be rewarded with an amazingly fun vehicle. Hey, they even brought back those snazzy round headlights ... what's not to like?

1998 Highlights

Jeep has improved off-road capability by increasing the axle ratio offered with the 4.0-liter engine and revising the torsion bar for better steering. Optional this year on the 1998 Jeep Wrangler are a tilting driver seat, automatic speed control, a combination CD/cassette stereo, a new Smart Key Immobilizer theft-deterrent system and two new colors.

Top consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 1998 Jeep Wrangler.

57 reviews

Best Vehicle I've ever owned

GuyFromTMA, 10/26/2015

I was given a 98' Sport with a 5 speed, 6 cylinder and a 3" body lift riding on (initially) 32X11.5 tires as my first car. The "Bigfoot Edition" package had been put on by a dealership when new. It had 140,000 miles on it but was very clean. I kept it for the next 9 1/2 years and (for personal/financial reasons that weren't connected to the Jeep) sold it with 262,000 on the clock.

fuel economy

jeepmech, 10/25/2009

Great auto, it does whatever you want it to do. It has had to have some repairs done to it, but with a vehicle that is designed to go anywhere, things are bound to wear out. The inline 6 is a great engine, the fuel econ is a little low but with knowledge of how the eng works you can improve it dramatically i.e.: a little diesel mixed in the fuel at the right levels sent mine from 16mpg

We've done a lot since 98 and still going strong.

tari5, 11/28/2011

I bought my Jeep new at a dealership in Colorado. When it was brand new a huge snowstorm hit and there was a pounding on the door. The ranch owner stood there up to his waist in snow. "Can I borrow your rig?"he asked. He needed to do an emergency insulin run for a friend and none of their big expensive ranch trucks could get through the snow. It got through when nobody else could and

My favorite Wrangler ... so far!

MSJEEPGUY, 1/13/2006

I've owned several Wranglers, including the new Unlimited, and while the '98 is the oldest (and most experienced) ... so far, it's my favorite. The 2.5L 4 fits me better than the previous 4.0L engines, and this one is also my first with a manual tranny. Aside from a bit more road noise (a great excuse to add a "monster" audio system) than my other Jeeps, I have no complaints. The

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Features & Specs

MPG

15 city / 19 hwy

Seats 0

5-speed manual

Gas

181 hp @ 4600 rpm

MPG

15 city / 19 hwy

Seats 0

5-speed manual

Gas

181 hp @ 4600 rpm

MPG

16 city / 18 hwy

Seats 0

5-speed manual

Gas

120 hp @ 5400 rpm

See all Used 1998 Jeep Wrangler features & specs

Safety

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
RolloverNot Rated
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of RolloverNot Rated

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Side Impact Test
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested
IIHS Small Overlap Front Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test
Acceptable

More about the 1998 Jeep Wrangler

Used 1998 Jeep Wrangler Overview

The Used 1998 Jeep Wrangler is offered in the following submodels: . Available styles include Sahara 2dr SUV 4WD, Sport 2dr SUV 4WD, and SE 2dr SUV 4WD.

What's a good price on a Used 1998 Jeep Wrangler?

Save up to $272 on one of 5 Used 1998 Jeep Wrangler for sale at dealerships within 25 miles of Ashburn, VA with prices as low as $6,999 as of08/14/2018, based on data from dealers and consumer-driven dealer ratings ranging from3.9 to 3.9 out of 5 stars.

Price comparisons for Used 1998 Jeep Wrangler trim styles:

The Used 1998 Jeep Wrangler SE is priced between $6,999 and$7,995 with odometer readings between 112428 and119217 miles.
The Used 1998 Jeep Wrangler Sahara is priced between $8,099 and$9,900 with odometer readings between 119325 and169989 miles.
The Used 1998 Jeep Wrangler Sport is priced between $8,057 and$8,057 with odometer readings between 164132 and164132 miles.

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Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 1998 Jeep Wrangler for sale near. There are currently 5 used and CPO 1998 Wranglers listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as $6,999 and mileage as low as 112428 miles. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a used car from our massive database to find cheap prew-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the Used 1998 Jeep Wrangler. Then select Edmunds special offers, perks, deals, and incentives to contact the dealer of your choice and save up to $272 on a used or CPO 1998 Wrangler available from a dealership near you.

Used 1998 Jeep Wrangler

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Used