Used 2021 Jeep Wrangler SUV Trims Comparison

Most Wranglers have part-time four-wheel drive (it works as rear-wheel drive or 4WD) with low-range gearing. A full-time 4WD system is also available.

Then there are five (yes, five!) engines to choose from. They include:

• 3.6-liter V6 (285 horsepower, 260 lb-ft). Comes with a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. Also available with Jeep's eTorque mild hybrid system for improved fuel economy
• Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (270 hp, 295 lb-ft); automatic transmission only
• Turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel V6 (260 hp, 442 lb-ft); automatic and four-door only
• 6.4-liter V8 called the 392 (470 hp, 470 lb-ft); automatic, four-door Rubicon only
• Plug-in hybrid powertrain called the 4xe (375 hp, 470 lb-ft); automatic and four-door Rubicon and Sahara only

The Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain combines the four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic with two integrated electric motor-generators. A hybrid battery pack that you can recharge at home or at a public charging station is mounted underneath the rear seats. The EPA estimates that with a fully charged battery you should be able to drive about 21 miles on all-electric power. After you've depleted the battery, the powertrain switches to normal gasoline-powered hybrid operation.

Got all that? OK, here's a rundown of the Wrangler's trim levels:

Sport
The base Sport trim is relatively bare-bones, though it does include a number of standard features such as:

• 17-inch steel wheels
• Skid plates
• Tow hooks
• Foglights
• Crank windows
• Manual door locks
• 5-inch touchscreen display

Sport S
Think of this as the base Sport model with a few extra creature comforts, including:

• Alloy wheels
• Air conditioning
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Power windows and door locks
• Tinted windows

There are also a bunch of available subtrim packages for the Sport and Sport S such as Willys, Altitude, 80th Edition, Freedom and Islander. These bundle distinctive cosmetic changes such as different wheels and trim but can also include extra features that would otherwise be optional on the Sport and Sport S.

Sahara
This midtier trim is only available on the four-door model. Features include:

• 18-inch wheels
• Full-time 4WD
• Body-colored grille and fender flares
• Automatic climate control
• 7-inch touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration

Jeep offers the Altitude and High Altitude upgrade packages for the Sahara. Similar to the Sport's subtrims, these bundle cosmetic upgrades along with some extra features.

Rubicon
Named for the 22-mile off-road trail in Northern California, the Rubicon is focused on being the most capable production off-roader available from Jeep. Features include:

• 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires
• Heavy-duty Dana 44 front and rear axles with shorter 4.10 gear ratio
• 4:1 low-range gearing (provides extra traction when off-roading)
• Electronic locking front and rear differentials (provides extra traction when off-roading)
• Electronic disconnecting front stabilizer bar (enhances wheel articulation when off-roading)
• Rock rails (protects underbody when off-roading)

Note that the Rubicon 392 is more thoroughly equipped than a regular Rubicon. It has the V8 plus unique Fox shock absorbers, a 2-inch lift, special exterior styling and most of the optional features listed below. It doesn't have the shorter axle ratio and 4:1 low-range gearing of a regular Rubicon, but the V8's extra torque easily compensates.

Many optional features are also available as part of the subtrim packages or other bundled packages. With the understanding that not everything is available for every configuration, here are the highlights to look out for:

• LED headlights
• Forward-facing camera (to help better spot terrain when off-roading)
• Trailer towing package
• Upgraded infotainment system with 8.4-inch touchscreen display
• Alpine audio system
• Leather upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Sky One-Touch Power Top (combines hardtop sides with a retractable fabric roof-length cover)
• Xtreme Recon package (35-inch tires on bead-lock capable wheels; 4.56:1 axle gearing; 1.5-inch suspension lift)
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
• Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)