Which Jeep Wrangler Is Right For Me?

So you want to buy a Jeep Wrangler but are not sure which model is right for you? It completely depends on how you plan to use your Jeep, do you need the passenger and cargo space of the four door Wrangler or is the two door the perfect size for your needs? The good news is whether you plan to be a hard core off-roader or only plan to leave the pavement on occasion, there is a Jeep Wrangler model and trim that is perfect for you. Over the years there have been quite a few special edition Wranglers with custom trim packages however we are going to focus on current offerings of the JL (Wranglers from 2018 to Present) and the JK (Wranglers from 2007 to 2018)



There are two models the regular and the unlimited version. Simply put the unlimited is the four door version of the Jeep often referred to as JKU or JLU. The two door model is just known as the Wrangler often referred to as a JL or JK. Also important to note is that the JLU offers an optional upgrade form the 3.6 liter Pentastar motor to a 2.0-Liter I4 DOHC DI Turbo eTorque Engine. The inline 4 turbo motor is new to the Wrangler and offers better fuel economy and better torque a $1,000 upgrade that we thing is well worth it.


Each model has multiple trim packages which include upgrades to the interior and drive train depending on the Jeeps intended use. Below we outline each trim package and who this Jeep is best suited for. Keep in mind there exceptions to every rule and when purchasing a new vehicle we suggest researching what you truly need and adding in what you want with what you can afford. Because pricing varies over time and is location dependent among other things we recommend checking out your local dealer or Jeep.com for pricing on new vehicles and KBB or your local classifieds for pricing on used models.

Jeep Wrangler Sport

The Jeep Wrangler Sport is the lowest trim level. Still equipped with Jeeps legendary four wheel drive system. The Sport is designed to be an inexpensive way to get into a Jeep. Riding on Jeep Dana comes equipped with Third generation Dana solid axles. One thing to note is that if you plan to run 35 inch tires after adding a lift kit you will need to either upgrade or reinforce your axles. We believe the Sport is a great platform to build from if you are looking for a very capable off-roader at a great price.

Jeep Wrangler Sport S

The Wrangler Sport S comes with all of the incredible features of the Sport but also allows you to have remote keyless entry and access to a few additional custom trim editions. With a few extras and a very similar price we recommend the Sport S for anyone considering the Sport. It will act as a great platform to build from for off-roading and running around town.

Jeep Sahara

The Sahara is designed to offer all of the premium interior and exterior options as the Rubicon but without the upgraded drive train and off-road features. Equipped with premium 18 inch wheels and upgraded suspension with gas shocks the Sahara offers better on and off-road performance than the Sport and Sport S trims. Optional leather seats, LED interior lighting and a 7 inch infotainment center take the Sahara up a notch when it comes to interior creature comforts. Additionally the Infotainment center jumps from being a 5 inch display to a 7 inch display.


If you are looking for an extremely capable off-road rig that has incredible on road handling and all of the bells and whistles for daily driving the Sahara is your model. We love this rig as a daily commuter, comfortable to drive decent MPGs for an SUV and the ability to take the top off and run it as a convertible are just a few reasons to pick up a Sahara.

Jeep Rubicon

The Jeep Rubicon is the epitome of off-road prowess. Designed to be able to tackle the toughest terrain and conditions the Rubicon comes with several upgrades over the other Jeep Wrangler trim packages.


The Jeep Rubicon is equipped with Dana 44 axles front and rear, which are heavy duty axles suited for the power and torque created when using 4-low in conjunction with the factory front and rear lockers. On top of coming with factory equipped front and rear lockers, the Rubicon trim comes with an electronic sway bar disconnect. Without diving too deep into off-road theory the sway bar is designed to improve handling while on the pavement. It’s a common best practice to disconnect the sway bar which significantly improves articulation when off-road. On other models this can be a little time consuming as you have to disconnect the sway bar manually. The Rubicon model comes with an easy to use button inside which electronically disconnects the sway bar and reconnects it once done. Front and rear lockers, electronic sway bar disconnect and upgraded axles are what make the Rubicon package the envy of all other 4x4s. If your desire is to purchase the most capable off-road vehicle on the planet then this is the trim for you.


If you are interested in taking a deep dive into comparing all features checkout the chart below.

Engine & Performance Features

Jeep Wrangler Sport

• • 3.6L V6 engine standard; 2.0L turbo eTorque I4 engine optional
  • 6-speed manual transmission standard; 8-speed automatic transmission optional
  • Command-Trac Part Time 4WD System
  • 3.45 axle gear ratio
  • Third generation Dana® solid front and rear axle
  • Normal duty suspension

  
  

  2018 Jeep Wrangler Sport S

  • 3.6L V6 engine standard; 2.0L turbo eTorque I4 engine optional
  • 6-speed manual transmission standard; 8-speed automatic transmission optional Command-Trac Part Time 4WD System
  • 3.45 axle gear ratio
  • Third generation Dana® solid front and rear axle
  • Normal duty suspension

  
  

  2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

  • 3.6L V6 engine standard; 2.0L turbo eTorque I4 engine optional
  • 6-speed manual transmission standard; 8-speed automatic transmission optional
  • Command-Trac Part Time 4WD System standard; Selec-Trac Full Time 4WD System optional
  • 3.45 axle gear ratio
  • Third generation Dana® solid front and rear axle
  • Heavy-duty suspension with gas shocks

  
  

  2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

  • 3.6L V6 engine standard; 2.0L turbo eTorque I4 engine optional
  • 6-speed manual transmission standard; 8-speed automatic transmission optional
  • 4:1 Rock-Trac HD Part Time 4WD System
  • Third generation Dana® 44 wide front and rear axle
  • Performance suspension

  
  

  Safety & Technology Features

  
  

  2018 Jeep Wrangler Sport

  • Uconnect® 3 with 5-in. display
  • Integrated voice command with Bluetooth®
  • 8-speaker sound system
  • 3.5-in. cluster black-and-white display
  • ParkView® rear back up camera
  • Tire Pressure Monitoring Display

  
  

  2018 Jeep Wrangler Sport S

  • Uconnect® 3 with 5-in. display
  • Integrated voice command with Bluetooth®
  • 8-speaker sound system standard; Alpine® premium audio system optional
  • 3.5-in. cluster black-and-white display
  • ParkView® rear back up camera
  • Remote Keyless Entry
  • Tire Pressure Monitoring Display

  
  

  2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

  • Uconnect® 4 with 7-in. display
  • Integrated voice command with Bluetooth®
  • Android Auto® and Apple CarPlay® compatibility
  • 8-speaker sound system standard; Alpine® premium audio system optional
  • 7.0-in. cluster color display
  • ParkView® rear back up camera
  • Remote Keyless Entry
  • Tire Pressure Monitoring Display

  
  

  2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

  • Uconnect® 4 with 7-in. display
  • Integrated voice command with Bluetooth®
  • Android Auto® and Apple CarPlay® compatibility
  • 8-speaker sound system standard; Alpine® premium audio system optional
  • 7.0-in. cluster color display
  • ParkView® rear back up camera
  • Remote Keyless Entry
  • Tire Pressure Monitoring Display

  
  

  Interior & Exterior Features

  2018 Jeep Wrangler Sport

  • Two and four doors available
  • Cloth seats with adjustable head restraints
  • Air conditioning
  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel
  • 17-in. black steel styled wheels
  • Top options: Black Freedom Top® hard top, Black Sunrider® soft top

  
  

  2018 Jeep Wrangler Sport S

  • Two and four doors available
  • Cloth seats with adjustable head restraints
  • Air conditioning
  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel
  • 17-in. tech silver aluminum wheels
  • Top options: Black Freedom Top® hard top, Black Sunrider® soft top, Premium Black Sunrider® soft top, Premium
  • Black Sunrider® soft top

  
  

  2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

  • Four doors available
  • Cloth low-bucket seats with Sahara logo
  • Air conditioning with automatic temperature control
  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel
  • Premium wrapped instrument panel
  • Ambient LED interior lighting
  • 18-in. polished wheels with gray spokes
  • Top options: Black Freedom Top® hard top, Black Sunrider® soft top, Premium Black Sunrider® soft top, Premium Black Sunrider® soft top, Body color Freedom Top® hard top

  
  

  2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

  • Two and four doors available
  • Cloth low-bucket seats with Sahara logo
  • Air conditioning with automatic temperature control
  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel
  • Ambient LED interior lighting
  • 17-in. polished wheels with black pockets
  • Top options: Black Freedom Top® hard top, Black Sunrider® soft top, Premium Black Sunrider® soft top, Premium Black Sunrider® soft top, Body color Freedom Top® hard top

  
  

  You Can’t Go Wrong

  To wrap things up it is important to know that you really cannot go wrong. Let us know in the comments what you went with and why? Already own a Wrangler let us know why you chose the trim you chose?