New Jeep Wrangler coming in April
Stellantis Australia has released details on the 2024 Jeep Wrangler range, which is due to arrive in local Jeep dealerships this April. Key changes include adoption of a new engine across the range, technology updates, improvements in comfort and convenience, new standard features and some styling tweaks.
The model range has been tweaked, too, with the entry-level Night Eagle dropped in favour of a new ‘Sport S’ grade. Returning model grades include Overland and Rubicon; the latter being the only Wrangler offered locally in two-door form. NOTE The ‘Unlimited’ suffix applied to four-door Wrangler models appears to have been dropped.
For 2024, Jeep’s long-running 3.6-litre naturally aspirated V6 is being replaced with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine. Available since 2018 in the USA, this compact four’s maximums are 200kW and 400Nm, compared to 209kW and 347Nm from the V6. Jeep says the turbo four delivers more power at lower rpm and is more fuel efficient, although no fuel economy figure has been provided.
The Wrangler’s towing capacity of 2495kg in four-door form and 1497kg for the Rubicon two-door is unchanged with the new engine.
The Wrangler’s eight-speed automatic transmission carries over unchanged for 2024, as do most of the other underpinnings, like disc brakes, Dana axles and five-link suspension front and rear, but MY24 Wrangler Rubicons gain a heavy-duty Dana 44 full-floating rear axle that offers better axle weight distribution and allows for larger wheel/tyre combinations. Four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case continues to be standard range-wide, with the Sport S and Overland grades using the Selec-Trac four-wheel drive system that offers automatic transition from 4x2 to 4x4. Rubicon two- and four-door models run with the Rock-Trac four-wheel drive system that includes a 4:1 crawl ratio, electronic locking front and rear diffs and an electronic front sway bar disconnect. The front axle disconnect that was dropped for 2023 is not making a return, but the MY24 Wrangler Rubicon does gain a forward-facing ‘TrailCam’ that the lower grades miss out on.
For durability in rough conditions, all MY24 Wranglers feature a “Gorilla Glass” windscreen, with the antenna relocated to this toughened glass. Four underbody skid plates are standard range-wide, too.
Traction Control is standard, while all MY24 Wranglers gain first- and second-row side curtain airbags. This should improve the Wrangler’s ANCAP rating, which currently sits at three stars after the 2019 version scored just one star. A rear seat reminder warning for four-doors is also new for 2024.
On the tech front, all Wrangler grades gain a 12.-3-inch centre touchscreen with Stellantis’s Uconnect 5 infotainment system. A customisable home screen, swift access to frequently-used features and easy one-touch operation is claimed with the new screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto has also been added, while MY24 Rubicons also add acoustic laminated front door glass.
Hands-free voice recognition is said to be enhanced, thanks to microphone array tech, while the Sport S adds ambient lighting.
In line with the new 12.3-inch centre screen, there are some interior styling tweaks, including on the gauge cluster and instrument panel bolster bezels. Depending on model grade, the bolster is wrapped in polyurethane (Overland, Rubicon) or cloth (Sport S). All grades gain an accessory rail on top of the dash for mounting phones, compasses, GoPro cameras or other devices.
Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are standard on the Sport S (as they were on the Night Eagle), but new to the Overland and Rubicon for 2024 are 12-way power adjustable front seats (driver’s only on Rubicon two-door). Wrangler Overland seats are trimmed in ‘McKinley’ leather-accented cloth front and rear, while the Rubicon gains full Nappa leather seats as standard for 2024. The front seat backs on Overland and Rubicon grades are now hard, presumably in response to being punctured by gear or the knees of second-row occupants in rough terrain.
Externally, there’s been a minor change to the Jeep’s signature seven-slot grille, with a “contemporary refresh” in the form of slimmer slots that improve cooling, according to Jeep. Applied range-side, the grille features black slots with metal-look bezels and a body-coloured surround. New-look wheel designs are being introduced for all MY24 Wrangler grades – 17-inch for Sport S and Rubicon, 18-inch for Overland – with an optional design for the Overland.
Eleven available paint colours include bold Firecracker Red, Hydro Blue and High Velocity (yellow), as well as subtler shades, with Tuscadero (pink) to be available midway through 2024. With the exception of Bright White, all colours are premium paint finishes, which attract an additional cost.
Pricing for the 2024 Jeep Wrangler has not been revealed and isn’t expected to be announced until closer to local arrival in April. The new features and upgrades should see all pricing increase, though, which will come on the back of two rounds of price increases in 2022. As a reference point, MY23 Wrangler pricing started at $81,450 for the Night Eagle, rising to $83,950 for the Rubicon two-door, $86,950 for Overland and $90,450 for the Rubicon four-door.
Option prices have not been revealed at time of writing, either, but all pricing will be revealed closer to local release.