8 Top Jeep Wrangler Competitors
The Jeep Wrangler is the ultimate classic SUV design, but affordable alternatives like the Kia Seltos and Subaru Crosstrek give it a run for its money.
Written by Cameron Thiessen
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The Jeep Wrangler has dominated for decades as the epitome of off-road SUVs—and for good reason. Still, other new models like the Ford Bronco, Hyundai Palisade, and Kia Telluride offer stiff competition as genuine alternatives to this favorite ute.
Most people can imagine what a Jeep Wrangler looks like—it may be one of the most recognizable vehicles on the road, an impressive statement of power and adventurism packed full of history. Overall, the Jeep Wrangler still reigns as the go-to off-roading champion, but it’s been known of late to offer less-than-exceptional on-road handling compared to some competitors.
In fact, it might just so happen that you’ll be more satisfied by one of these competitors than a tried-and-true Jeep Wrangler, which is why
Jerry
—the car insurance
comparison shopping super app that saves you money—has built a list of our top eight competitors to consider as alternatives. And stick around till the end where we show you how to find cheap Jeep Wranger car insurance cost
—or cheap car insurance for which every vehicle you pick!Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers1. Ford Bronco
Starting price: $32,395 to $54,595
Selling points: Same great classic ute look, brilliant on- and off-road
Weak spot: Poor fuel economy, lots of cabin noise
A classic model revived from the throes of history, the newest generation of
Ford Bronco
is doing the Jeep thing—Ford style! And it’s safe to say that it’s succeeding at doing what it set out to do, offering a fantastic Wrangler alternative that delivers on performance, comfort, and technology.You can order a Ford Bronco with the standard 300-horsepower turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, or you can upgrade to a 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 that gets 330 horsepower.
Overall, the Bronco provides better on-road manners than the Wrangler while still being capable of doing pretty much all the same things that a Wrangler can do. For instance, it has the same 3,500-pound towing capacity, comes in 2- and 4-door versions, and boasts plenty of off-roading prowess.
2. Kia Telluride
Starting price: $34,725 to $44,625
Selling points: More seating capacity than the biggest Wrangler, tons of SUV value overall
Weak spot: Unimpressive fuel economy, a bit boring on-road
For drivers who would otherwise purchase a 4-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, the Kia Telluride offers a third row of seating for a maximum seating capacity of 8. It’s essentially the same thing as the Hyundai Palisade, but the Telluride is the one that’s grabbed the most top reviews.
It offers a brilliant amount of off-roading power with a 291-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 that outperforms all of the Wrangler engines, save for the hefty V8
Rubicon 392
engine that comes on the 4-door Unlimited model. All the best safety features are standard-issue, and the price for even a top trim is nothing to shake your fist at!3. Hyundai Palisade
Starting price: $34,895 to $48,585
Selling points: Sister vehicle of the Kia Telluride, great family budget SUV
Weak spot: Not built for off-roading
While the
Hyundai Palisade
and its Kia Telluride twin may not be as off-road-tuned as a Wrangler, it offers all the off-roading a large, adventuring family could need. No, these likely aren’t your go-to trail-riding SUVs, but with three rows of seating, a 5000-pound towing capacity, and a fair price for even the highest level trims, there are plenty of reasons to opt for the Palisade as your family’s camping SUV.Just like in the Kia, all the best safety features are standard. Wheel-mounted paddle shifters allow you to shift manually, and optional AWD provides plenty of slip reduction. It may not be as exciting as a
Wrangler Rubicon
, but the Palisade is sure to get the job done when it comes to carting your family out to your favorite camping spots.4. Kia Seltos
Starting price: $23,885 to $29,385
Selling points: Compact, capable, fun, incredible value
Weak spot: Stiffer ride than most SUVs
It may just so happen that you don’t actually need an SUV with the off-road capability of a Jeep Wrangler. If you’re just looking for something with adequate “soft-roading” ability—something to get you and your small family out to the hiking trails and safely down gravel roads—the
Kia Seltos
significantly undercuts the price of traditional 2-door utes like the Wrangler and Bronco. You’ll still get four doors and five seats with the Seltos, and while it could never outperform the previously mentioned sport-utes, the Seltos is a sturdily-built compact SUV with tons of ability.5. Toyota RAV4
Starting price: $28,310 to $38,250
Selling points: Tons of standard safety features, solid fuel efficiency, hybrid version available
Weak spot: No engine bigger than a 203-hp I-4 available
Another vehicle that offers you the opportunity to be realistic about your off-roading needs is the
Toyota RAV4
, a compact 2-row SUV that prioritizes standard safety features while still going all-out on off-road prowess with the top trim TRD Off-Road.You’ll pay a bit more than a low-level Wrangler trim, but what you’ll get is standard AWD, upgraded off-road-tuned suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires, and all the fancy extras like heated seats and a 360-degree camera system.
The RAV4 is better on gas than many other contenders on this list, and it still offers that same 3,500-pound towing capacity to compete with the Wrangler and Bronco.
6. Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Starting price: $134,300
Selling points: The ultimate luxury adventure ute, outperforms every other vehicle on this list
Weak spot: Expensive, only one thirsty V8 engine option.
If money is no object, it’s hard to deny that the Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a step up in quality from the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 392. While it may not get the same amount of horsepower output from its V8 compared to the Rubicon 392, the G550 doubles the towing capacity of the Wrangler, offering a maximum of 7,000 pounds.
While the Jeep looks like it belongs in the American backcountry, the G550 feels more like it should be driven around a desert city by a super-successful archeologist.
The interior is as luxurious as it gets, although you won’t see any improvements in fuel efficiency compared to the equally gas-guzzling Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon.
7. Land Rover Defender
Starting price: $53,650 to $112,750
Selling points: Best off-road Land Rover to date, established history
Weak spot: Still a bit inefficient, expensive
In 2023, the
Land Rover
Defender will celebrate its originally-released line of 1993 Defender 110 First Edition vehicles, sporting a 296-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4.While it’s certainly more of a luxury item than a Wrangler, the Land Rover really does offer a more refined driving experience overall. First of all, it’s much more well-mannered on the highway than other SUVs, and it comes with a whole assortment of optional off-roading gear.
It has a higher maximum ground clearance than the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon—11.5 inches vs. 10.8—and can trudge through an extra 5 inches of water. To round it all out, the Defender is rated for a maximum towing capability of 8200 pounds. Unfortunately, for many buyers, the Land Rover Defender will simply be out of the budget in terms of starting price and recurring costs.
8. Rivian R1S
Starting price: $91,075
Selling points: great off-road, electric, great towing capacity
Weak spot: Expensive, ride is a bit stiff
If you were already interested in shelling out the full price for a Rubicon 392, consider a slightly pricier alternative: an all-electric Rivian R1S that can burst up to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds.
The R1S can raise its adjustable air suspension up to 15.0 inches, has standard all-wheel drive that uses 4 motors in total, and can tow more than 7700 pounds, all while getting incredible fuel economy and up to 400 miles of range with the optional larger battery.
Jeep Wrangler vs. the competition
Curious how all these different models compare purely on paper? Here’s how the numbers line up between the 2022 Jeep Wrangler and its top competitors.
Model | Starting price range | Engine options | Maximum seating capacity | Maximum cargo volume | Maximum towing capacity | Fuel economy (city/highway/combined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$31,590 to $81,190 | V6, turbo I-4, turbodiesel V6, V8 | 5 seats | 72.4 cubic ft | 3500 lb | 17/23/19 mpg | |
$32,395 to $54,545 | Four-cylinder or V6 | 5 seats | 52.3 cubic ft | 4500 lb | 20/21/20 mpg | |
$34,725 to $44,625 | V6 | 8 seats | 87 cubic ft | 5000 lb | 20/26/23 mpg | |
$34,895 to $48,585 | V6 | 8 seats | 86.4 cubic ft | 5000 lb | 19/26/22 mpg | |
$24,135 to $29,635 | 4-cylinder or turbo I-4 | 5 seats | 62.8 cubic ft | 2948 lb | 27/31/29 mpg | |
$38,250 | four-cylinder | 5 seats | 62.8 cubic ft | 3500 lb | 25/32/29 mpg | |
$134,300 | four-cylinder | 5 seats | 68.5 cubic ft | 2948 lb | 17/19/18 mpg | |
$56,350 to $71,650 | Four-cylinder or inline-six | 7 seats | 8200 lbs | 19/22/21 mpg | ||
2022 Rivian R1S | $91,075 | V6 | 7 seats | 80.5 cubic ft | 6000 lbs | 21/27/23 mpg |
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Well, there you have it! Hopefully you have a better lay of the land when it comes to SUVs as capable and rugged as the Jeep Wrangler. Unfortunately, with so many different available options for various models, deciding exactly what car to get can be a difficult task!
Luckily, finding car insurance for your SUV is much easier with
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