When I first discovered I was going to have the opportunity to review a Jeep Wrangler (and not even one with a Hemi under the hood), I was a bit underwhelmed. Just the week before, I tested a 2025 Morgan Plus 4, so I probably sound a bit ungrateful to get the Jeep, but my specialty is classic sports and high-end enthusiast cars—what the heck am I going to write about? You see I never really understood the Jeep. I saw it as something that was not really an SUV and not really a truck. It didn’t help that I own a BMW X3 and an X5 which are both great SUVs and always compared every Jeep I have briefly driven to them. Then this tangerine Jeep Wrangler (a hue which Jeep calls Joose) showed up in my driveway, and I began to form an idea in the back of my mind that maybe I have somehow overlooked a ride that is one of the most important American vehicles being built, even more important than the Ford Mustang or Chevrolet Corvette.
You will not mistake the 2025 Jeep Wrangler for anything else but a Jeep. It still has a flat windshield, slat grill, round headlights, short hood that is closed by a pair of side latches, big fenders that are bolted on to the body, removable doors, and compact proportions (despite this one being a four-door model)—basically, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler shares many design cues with every other Jeep since 1941. The fact that this design is still here this many years later makes the Jeep one of the most iconic American vehicle designs in the history of American automobiles.
In the past week, I learned that not only are Jeeps super cool (even with only a V6 under the hood), but that they also are probably the best retro-modern American enthusiast car that has ever been built.
Jeep is a fascinating brand here in the United States. Initially conceived as a military vehicle, it has been built for almost 85 years without interruption. The longer I drove this Jeep, the more it reminded the Morgan Plus 4, another car that in many ways is the exact same car that has been built since 1936—sure, with upgrades and redesigns here and there, but building a car that, despite upgrades in technology and manufacturing, is not mistaken for any other car. In essence, the Jeep is the American Morgan.
The current version of the Jeep that was introduced in 2018 (known as the JL) is the 12th generation of the civilian Jeep and the fourth generation of the Jeep in Wrangler form. Think about that for a moment: the same basic vehicle is still being built in the U.S. as a civilian model for decades upon decades. Not only that but, during that entire period, the Jeep has continued to be a very popular and successful vehicle. To me, this makes the Jeep an amazing vehicle and one that has an enthusiast community as popular as brands like Porsche or Ferrari.
The specific Jeep Wrangler four-door I was given was a Sahara spec model. The only options on this Wrangler were a tow package and McKinley leather seating, which alone make the Wrangler feel much more premium and special. As one of the better-trimmed versions, the Sahara gives you better seats and other options keyed towards comfort and style. It should be noted that the cell phone integration was excellent, as was the on-board navigation system with traffic data; additionally, the audio system sounded excellent for a vehicle in this class. It might sound crazy, but the entire center stack package felt much better executed and easier to use than the one used in all the Land Rovers I’ve driven—vehicles that cost much more than most Jeeps.
If you have ever driven a Jeep of any generation and liked it, then you will not be disappointed by the 2025 Wrangler. It gives you the Jeep driving experience through and through, though with a few softer edges than, say, a CJ-5. Nonetheless, you still gain that confidence that no matter what the road looks like, this is a vehicle that can climb any mountain or conquer any form of rough terrain. The view from the flat windshield is so familiar, adding to the classic old-style Jeep look, and something you will not find in any other new vehicle—not even the new Land Rover Defender. The Jeep is built for fun and, much like riding a BMW GS adventure bike, you might find yourself daydreaming about a driving adventure in the wilderness, maybe while being chased by dinosaurs escaping from the latest reboot of Jurassic Park.
I used the Jeep both on- and off-road, so the Wrangler Sahara can be summed up in one word: capable. While louder than many vehicles when driven on the highway, the Jeep has less wind noise than the Ford Bronco, plus it also feels smaller, which is nice.
During my time with this 2025 Wrangler, I learned a lot about the wildly passionate Jeep culture. When passing another Jeep, drivers would wave or blink their lights. When stopping for gas next to another Jeep, a conversation always happened, going on well past the point when our Jeeps were filled with fuel.
I also learned about the duck phenomenon: when a Jeep owner sees another Jeep parked somewhere that (s)he thinks is cool, (s)he may have a habit of leaving a little rubber duck on the hood. This has been going on for years and, now, even Mopar sells big bags of various Mopar-branded ducks for owners to give away. Sadly, no one gave me a duck, but I often saw Jeeps with their entire front window lined with little ducks. This duck thing might sound silly but it is another thing that shows just how strong the Jeep community is.
Another thing I learned about Jeeps is that, since 1997, the brand has put a number of “easter eggs” baked into the design. Some of these include the exterior vent behind the hood matching the front grill, grills in the lights when they are illuminated, and lots of classic WW2 Jeep silhouettes around the vehicle, including on the wheel centers, shifter, and even a little Jeep climbing a hill on the right side of the windshield. The fact that the folks at Jeep not only acknowledge their history but also celebrate it in such a fun and whimsical way is something I have not seen from any other manufacturer. I personally love the born-on sticker (somewhat like a birth certificate) on the inside of the rear door, which tells an owner about a particular Jeep and the location from where it was built.
After a week with the 2025 Wrangler, I began to get the itch to buy one myself. It certainly is fun to drive, and one of the most capable off-road vehicles ever built. While behind the wheel of this Jeep, I though of the adventures I could go on—with the full knowledge that my Jeep would not let me down, and we would get “there” no matter if there was in the middle of the Grand Tetons, the wilds of Alaska, or just to the local grocery store. You take it to run a quick errand but you also know that if you wanted to take a detour, say, to the middle of the Mojave Desert, the Jeep would and could. That feeling made every drive in the Jeep fun and full of amazing possibilities.
I decided that, after my time in the Jeep, I needed a second opinion, so I called my bud Ralph Gilles, chief design officer for Stellantis, to see what he thought of the car. Ralph said that the magic of Jeep is “how it makes you feel. It’s hella fun in the winter, and you always know that fun is in store whenever you get behind the wheel.”
I then asked Ralph how the designers can update the Jeep Wrangler and not ruin the design. He responded, “The key is that it always has stayed pure to what it is. The key to the design is finding that balance between what the Jeep was and still being able to update it.”
As you know, I arrived at the conclusion that the Jeep Wrangler is, in many ways, the American Morgan and, in so many ways, it is. However, it is more than that—the Jeep Wrangler is the original American enthusiast vehicle and the very definition of a vehicle built for adventure. It is also a cult car of the highest order, with owners being some of the most enthusiastic I have ever seen, even when compared to Porsche owners (who are known to take their passion for their cars to 10—Jeep owners take it to 11). After being with this Wrangler for a week, I have learned that the Cult of Jeep is not only one well worth being a part of, but it also is the most inclusive of all automotive communities: all you need is a Jeep, new or used. There is no hierarchy by model—just a shared love for these amazing vehicles. I will say that if I join this community, I would go for one spec’d like my test vehicle. This well-equipped 2025 Wrangler Sahara four-door listed for $62,615, which is still an excellent value, if not the absolute best value for a serious off-road vehicle that still offers comfort and all the amenities you would want. If that is too much for your budget, the Jeep Wrangler still has a starting price of only $32,690. My advice is to go to a dealer and drive one or—better yet—rent one for a week. Be forewarned though, as the fun the Jeep Wrangler offers may well make you join the Cult of Jeep.
