2024 Jeep Wrangler price and specs: First price cut after 40 per cent hike in five years

The Jeep Wrangler four-wheel-drive has had its first price cut after it became up to 41 per cent – or $26,500 – more expensive since the first examples arrived about five years ago.

It coincides with a mid-life facelift for the Wrangler which swaps the petrol V6 for a turbo four-cylinder engine – that is more fuel efficient but now demands premium petrol – plus extra equipment across the model range, and new technology for the Jeep 4WD.

The new entry-level Wrangler Sport S four-door is $5500, or about 7 per cent cheaper than the previous Night Eagle entry model, now $75,950 plus on-road costs instead of $81,950.

The mid-grade Overland is $2000 cheaper than before, at $84,950 plus on-road costs – while the Rubicon is no more expensive despite more equipment, at $83,950 plus on-roads for the two-door, and $90,450 plus on-roads for the four-door.

However all of these models are significantly more expensive than their equivalents at the latest Jeep Wrangler's Australian launch in early 2019.

At the time – with less equipment, and a petrol V6 engine – the Wrangler Sport S four-door was priced from $53,450, the Overland four-door from $62,950, and the Rubicon four-door from $63,950.

It means the price of the cheapest four-door Jeep Wrangler has climbed by $22,500 in five years – while the Rubicon is $26,500 dearer.

New for 2024 is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine developing 200kW and 400Nm – 9kW less, but 53Nm more than the previous 3.6-litre petrol V6.

Jeep claims fuel consumption of 9.2 litres per 100 kilometres for the Sport S and Overland, and 9.9L/100km for the Rubicon duo – down from 9.7L/100km and 10.3L/100km previously.

However it now requires 95-octane premium petrol – rather than the 91-octane regular unleaded the old V6 could accept – meaning buyers may end up paying more at the pump for the new model.

The new engine is matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive.

Exterior design changes include a new grille with slimmer slots, an antenna integrated into the 'Gorilla Glass' windscreen (replacing the old-school wire aerial), and new 17-inch and 18-inch wheel designs.

There is a choice of Bright White, Black, Firecracker Red, Sarge (army green), Hydro Blue, High Velocity (yellow), Silver Zynith, Earl (light blue), Granite Crystal (grey), and Anvil (blue-grey) paint colours at launch, with Tuscadero pink to be added from March 2024 production.

Inside, there is a new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen (up from 8.4 inches) running the latest Uconnect 5 software, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a customisable home screen.

Side curtain airbags are now fitted to all models, in addition to the existing dual frontal and front-side airbags.

The entry-level Sport S gains cloth seats and a fabric dashboard panel, while the Overland and Rubicon add a synthetic leather-look dashboard covering, with 'McKinley' seat trim in the former, and new nappa leather upholstery in the latter.

All models receive extra soft-touch interior materials, an updated voice control system, tweaked instrument cluster, and an accessory rail on top of the dashboard.

Now standard on the Sport S is a heated steering wheel, heated front seats and ambient interior lighting, while the Overland and Rubicon gain 12-way power-adjustable front seats with four-way lumbar (bar the two-door Rubicon, which deletes the power passenger seat).

Under the skin, Rubicon models gain an HD Dana 44 'full-float' rear axle which "separates the wheel hub assembly from the axle shaft, enhancing weight distribution to the axle tube … [and allowing] for improved lateral force camber compliance and facilitates easier customisation for tyre upsizing," according to Jeep Australia.

The Rubicon also gains a forward-facing camera for low-speed off-road trails.

Sport S and Overland models use a Selec-Trac four-wheel-drive system with full-time capabilities – as well as "normal duty" suspension – while the Rubicon adds "performance" suspension and Rock-Trac four-wheel drive with a 4:1 low-gear ratio, electronic locking front and rear differentials, and an electronic front sway bar disconnect.

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler is available to order now.

Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs.

New features marked in bold.