2022 Jeep Wrangler Review and Test Drive
Though it faces stiff new competition, the Jeep Wrangler is more things to more people.
Christian Wardlaw
Review QuickTakes:
I'll be the first to admit: I don't pass up opportunities to drive a Jeep Wrangler. Whether my family and I are traveling and need to rent a vehicle or if Jeep's iconic off-roader is made available to me as an automobile reviewer, I take advantage of any chance to spend quality time in a Wrangler. So, when Jeep called to tell me they had the new-for-2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide available to review in Los Angeles, I happily accepted the assignment.
According to annual sales figures reported by Automotive News, only 14 other nameplates outsold the Wrangler in 2021, making this SUV one of the most popular vehicles in the U.S. It's easy to understand why so many people choose a Wrangler. This Jeep embodies the spirit of rugged individualism and hardy independence while providing the unfettered freedom to go where you want when you want. Plus, Wranglers are practical, utilitarian, useful in snow, and fun as a convertible in the summertime.
Unfortunately, numerous downsides offset these positive qualities. Wranglers exhibit sloppy on-pavement handling, poor fuel economy, tricky cargo loading and unloading, unimpressive crash-test ratings, and some lack of refinement. If you recognize and accept these flaws of a Jeep Wrangler, you'll be happy owning one. If you don't or can't, I recommend getting a Jeep Grand Cherokee instead.
For this 2022 Jeep Wrangler review, conducted in Southern California, I test-drove the High Tide with a 3.6-liter eTorque mild-hybrid V6 engine, automatic transmission, and optional Selec-Trac full-time 4WD. In addition, it came with six option packages and extra-cost paint, bringing the price to about $58,000, including the $1,595 destination charge. Jeep provided the vehicle for this Wrangler review.
Christian Wardlaw
2022 Jeep Wrangler: The Design
More than any other model in the company's lineup, the Wrangler looks like a Jeep. I would accuse the company of resorting to gimmicky retro styling if not for the fact that the design cues have consistently been in production going back to the original World War II-era Willys MB. A Ford Bronco is retro. A Jeep Wrangler is a modern classic.
The High Tide's Xtreme Recon package adds significant presence to the Wrangler. The exclusive dark-finish wheels, 35-inch tires, lifted suspension, rock rails, and body-color hard top make this special edition look anything but basic. The fabric roof panel over the front seats seems strange, but it is undeniably more practical than the hard top's standard removable panels. Just release the catches, flip it up and back, and let the sunshine in.
Open the doors and hoist yourself aboard, and the High Tide looks like any other hose-it-out Jeep Wrangler. Hard plastic and rubber rule this roost, but the cloth wrapped around the seats looks good and feels durable. There's nothing flimsy about the cabin, so it conveys quality construction. There isn't much equipment on a Wrangler, so the controls are simple and easy to understand unless you're driving one equipped with the most sophisticated off-roading hardware.
Depending on how you define it, comfort is evident or elusive. Our test vehicle's Technology Group package equipped the High Tide with hands-free keyless entry and automatic climate control, and the Cold Weather Group package added heated front seats and a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel. These represent the extent of the comfort-related upgrades.
Getting into and out of a Wrangler is already difficult for some people, and the High Tide's 1.5-inch suspension lift doesn't help. Halfway through our week with this Wrangler, my wife told me she wouldn't ride in it anymore. Jeep offers a rock slider accessory with step assist, but it's mounted just below the lip of the door opening to preserve the Wrangler High Tide's breakover angle which makes it almost useless.
Since my legs are longer than my better half's, I had no trouble getting in and out of the Wrangler. My kids jumped aboard without a problem as well, except for the time my 14-year-old misjudged and painfully jammed the door latch into the small of her back. Undoubtedly, entering the back seat is more difficult due to the amount of rear-wheel-well intrusion. Also, if the Wrangler is dirty, your passengers' clothing likely will be, too. It's hard to clamber aboard without coming into contact with a sill, a doorjamb, or an exterior surface near the door.
Christian Wardlaw
I find the Wrangler comfortable but will admit that the driving position takes some acclimation. You sit close to the steering wheel, the dashboard, and the nearly vertical windshield, and this unusual seating position is one of the many things about driving a Wrangler that I adore. The rear seat is a little snug, but two adults can ride for extended periods without much complaint. Pack three people into the back seat, however, and arguments could ensue.
There isn't much storage space aboard a Wrangler. The center console box under the softly padded armrest is narrow and small, just like the glove compartment. Jeep also affixes small nets to the doors, pockets on each front seatback, and provides a small tray on the top of the dashboard. Otherwise, you get two cupholders in the front and two more in the back.
Loading and unloading cargo is a hassle. The right-hinged tailgate opens wide and can present problems in parallel or stacked parking situations or when you've parked the Wrangler on a hill. Also, items might roll out of the back when opening the tailgate.
Once the tailgate is open, you can flip the rear window up to access the Wrangler Unlimited's 31.7 cu-ft of cargo space (27.7 cu-ft in 4xe models). Fold the back seat down, and the four-door Wrangler can swallow 72.4 cu-ft of cargo (67.4 cu-ft in 4xe models). Of course, when buttoning things back up, you must remember to close the glass first, then swing the tailgate shut.
Also, note that if your Wrangler has the standard soft top and plastic windows, you'll need to reach under the plastic rear window to load and unload or take the extra time to remove it.
Christian Wardlaw
2022 Jeep Wrangler: The Technology
Most 2022 Jeep Wrangler models have a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. You can upgrade it with SiriusXM satellite radio and a complimentary six-month subscription, which comes in the optional Technology Group package. Another option is a nine-speaker Alpine sound system, available as a stand-alone upgrade or as part of the creatively named 8.4-inch Radio and Premium Sound Group.
Choose that, and the Jeep swaps the 7.0-inch display for a larger 8.4-inch touchscreen. You also get the Alpine speakers, a navigation system, an Off-Road Pages display, several connected services plans with complimentary trial subscriptions of varying lengths, and access to a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. That was the only option package the test vehicle did not have.
As it turned out, I didn't miss any of this stuff. Pairing to Bluetooth and running Apple CarPlay gave me all the functionality I wanted, and the active satellite radio subscription provided a long list of stations and music genres from which to choose. The stereo sounded decent enough, too, with speakers mounted overhead on the Wrangler's roll bar.
Jeep outfitted the test model with the Safety Group (blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors) and the Advanced Safety Group (adaptive cruise control with full stop capability, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high-beam headlights). In my opinion, the Safety Group is a must-have, while the Advanced Safety Group is nice to have.
Christian Wardlaw
Wranglers sit high with a tall center of gravity, which means they can roll over easier in a slide or a collision. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the Wrangler a three-star rollover resistance rating, affirming the physics involved.
Since the SUV's steering is so vague and slow and the exterior mirrors are small and narrow, you'll want the blind-spot monitoring system to help you avoid sudden evasive moves. Also, due to the tailgate-mounted spare tire, you have no choice but to use the standard backup camera when reversing. Still, it's nice to have the added peace of mind provided by the rear parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert.
The Advanced Safety Group is a harder sell. The Wrangler is tiring to drive for long distances at highway speeds, so the adaptive cruise control is appealing. Based on my experience, it works remarkably well. But the only other reason to spend money on this package is for items that are handy if you don't pay enough attention to your driving.
Still, any tech that can slow or stop the Wrangler before an impact is helpful. That's because the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the Wrangler a marginal crash-test rating in frontal-impact, small-overlap collisions, such as when driving on a two-lane road and an oncoming vehicle crosses over the centerline. The Wrangler also rolls over during this IIHS test. The Jeep gets a marginal rating in a new, updated side-impact test, and even with the upgraded LED headlights, they earn no better than a marginal rating.
Christian Wardlaw
2022 Jeep Wrangler: The Drive
If you own a dog, you likely love the mutt, despite the chewing, the scratching, the shedding, the barking, and the soiling. That's how it is with the Jeep Wrangler.
The Wrangler is loud, sloppy, stiff, and wobbly. The V6 engine roars under acceleration, replaced by wind noise and tire whir at higher speeds. You're constantly correcting the steering, which has a Texas-sized on-center dead spot where nothing seems to happen, and this can be nerve-wracking on narrow roads. Solid front and rear axles transmit every surface bump, crack, hole, and irregularity into the cabin and sometimes make the Wrangler feel skittish and disconnected from the road surface. Pavement undulations cause the Jeep to rock side to side, inducing something called head toss in occupants. Brake pedal sensitivity and response can seemingly vary for no reason, delivering too much or not enough braking.
In addition, unless you get the optional Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system found on the test vehicle, this Jeep is rear-wheel drive (RWD) and can quickly lose traction in slippery conditions. To solve this, you must muscle the transfer case lever into 4-Hi (or, as in the case of the test vehicle, automatic 4WD). I bet that some Wrangler owners have no idea what that second lever on the console does or why they should use it in certain driving conditions.
The Jeep Wrangler is also thirsty. According to the EPA, a Wrangler Unlimited with the eTorque V6 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission should average 21 mpg. My test vehicle returned 17.6 mpg on the testing loop, driven mainly in RWD. I suspect the Xtreme Recon package's giant tires and lifted suspension contributed to this, ruining the Wrangler's already questionable aerodynamics.
Nevertheless, a Jeep Wrangler is an unmitigated blast to drive. There's nothing like it, as even the new Ford Bronco is substantially more civilized. As a result, the Wrangler offers one of the last raw, visceral, unfiltered driving experiences you can find in a modern vehicle. And if you take the time to remove the top and the doors, the Jeep's oneness with its surroundings is delightful. Not so much when you're passing pasture land or idling next to a diesel-powered pickup spewing soot at you, but you get the idea.
Take a Wrangler into the environment for which it is made, and it is second to none. Over the years, I've driven Wranglers on various terrain, both with and without spotters to help cover ground that ought to be impassable. Every time, the Wrangler has gotten me through. That goes for the High Tide, too, which essentially smirked at the deep ruts and steep hills I thought might stymie it. Seemingly in response to this foolish assumption, it bounced me around hard enough that I thought I might need a trip to an ER to unscramble my organs.
All the driving characteristics I've listed above make the Wrangler a treat for anyone who loves to drive. It demands that you pay attention, threatening your very life if you don't. In that way, it's like a great sports car, putting every nerve on alert while flooding your body with endorphins. But rather than excel on the blacktop, the Wrangler rules in the backcountry.
Considering this Jeep's bestseller status, I'm sure some people buy the Wrangler for the image but expect it to drive like the Honda CR-V or Subaru Outback they're ditching. They are in for a surprise.
Christian Wardlaw
Is the 2022 Jeep Wrangler a Good SUV?
With seating for up to five people, as much as 72.4 cu-ft of cargo space, standard 4WD, a removable top and doors, and its status as an automotive icon, the Jeep Wrangler is an excellent SUV for going off-road and serving as a convertible for you and four friends or family members. Otherwise, the Wrangler requires plenty of compromise across numerous factors, perhaps most critically regarding safety. As much as I love the Wrangler, I recommend the Ford Bronco to most people. It matches the Jeep for off-roading and top-off driving thrills but has more civilized on-pavement driving dynamics and superior crash-test ratings.
