Used Jeep Wrangler (Mk4, 2018-2026) buyer’s guide: iconic 4x4 is flawed but fun
A full used buyer’s guide on the Jeep Wrangler that was on sale in the UK between 2018 and 2026
Verdict
The Jeep Wrangler is being axed in Europe, with the final cars set to be registered in the first few months of 2026. It’s a move that makes a lot of sense because so few of these cars are sold here each year. Sadly for Jeep, very few people will miss the Wrangler, but if you want to drive a car that has the butch looks of a Tonka toy and that won’t be fazed by even the toughest terrain, this might just be the car for you. However, if you want an off-roader that’s good to drive, tows with ease and is a decent long-distance cruiser, pretty much any SUV will be easier to live with than a Wrangler, so take an extended test drive before buying.
2026 marks 85 years since the birth of the Willys Jeep, which sired an all-new brand (Jeep) in the aftermath of WW2. With a focus on go-anywhere ability, the Jeep was perfect for those who wanted to tackle inhospitable terrain, or who regularly had to drive in seriously inclement weather. Jeep has endured because it has stayed focused on the original goal of ensuring that its cars can cope with the worst conditions. That’s what the Wrangler does, because as Jeep’s most hardcore model, it’s perfectly suited to off-roading. But it’s seriously compromised on the road, and that’s why you have go into Wrangler ownership with your eyes open.
History
The fourth-generation Jeep Wrangler went on sale in the UK in October 2018, priced from £44,865. There was a choice of 268bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol or 197bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesel (Multijet II) engines, both of which came with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All Wranglers have four-wheel drive and there were two and four-door bodystyles.
Used - available now
2016 Jeep
Wrangler
109,961 milesAutomaticPetrol3.6L
Cash £18,990
2023 Jeep
Wrangler
79,792 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L
Cash £29,995
2021 Jeep
Wrangler
25,000 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L
Cash £35,950
2020 Jeep
Wrangler
32,191 milesAutomaticDiesel2.1L
Cash £34,845The diesel engine was dropped in summer 2021, which is when extra safety kit (adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, automatic full beam) became standard, and the range of exterior colour options was widened.
A facelifted Wrangler reached the UK in spring 2024, priced from £60,785. There was now a bigger (12.3-inch) touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, new safety kit, standard electric adjustment for the front seats and a higher-quality cabin with extra soundproofing.
Prices
There are very few Wranglers available, and hardly any diesels at all. Two-door Wranglers are unusual, so you’ll almost certainly end up with a petrol-engined four-door Wrangler in Rubicon or Sahara spec. In terms of standard equipment, there’s surprisingly little difference between the various trims.
You can buy a used Jeep Wrangler through our Buy a Car service, with prices starting from just under £30,000.
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On the road
If this section was titled “Off the road”, the Wrangler would fare considerably better. As it is, the Mk4 Wrangler is markedly better on the road than its predecessor, but that’s not saying much, and it’s still out of its depth compared with any potential rivals. The steering isn’t very sharp and the ride is very bouncy, while the amount of road noise soon becomes wearing.
Still, the eight-speed automatic transmission makes the most of the available power and the diesel engine is reasonably torquey and refined. The petrol engine is even better, though, and not much thirstier in the real world.
Which one should I buy?
The diesel isn’t much torquier than the petrol (450Nm compared with 400Nm) and it isn’t much more economical; virtually all of the Jeeps for sale have a petrol unit.
The entry-level Sahara has LED headlights, cruise control, rear parking sensors and a camera, an eight-speaker hi-fi, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a vinyl spare wheel cover, navigation and 18-inch alloys. Overland trim adds leather trim, heated front seats, blind-spot monitoring and a hard spare wheel cover. The top-spec Rubicon has beefed-up electrics (with a 240A alternator and bigger battery), plus 17-inch wheels instead of 18-inchers.
Alternatives to the Jeep Wrangler
The Land Rover Defender is more sophisticated than the Wrangler, so it isn’t in the same category. In fact, there aren’t any direct rivals for the Jeep because the cars you might consider are better all-rounders. These include the Toyota Land Cruiser, which is brilliant off road and towing, ultra-reliable, and far better on road than the Wrangler.
Many pick-ups make better towcars and are also capable off-road, including the Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi L200, Toyota Hilux and VW Amarok.
The Land Rover Discovery Sport is worth a look and so is the Ineos Grenadier, which is even more uncommon than the Wrangler in the classifieds.
What to look for
On the pull
You might think that the Wrangler could pull pretty much anything, but two-door models are restricted to a not-very-generous 1,495kg, whereas four-door editions can pull up to 2,495kg.
Glass act
Windscreens get damaged easily, partly because they’re so upright. Owner forums talk about sun visors breaking (stronger ones are available), and poor paint adhesion leading to bubbling.
She’s electric
Batteries don’t seem to last very long, which can lead to the car’s electrics doing weird things or not working at all. Loose fuses can also result in some electrical functions working only intermittently.
Unplugged
In 2021 Jeep introduced a 375bhp Wrangler plug-in hybrid, called the 4xe, for some markets. However, this variation on the Wrangler theme has never been officially imported to the UK.
Interior
The dashboard looks retro but the cabin has reasonably plush materials and a user-friendly touchscreen. At first glance it seems utilitarian, but everything works well and equipment levels are good. However, rear-seat space is tight in the four-door version, and if you buy a two-door Wrangler, things are especially compromised.
Running costs
Service intervals of 12 months or 7,500 miles mean you’ll pay plenty for maintenance if you’re a high-mileage driver. Services alternate between minor and major at £268 and £438, but the 10-year service is £669.
While the petrol engine is chain-driven, the diesel has a cambelt, and this has to be replaced every 100,000 miles at a cost of around £700; it’s recommended that the water pump is renewed at the same time and this pushes the price up to a hefty £1,189.
Wranglers sit in insurance groups 32-41 (most are in group 39 or 40), and because all of these Jeeps cost more than £40,000 new, the road tax is £620 per year for the first six years, after which it drops to £195.
Fuel economy is poor. Petrol Wranglers are pegged at 25-26mpg, and diesels aren’t much better with an average of 28-30mpg.
Recalls
The Wrangler Mk4 has been the subject of 11 recalls so far, although two were for the 4xe edition, which was never sold in the UK.
The first campaign in May 2019 affected Wranglers built up to February of that year. These left the factory with faulty steering mechanisms. There were then two recalls for wiring harness damage (February and October 2020),
one because of faulty seatbelt mechanisms (March 2021) and two because some cars left the factory without type approval stickers (April and October 2021).
After that there were recalls for fuel leaks (November 2021) and driver airbag issues (September 2024). The 4xe recalls were for faulty heated windscreens (May 2024) and battery pack short circuits (April 2025).
Driver Power owner satisfaction
Jeep is a minnow in the UK, so its cars rarely appear in our Driver Power surveys. The company sold just over 9,000 cars in the UK in 2024 to claim a 0.46 per cent market share. By summer 2025 this had climbed to 0.6 per cent, but few of the Jeeps sold were Wranglers.
Anyone buying a Wrangler normally knows what they’re getting into, because these cars appeal to people who know about the compromised driving experience and high costs, but accept those limitations.
Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express? We’ll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too.
Used Jeep Wranglers to buy
2016 Jeep
Wrangler
109,961 milesAutomaticPetrol3.6L
Cash £18,9902023 Jeep
Wrangler
79,792 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L
Cash £29,9952021 Jeep
Wrangler
25,000 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L
Cash £35,9502020 Jeep
Wrangler
32,191 milesAutomaticDiesel2.1L
Cash £34,845
2023 Jeep
Wrangler
17,096 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L
Cash £39,990
2016 Jeep
Wrangler
52,522 milesAutomaticDiesel2.8L
Cash £22,200
2016 Jeep
Wrangler
50,950 milesAutomaticPetrol3.6L
Cash £28,990
2022 Jeep
Wrangler
25,100 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L
Cash £37,995
2023 Jeep
Wrangler
22,421 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L
Cash £37,425More reviews
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