Let’s face it. Most of us spend most of our time – maybe the vast majority of our time — behind the wheel on public roads. Professionally laid, if perhaps not silky smooth, ribbons of pavement link our favorite and most essential destinations to each other. That said, you might, from time to time, find yourself venturing off-road. That, or you might actively seek a life off the oft-traveled asphalt paths. That’s where an off-road SUV like a Jeep Wrangler comes in handy.
But it’s 2026. Some of your favorite Jeep Wrangler trims might eek their way into unattainable levels. Take the thunderously powerful Jeep Wrangler 392 trims, for instance. Last year’s Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Final Edition crossed an unimaginable threshold with a starting price of $101,990. This year’s Wrangler Moab 392 starts at a whopping $79,995. Needless to say, you can get the Wrangler’s off-road capability without the big V8, Rubicon trim, or huge price tag. You need only look for one historic name: Willys.
The Jeep Wrangler Willys: Trail-Ready For Less
Okay, so you’re looking for a smooth, quiet, refined SUV for your little family. Right? Well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you should look elsewhere. The Wrangler is many things, but it’s not a luxury SUV. What it is, however, is a historic off-roader – especially at the Willys trim. For 2026, the Jeep Wrangler is still available in a base-level Sport and a Sport S trim. However, we recommend stretching to the lower-side-but-kind-of-mid-level Willys trim. For the extra money, you get more than a renowned name. For starters, you get 33-inch go-anywhere all-terrain tires, a locking rear differential, and exterior LED lighting. And once you’re done crawling, leaping, and kicking up dirt, you have auxiliary switches for your various thingamabobs. Not too shabby.
Channeling A History Of Off-Roading In Every Clime And Place
The early 1940s found American soldiers, marines, and sailors embroiled in conflict at opposite ends of the globe. To take the fight to enemy forces in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of operation, US service members required some of the best kit domestic manufacturers could supply. The US Military ended up giving its contract for a “1/4 ton light reconnaissance vehicle” to Willys-Overland. That decision resulted in the iconic Willys MB, the very “Jeep” that featured in so many of the historic climes and places of the Second World War. Fast-forward decades, and Jeep is offering a nostalgic nod to the Willys Jeeps of yesteryear. Fortunately for fans, it’s more than a wistful Willys tribute.
The Jeep Wrangler 4xe Could Get Even Better In 2026
A new transmission should give this SUV significantly more electric-only horsepower and torque.
Highly Configurable
If you spend any time in purist Jeep circles, you’ll run into the same familiar gripes. On one hand, you’ll find the JK and JL Wrangler fanatics who insist that a two-door Jeep simply isn’t a “modern Jeep.” On the other side of things, you might find purists and old-school fans who assert that a four-door Jeep “isn’t a real Jeep.” Or, more creatively, that four doors “didn’t win wars” (blame that one on a fellow firefighter of mine). The 2026 Jeep Wrangler says you need not choose. You can have the Wrangler in either a two-door or four-door flavor, and the configurations don’t stop there. As part of the Wrangler Willys trim, Stellantis will let you opt for up to 35-inch tires, leather seats, an Alpine Premium audio setup, and even an electric Sky One-Touch power roof. Can you say convertible off-roader?
No Four-Cylinder-And-Stick Combo
It’s true, manual transmission fans. You can’t get the 2026 Jeep Wrangler Willys with the 270-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain and a six-speed manual combination. That combo resides solely in some fans’ dreams. Opting for a lower-mid-trim Wrangler in 2026 includes the turbo four-cylinder application or the tenured 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. Should the aspiring or battle-hardened off-roader desire it, the 285-horsepower 3.6-liter mill will pair up to the six-speed manual transmission. But, considering it’s just 15 ponies behind the turbo-four option, the four-banger isn’t that big of a compromise. Frankly, the manually-shiftable eight-speed automatic is plenty smooth for both street and trail driving. Just don’t expect the same boulevard and avenue manners you would from a 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Why Pre-Owned Jeep Wranglers Hold Their Value Better Than Most Cars
The iconic Jeep Wrangler holds its value better than most cars on the market, and it isn’t just because of its namesake. Find out why it does so well.
Off-Road Chops Without The Big Price Tag
So, why on Earth would you choose the 2026 Jeep Wrangler Willys when the Rubicon, plusher Sahara, and range-topping Moab 392 are on the table? Most notably, the Wrangler Willys is more affordable than its lineup siblings. To spring to the more comfortable and well-appointed Wrangler Sahara, you’ll need an additional $4,395. And that’s before you factor in upgrades.
2026 Jeep Wrangler Pricing
|
Two-Door |
Four-Door |
|
|
2026 Jeep Wrangler Sport |
$34,895 |
$38,100 |
|
2026 Jeep Wrangler Sport S |
$39,240 |
$41,095 |
|
2026 Jeep Wrangler Willys |
$42,715 |
$44,500 |
|
2026 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon |
$45,970 |
$49,895 |
|
2026 Jeep Wrangler Sahara |
N/A |
$48,895 |
|
2026 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X |
$55,325 |
$59,995 |
|
2026 Jeep Wrangler Moab 392 |
N/A |
$79,995 |
That said, if you don’t require the extra two doors, you could save quite a bit. Shaving the extra length and the back seats out of the equation cuts nearly $2,000 out of the formula. In earnest, a two-door Jeep Wrangler Willys will conquer just about anything you could conceivably place before a factory off-roader without resorting to Wrangler Rubicon or Moab 392 prices. Add the extra length and seats into the recipe, and you’ve got a smoother-riding, family hauler that will also eat up the trails.
Find 2026 Jeep Wrangler and more cars for sale on our Marketplace
There’s Only One Jeep Wrangler Model That Really Matters
With all due respect to the current crop, the peak of Jeep already happened 20 years ago.
So, Should You Buy One?
As I said, it’s 2026. Your off-roader options are no longer limited to the Jeep Wrangler or a mountain bike. Still, just above the 2026 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, you can get a name with time-honored off-road credentials. With top options in place, the Wrangler Willys is a big-tire factory off-roader with its locking rear diff and terrain-defying clearance. And with an EPA-estimated 21 MPG combined courtesy of the turbocharged four-cylinder, it’s something you can live with.
That said, you can shop for dirt-ready companions elsewhere. It’s not just the Jeep Wrangler Willys. For a few thousand more, you can get your hands on the 2026 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, with trail-friendly features like a Dana 44 HD axle and a RockTrac 4:1 transfer case. And the Wrangler doesn’t have a monopoly on factory off-roading anymore. The Wrangler’s chief rival, the Ford Bronco, provides much of the same modular, ditch-the-roof-and-doors, who-needs-roads aptitude that the Jeep Wrangler offers for a similar price.