2018 Jeep Wrangler - Take a Closer Look

by Tim Healey

Published: November 30th, 2017

Jeep Wrangler fans are the type of enthusiasts who know and appreciate the history of the model, and Jeep knows that. Since we already knew just about everything about the 2018 Wrangler before the sheets came off in Los Angeles, we here at TTAC figured it might be interesting to take a closer look at some of the smaller details that go beyond horsepower, torque, and transmission type.

One of Jeep’s PR folks walked me through the various callbacks to prior Wranglers that are evident, if not obvious, on the new Wrangler.

Wrangler lovers will like the plaque mounted on the inside of the tailgate — it lists the JL’s dimensions and just looks cool.

The next cool detail is the roofline — the softtop can extend out past the C-pillar and give a bit of coverage to the rear cargo area, as shown here.

I wasn’t able to get quality photos, but the doors have different pull hooks and door pins than the current model.

The air vent shown here is functional, helping to cool the motor:

Two footman’s loops adorn the hood, as pictured here.

Perhaps most notable, the Jeep badge deserts the front grille and moves back to the bodyside.

And, of course, the windshield folds down, as previously reported.

The dash also returns to a flat-top design.

And finally, eagle-eyed readers will notice that the doors are bit more rounded-off — this is to make it easier to get in and out of the Jeep when off-roading.

Jeep has loaded the 2018 Wrangler with enough small details to keep the keen-eyed busy. Next up — actually driving the damn thing.

#2017LosAngelesAutoShow #2018JeepWrangler #Jeep #JeepWrangler #JeepWranglerJL #JlWrangler #Wrangler #WranglerJL

Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

More by Tim Healey

Comments

Join the conversation

4 of 11 comments

PrincipalDan on Nov 30, 2017

Sport V6 2-door 4x4 6 speed manual hardtop is how I would want mine. The high resale is the thing that keeps tempting me on buying one new.

Like Reply
- See 1 previous
- EquipmentJunkie on Nov 30, 2017
  
  I totally agree on the resale value of Wranglers. I bought my '98 TJ right, drove it for 50k, and sold it for $600 less than I paid for it.
  
  Like
- PrincipalDan on Nov 30, 2017
  
  @EquipmentJunkie Just went to look at "trade in value" on a 5-6 year old Sport S 4x4 manual transmission hardtop with 80,000 miles and even the online sites which tend to low ball trade in a bit were saying that it was roughly $16,000. That's insane when you could buy a new one for about $25,000.
  
  Like
Kato on Nov 30, 2017

Looks like a nice update. I'm intrigued by the photo with a cargo carrier mounted directly to the hardtop. One of the things that has kept me from considering one previously is having to install a giant exoskeleton in order to carry a canoe. If it can carry a boat and can be had with V6, MT, and full-time 4WD, I'm interested. I passed on the Liberty 'cause full-time could only be had with an AT.

Like Reply

Recent Comments

Amy I owned this exact car from 16 until 19 (1990 to 1993) I miss this car immensely and am on the search to own it again, although it looks like my search may be in vane. It was affectionatly dubbed, " The Dragon Wagon," and hauled many a teenager around the city of Charlotte, NC. For me, it was dependable and trustworthy. I was able to do much of the maintenance myself until I was struck by lightning and a month later the battery exploded. My parents did have the entire electrical system redone and he was back to new. I hope to find one in the near future and make it my every day driver. I'm a dreamer.
Jeff Overall I prefer the 59 GM cars to the 58s because of less chrome but I have a new appreciation of the 58 Cadillac Eldorados after reading this series. I use to not like the 58 Eldorados but I now don't mind them. Overall I prefer the 55-57s GMs over most of the 58-60s GMs. For the most part I like the 61 GMs. Chryslers I like the 57 and 58s. Fords I liked the 55 thru 57s but the 58s and 59s not as much with the exception of Mercury which I for the most part like all those. As the 60s progressed the tail fins started to go away and the amount of chrome was reduced. More understated.
Theflyersfan Nissan could have the best auto lineup of any carmaker (they don't), but until they improve one major issue, the best cars out there won't matter. That is the dealership experience. Year after year in multiple customer service surveys from groups like JD Power and CR, Nissan frequency scrapes the bottom. Personally, I really like the never seen new Z, but after having several truly awful Nissan dealer experiences, my shadow will never darken a Nissan showroom. I'm painting with broad strokes here, but maybe it is so ingrained in their culture to try to take advantage of people who might not be savvy enough in the buying experience that they by default treat everyone like idiots and saps. All of this has to be frustrating to Nissan HQ as they are improving their lineup but their dealers drag them down.
SPPPP I am actually a pretty big Alfa fan ... and that is why I hate this car.
SCE to AUX They're spending billions on this venture, so I hope so.Investing during a lull in the EV market seems like a smart move - "buy low, sell high" and all that.Key for Honda will be achieving high efficiency in its EVs, something not everybody can do.