The four-door variant of the Jeep Wrangler is called Wrangler Unlimited and the Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon are four fundamental trims available on it. There are a number of sub-trims under the Sport and port S such as Willy Sport, Willys, and Sport Altitude. The Altitude and High Altitude packages are also given on the Sahara. Also, the High Altitude, Sahara Altitude, Sahara, Sport Altitude are the only trims offered in Ultimate or 4-door versions while all other trims come with the 2-door option as well. There is one RHD trim which is a right-hand driver version of the Sport trim. However, there is no optional diesel engine offered on it. The Sport and Sport S get offered as the 80th Edition, Freedom, and Islander as well. For 2021, Jeep has given an available Rock-Trac 4x4 system with full-time four-wheel drive and a “4LO” ratio of 4:1 on Rubicon trims and the Sport trims now comes with an available Selec-Trac two-speed transfer case with full-time four-wheel drive and a 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio.

That said, the base trims pack features such as manual tilt and telescopic steering column, backup camera, fog lights, and cloth seats. Move up in the trim range and Sport S trim will add automatic headlights and deep-tinted windows. The convenience group on the Sport S trim will add a universal garage door opener and remote start system while the LED headlights and fog lights can also be availed with an optional package. With the technology group Uconnect 4 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 7-inch driver information display is added. The premium audio group will include all the technology group and auto-dimming rearview mirror, USB host flip, and 8.4-inch touchscreen with navigation. The trailer-tow and heavy-duty electrical group provide a class II receiver hitch, 7 and 4-pin wiring harness, and more. Lastly, the dual-top group which only comes on the 4-door Wrangler offers a black freedom top 3-piece modular hardtop and premium black Sunrider soft top.

 Which Trim should you buy:

Selecting the Wrangler trim can certainly be a confusing task. So here is a short breakdown for you. If you are not going to do hardcore off-roading then Sport S is the best to trim for you to start with. If you are more inclined toward themes then you can choose Islander, Freedom, or the 80th anniversary trim. If you want a more street-tuned one then you should go with the Sahara. 

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler has updated its powertrains. It comes with a standard 3.6-liter V6 gas engine that churns out 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft. It can be connected with a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, you can also get the eTorque mild hybrid setup for better fuel efficiency. Meanwhile, you can also opt for the 2.0-liter turbo inline-4 engine which is married to an 8-speed automatic transmission and puts out 270 hp and 295 lb-ft.

Now focusing our attention on the optional 3.0-liter turbo diesel V6 engine, it is engaged to an 8-speed automatic transmission and produces 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. This diesel motor is capable of pulling up to 3,500 pounds. That said, a new 375-hp plug-in hybrid 4xe powertrain has also been added to the list which is only available on the Unlimited Sahara and Unlimited Rubicon.

IN terms of horsepower, the Bronco is ahead of any other SUV but when torque is considered the Wrangler Unlimited takes the helm. The slowest SUV in the segment is from the Toyota which completes the 0-60 mph target 0.2 seconds later than the Wrangel. The Ford Bronco shows that it has the quickest feet on the road while the Defender is not behind when it comes to displaying a good performance and becomes the second-fastest sedan in the competition. 

How well does the Jeep Wrangler diesel handle?

One thing anyone who has ever owned a Jeep Wrangler will tell you is that the ruggedness and durability of the Wrangler are unmatched. The Jeep Wrangler is not as agile as a few rivals but its handling has certainly improved. The Jeep Wrangler is more fun to drive off-road and cruising around the town might not give a satisfactory driving experience but you can always go for the Sahara which is more street-oriented. 

The automatic transmission offered on the Wrangler is smooth and the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel turbo engine gives you effortless power and generous torque which ultimately makes a nice sound. Moreover, the new 2021 Wrangler is more quiet compared to the previous models, and the new 4xe plug-in-hybrid powertrain offers an even quieter environment.

2021 Jeep Wrangler Diesel Braking Performance:

The Jeep Wrangler comes equipped with 12.9-inch brake rotors both at the front and rear. That said, the Wrangler does not have the worst braking performance compared to the rivals but it is not praiseworthy either. It stops from 60 mph to 0 over the distance of 134 feet while most other SUVs managed to keep the distance under 130 feet on average. 

The latest data on the braking distance for the Bronco Wildtrak and the 4Runner TRD off-road Premium

 is not available. However, we can have a rough idea about the braking performance of the same SUVs from the data present for the other trims since we expect the braking distance to be in a similar ballpark. The Bronco Outerbanks and the 4Runner TRD off-road Pro reach 0 from 60 mph over a distance of 137 and 127 feet respectively. Lastly, the Defender requires 129 feet to go from 60 mph to 0. 

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Diesel returns a fuel economy of 22 MPG in the city, 29 MPG on the highway, and 25 MPG combined. These figures might not be suitable for accurate comparison with the rivals but one fact we know for sure is that the Diesel engine of the Wrangler is more fuel-efficient than the regular 3.6-liter gas engine which gives 5/6/6 MPG less in the city/highway/combined respectively. 

Out of all three competitors, the most fuel-efficient SUV in the city is from the Ford while on the highway, the Defender takes the lead. The biggest fuel tank also belongs to the Defender whereas the Bronco can store the least amount of fuel in the tank. The 4Runner consumes less fuel on the highway than the Bronco but more compared to the Defender. 

The interior of the Wrangler has a perfect blend of old and modern design. It is not as spacious as fellow competitors but it does offer a great amount of visibility. The front row is roomy but the same can’t be said about the arrow. However, unlike regular 2-door Wrangler, the 4-door Unlimited Wrangler allows one more person inside the cabin. The seats get standard cloth upholstery which can be replaced with McKinley leather-trimmed or Nappe leather upholstery on the higher trims. The base trim does not have leather-wrapped steering but Sport S and further trim does.

6-way manual and 4-way manual adjustment for the driver and front passenger are standard respectively. Also, with the cold weather group, heated front seats and heated steering wheel, and remote start system can be added. The rear seats have a 40/60 folding pattern but they won’t settle down completely and meet the floor. That said, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, two 12V outlets, keyless entry, power windows, and day-night rearview mirror are some cabin features in the base Wrangler Unlimited while the upper trims also get a universal garage door opener, automatic temperature control, and a 115-volt auxiliary power outlet.

The Wrangler and fellow rivals have generous headroom and legroom except for the 4Runner which has the least comfortable second row because of stingy legroom. On the other hand, it does have the biggest trunk of all. Meanwhile, the Wrangler has the smallest trunk in the competition. As for the Defender, it has the most spacious cabin among the bunch. Highlights of the interior features include:

• Manual air conditioning
• Cloth upholstery
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Deep-tint windows 
• Heated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Mopar all-weather floor mats

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The Uconnect infotainment system is offered on all the Wrangler Diesel trims. It is intuitive and you will have no hard time getting used to it. The base trim gets a 5.0-inch touchscreen but you can always upgrade it to a 7.0-inch or an 8.4-inch touchscreen with the navigation system on the upper trims. The 8-speaker sound system, Bluetooth, AM/FM radio, and USB ports are some standard features in the infotainment unit while the 9-speaker Alpine Premium Sound System and SiriusXM are optional. That said, various optional packages are given on the Sport S trim and beyond which adds Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, aux jack, and HD radio. Highlights of the infotainment features include:

• 5-inch touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• SiriusXM Satellite radio
• 8.4-inch touchscreen with navigation 
• 8-speaker sound system

The unique features which give the Jeep Wrangler its rough and off-road appeal are the rounded headlights and sevens-lot grille at the front, fenders, and simple side door profile, fuel-canned shaped taillights, and hanging wheels on the rear door along. You can remove the doors and top which shows that the Wrangler excels in practicality which can hardly be seen in other SUVs. A black vinyl Sunrider soft top comes standard which can be replaced with an optional 3-piece modular hardtop or premium soft-top or sky one-touch power top. 17-inch steel wheels are standard on the base trim which can be upgraded to bigger wheels made of aluminum. 

Halogen headlights, foglights, manual-folding side mirrors, front and rear hooks, and skid plates for the fuel tank and transfer case are standard while power heated side mirrors and Deep-Tint Sunscreen Window are optional. That said, the 80th Anniversary sub-trim has neutral Grey Metallic grille and fog lamp bezels, trims specific badging outside while the interior is decorated with the Granite Crystal finishes. This special trim also has headlamp rings. Furthermore, the Islander trim is a limited edition trim bestowed with a beach theme. Outside, it has got massive 32-inch tires with 17-inch wheels while inside surf blue accent stitching is present. Finally, the Freedom trim comes with a military theme. 

The longest SUV in the segment is the Defender from the Land Rover while the shortest one in terms of length is from the Jeep and if we consider the height, the dwarf of the segment is the 4Runner. The highest ground clearance is offered on the Ford Bronco and the largest wheelbase is given on the Defender. Highlights of the exterior features are:

• 17-inch steel wheels
• Halogen headlights 
• Black Sunrider soft top
• Rock rails
• Sway bar disconnect
• Rear-window defroster 
• Black grille
• Solar control glass

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited has not been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) but it has received safety ratings from the IIHS which assigned it ‘Good’ rating in the majority of crashworthiness tests but the Wrangler Unlimited did not manage to win either ‘top safety pick’ or ‘top safety pick+’ award. That being said, the base Wrangler Unlimited comes with standard safety features such as cruise control, engine immobilizer, hill-start assist, backup camera, and trailer sway control. 

For 2021, TrailCam forward-facing off-road camera has been given with the 8.4-inch touchscreen and select tire fill alert is standard with the 7 and 8.4-inch touchscreens. Meanwhile, the safety group adds rear-cross path detection, rear park assist, and blind-spot monitoring. On the other hand, the advanced safety group offers adaptive cruise control with stop, auto high-beam headlamp control, and forward-collision warning. However, both groups are given options on Sport S and further trim levels. Highlights of the safety features are:

• Trailer-sway control
• TrailCam forward-facing off-road camera
• Cruise control
• Forward collision warning 
• Blind-spot monitoring 
• Rear park assist 

Jeep Wrangler Diesel vs Ford Bronco

Unlike the Wrangler, the Ford Bronco has not received any safety ratings from the IIHS but its smaller and more agile version, the Bronco Sport has. That said, the Wrangler Unlimited Diesel generates more torque but the Bronco puts out more horsepower to counter that. The latter one has also got a bigger trunk in comparison but the former one comes with a slightly higher fuel storage capacity. Last but not the least, the Ford Bronco does not offer a diesel engine.

Jeep Wrangler Diesel vs Toyota 4Runner

The 4Runner has the least engine output out of all the SUVs against the Wrangler. However, to balance things out, it provides the most spacious trunk and second-biggest fuel tank in the competition. Though the 4Runner loses on the fuel economy front, it tried to keep the match in its favor since it has been evaluated by the NHTSA which is not the case for the 2021 Jeep Wrangler-4 door. 

Jeep Wrangler Diesel vs Land Rover Defender

The most luxurious counterpart before the Jeep Wrangler among the rivals is the Land Rover Defender and just like other opponents the Defender does not have a standard or an optional diesel engine but its sibling the Range Rover Sport and Range Rover does have a diesel engine. That being said, the Defender displays better braking performance compared to the Wrangler and also provides a much more comfortable cabin.

No doubt that the Jeep Wrangler Diesel is a great all-rounder package. It is fuel-efficient, spacious, and rugged. Plus the customization which one can do with trims is outstanding. Though there are tough contenders against the Wrangler, none offer a diesel engine. The only thing which grabs the Wrangler Unlimited by its ankle is the scarce amount of standard features. Therefore, if you can compromise with that, the Jeep Wrangler Diesel is the best deal you can bring home.