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Shopping for a Jeep Wrangler? Consider these impressive alternatives to the Jeep. It turns out there are plenty of other capable off-roaders worth a look.
Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
The Jeep is used to imitators. From its earliest days in WWII through to today, the Jeep’s basic formula of a light yet rugged four-wheel drive vehicle has been one competitors have been perennially eager to emulate. First there were the Land Cruisers and Land Rovers of yore, then the Broncos, Blazers, and Scouts; today, 4Runners and Outbacks abound.
All that competitive iteration has been good to keep the Jeep evolving. With an array of powertrains to choose from, over a dozen trim options, and its uncontested off-road capabilities, the Wrangler of today continues to live up to the legacy of the Jeeps of yesteryear. That competition to reiterate the Jeep has also produced some legitimate alternatives from some of the industry’s best carmakers.
Whatever vehicle you’re shopping for, it’s a good idea to be familiar with equivalent vehicles both in price and use case. With that in mind, below we offer our recommendations for alternatives to the Jeep Wrangler, highlighting off-road worthiness, on-road comfort, efficiency, tech, and more.
Jeep Gladiator
The first alternative to consider versus the Wrangler is the Jeep Gladiator. The Gladiator is the mid-size truck version of the Wrangler featuring a 5.5-ft. bed and a longer 137.3-inch wheelbase (compared to the Wrangler’s 118-inch wheelbase). The Gladiator is equipped to tow up to 7,000 lbs. compared to the Wrangler’s maximum of 5,000 lbs., which also requires the expensive Rubicon trim level to access. Like the Wrangler, the Gladiator is designed for serious off-roading with performance shocks, skid plates, and knobby tires, among its numerous off-road features. And like the Wrangler, the Gladiator is capable of open-air driving thanks to its removable roof, removable doors, and fold down windshield. If your main concern with the Wrangler is a lack of pickup truck capabilities, the Gladiator solves for those nicely while retaining much of what makes the Wrangler unique.
Toyota Land Cruiser
After a brief hiatus, the Toyota Land Cruiser has returned to American shores for 2024 with major updates. The most significant of these is the new 2.4L four-cylinder hybrid making 326 horsepower and a healthy 465 lb.-ft. of torque. The new hybrid system alleviates the Land Cruiser’s biggest weakness, inefficiency, now netting a respectable 23 combined mpg (compared to 14 mpg combined in the previous generation and 21 combined for the Wrangler). The Land Cruiser also makes a good alternative to the Wrangler based on its legendary durability and reliability, the latter of which has been a relative weak point for the sometimes-finicky Wrangler.
The Land Cruiser sports some serious off-road chops as well with full-time four-wheel drive, disconnecting front and rear anti-roll bars, and locking center and rear differentials. A ground clearance of 8.7 inches for the Land Cruiser is below the Wrangler’s standard clearance of 9.4 inches and well below the factory max clearance of 12.9 inches. The Land Cruiser also merits consideration based on its overall refinement as it offers a quieter, more compliant on-road manner and a nicer interior than the Wrangler.
Ford Bronco
The Ford Bronco is about as close a Wrangler analogue as you’re likely to find. Both offer two- or four-door versions. Their powertrains stack up similarly with the Bronco offering a 2.3L turbo four-cylinder (275 hp) or a 2.7 twin-turbo V6 (315 hp) with 20 mpg and 19 mpg combined, respectively. Both the Bronco and Wrangler compromise on ride quality, road noise, and interior quality while offering the best out-of-the-box off-roading prowess in the segment.
Ford matches the Wrangler’s performance iteration, the Rubicon 392, as well. The Bronco Raptor comes equipped with a turbocharged 3.0L V6 making 418 horsepower and capable of a zero to sixty sprint of 5.6 seconds. That’s just a hair slower than the 392 Wrangler with its 6.4L Hemi V8 (470 hp). Both are absurd fun and absurdly capable off-road. The biggest differentiator between the Rubicon 392 and the Bronco Raptor is the price. The V8-equipped Wrangler runs around $80,000, while Bronco Raptor is priced around $10,000 less. The final and least tangible factor to consider is aesthetics. Also, the Bronco’s retro styling makes a fashion statement the traditionalist Wrangler does not.
Toyota 4Runner/Tacoma TRD Pro
Another alternative to the Jeep Wrangler returns us to Toyota where we lump the 4Runner SUV and the Tacoma mid-size truck. Both the Tacoma and 4Runner share the same platform (along with the Land Cruiser) as well as their powertrain options, drivetrains, and suspension configurations. The 4Runner/Tacoma are powered by a 2.4L four-cylinder making 278 horsepower and 317 lb.-ft. of torque. The same engine comes in hybrid form (as seen in the above Land Cruiser), good for 326 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. Towing for the 4Runner and Tacoma comes in at 6,500 lbs., well exceeding the Wrangler Rubicon’s 5,000 lbs. The Toyota’s also offer a choice of rear-wheel, part-time four-wheel, or full-time four-wheel drive. Other off-road goodies include a disconnecting front sway bar and optional center and rear locking differentials. The 4Runner and Tacoma feature comfortable interiors with chunky switch gear, high-quality materials, and good fit and finish. These, along with superior ride quality, make the 4Runner and Tacoma desirable alternative options to the Wrangler.
Subaru Outback Wilderness
If you’re looking for a vehicle with decent off-roadability but aren’t looking to do serious rock crawling or mudding, the Subaru Outback Wilderness can make a great alternative to the Jeep Wrangler. The Outback is powered by either a 2.5L flat-four with 182 horsepower or a 2.4L turbo with 260 horsepower. Fuel economy is ahead of the Wrangler with the Outback netting 29 mpg combined (26 mpg for the turbo) compared to 21 mpg for the Jeep. The Wilderness trim upgrades the already competent Outback for greater off-roadability that includes a taller ride height (9.5 inches compared to the standard 8.7 inches), a skid plate, extra cladding, and a more robust suspension.
The Outback is rated to tow up to 3,500 lbs., on par with the non-Rubicon Wrangler. The Outback’s interior is more spacious as well boasting 39.5 inches of rear seat legroom and up to 75.6 cu.-ft. of cargo space compared to just 35.7 inches of rear seat legroom and 72.4 cu.-ft. of cargo space. While your average Outback won’t be taking on the Rubicon Trail anytime soon, its combination of comfort, efficiency, and respectable all-wheel drive should put it on your short list of Wrangler alternatives.
Chevrolet Colorado ZR2
Among mid-size pickups, the Chevrolet Colorado’s ZR2 trim is among the best off-road specs available. The Colorado comes standard with a turbocharged 2.7L four-cylinder making 237 horsepower. The off-road oriented ZR2 tunes the same engine up to 310 horsepower. Ground clearance measures 10.7 inches and the ZR2 features an upgraded off-road suspension. The Bison Edition ZR2 stacks on even more goodies with the inclusion of 17-inch bead-lock wheels clothed in 35-inch all-terrain tires accommodated by a wide track and a 12.2-inch ride height. The Bison tweaks the suspension still further with fancier shocks and hydraulic front and rear bump stops. The Chevy Colorado’s cabin is a pleasant one, much improved from older versions of the truck, though its 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen is slightly smaller than the Wrangler’s 12.3-inch screen. The Colorado ZR2 does an admirable job mixing both Baja-style pre-runner speed with impressive low-speed rock-crawling capabilities for a uniquely positioned truck that’s certainly a Wrangler alternative worth a look at.
Mazda Miata
In case you’re unfamiliar, Mazda Miata is always the answer. But I’m not injecting the Miata into this discussion to be glib or cute. For a certain segment of car shoppers, the attraction to the Wrangler is more aesthetic than practical i.e., they have no intention of taking the thing off-road and instead simply think it looks cool to be driving a Jeep. If you fall into this category, may I submit to you that something like the Miata might be more fun. As we’ve noted above, the Wrangler is a purpose-built machine optimized for off-roading. The ride can be jostling on pavement and the handling ungainly at best. This kind of thing gets old fast when the Wrangler is your primary form of transportation. The Miata, on the other hand, is a joyous daily driver. Can it ascend the Rubicon Trail or take you overlanding? No. But the Miata is also a purpose-built machine, and it has consistently proven itself capable of producing as many smiles per mile as the Jeep Wrangler.
