For a second there, I thought the Wrangler 392 was on its way out. The 2024 model year was marketed as a Final Edition, after all, with Jeep specifically saying that would be the last year for the eight-cylinder off-roader. That didn’t happen, obviously. The Final Edition was, hilariously, extended for another model year. And now, the ’26 version is out. And it’s a whole lot cheaper.
A full $20,000 cheaper, to be exact. MSRP for the 2026 V8 Wrangler comes in at $79,995, excluding a destination fee of $1,995. That’s a huge drop from last year’s model, which started at $99,995. The big ticket item—the 6.4-liter, 470-horsepower Hemi V8—is unchanged from last year. There are also beadlock-capable 17-inch wheels, a body-color hardtop, rock sliders, and black tow hooks. Inside, you’ll find Nappa leather and an Alpine audio system. Optional stuff includes the Wrangler’s funky Sky One-Touch power-folding convertible top and an 8,000-pound Warn winch.
A $20,000 drop in price puts the Wrangler 392 right alongside its closest competitor, the Ford Bronco Raptor, which starts at exactly the same price. I can’t decide if this means the Jeep is now a great deal, or if it’s still obscenely expensive.
The Argument For It Being Too Expensive
At its core, the Wrangler 392 is still just a Wrangler Rubicon with a V8. It has a reinforced frame and a bit of a lift, sure, but it’s not like the suspension was completely reengineered for high-speed Baja desert-running. Like any Wrangler, it can absolutely dominate the low-speed, rock-crawling aspects of off-roading. But when it comes to the high-speed stuff, the Bronco Raptor has it outclassed with its 13 inches of travel up front and 14 inches in the rear.
Despite the gargantuan price cut for 2026, the Wrangler 392 is still more expensive than it was when it first debuted in 2021. Back then, it started at $74,995 plus a $1,400 destination fee. It’s also still $34,000 more than a regular Rubicon. You’re paying for that V8, with its extra sound and fat glob of power. But you’re not getting much else.
The JL Wrangler is also just … old. It came out all the way back in 2017, meaning it’s inching up on nine years on the market. You could argue the Wrangler is a timeless vehicle—in several ways, it is—but its interior is decidedly dated, and doesn’t really hold up against modern competition. What I’m saying is, the concept of paying 80 grand for an old Jeep that happens to have a V8 just doesn’t compute in my mind.
The Argument For It Being A Great Deal
The Wrangler 392’s price tag makes a lot more sense when you look at everything around it. If you want a true off-road SUV powered by a V8, your options are extremely limited and vastly more expensive. The cheapest Defender V8 costs over $111,000, while the cheapest V8-powered Mercedes G-Wagen is no less than $196,700, including destination.
It’s also worth comparing the Wrangler with the Ineos Grenadier, the only other passenger car for sale in the U.S. that comes with a solid front axle. If ultimate rock-crawling supremacy is your goal, starting with a live axle up front is a smart move. But even the least expensive Ineos, which is powered by a turbocharged straight-six, is still a $72,600 SUV—and doesn’t even come with off-road tires. You’ll need to spend at least $80,000 for an Ineos to have one that can truly do battle with the Wrangler. If it were my money, I’d rather have the most expensive Wrangler than the cheapest Ineos.
You could argue that cheaper machines like the Ram Power Wagon or the Chevrolet Tahoe Z71 are cheaper V8-powered off-roaders, but those machines are also physically larger and less appropriate for true mudding.
While I haven’t driven a Wrangler 392, I have ridden in one. From that ride alone, I could tell it’s an absolute riot. If I had to choose between it and the (likely much better to drive) Bronco Raptor, I’d still probably pick the Jeep. But that’s just because sound and silliness matter to me more than ultimate desert-running supremacy.
Your choice might be different. And I’d love to know why. If you had to drop $80,000 on one of Detroit’s big-boy off-road SUVs, which one would you choose? Bronco Raptor or Wrangler 392?
Top graphic image: Jeep
I can’t have a fucking Twingo but by God I can have an $80,000 plastic bonanza with a solid front axle and the build quality of a knock-off Goggomobil.
The Wrangler is available in cooler colors, so there’s that 😛
Too bad there’s no Wrangler Hellcat, and too bad there’s no Wrangler Safari with a third row of seats. That shit would print money!
ALSO-the V8 Wranglers depreciate like lead balloons and now that they’re selling for $80,000 new rather than $100,000 it’s about to get even worse, so if for whatever reason this is your idea of a good time it won’t be that long until used ones are in the 40s.
You’ll be dealing with a 4-5 year old Stellantis product that’s undoubtedly been ridden hard and put away wet…but it’s not like parts are hard to find or there isn’t an entire universe of aftermarket support for Wranglers, so…idk, as long as safety and fuel efficiency are priorities 21 and 22 for you I think you could do worse.
Interior is decided dated? How?? Because it still has *buttons* and the gauge cluster isn’t one big giant screen? Personally, I prefer the JL interior to the Bronco interior.
Probably just because most journalists remember seeing this general interior back in late 2017, so with the exception of that screen they added in 2024, not much has changed. It’s a fair point from a journalist point of view, but to the average person hopping in one for the first time, nobody thinks it looks dated at all. Honestly I really hope they don’t do much with it when they release the next gen, it’s one of my favorite dashboard setups of any modern car bar none. Those designers had to make a good looking interior with the constraints of the design (the interior width of a 1994 Chevy S10, must be upright, must be easy to use, must be waterproof) and knocked it out of the park.
If I won a big multi-state lottery (of course I’d have to play first…) and could arguably justify an $80K purchase for something meant as an off-road toy for 4-5 passengers with a removable roof and doors, I’d go for the Bronco Raptor (in Shelter Green, since Code Orange isn’t available anymore). However I’d buy a Raptor R first, even though they’re not directly comparable.
I’d also get a Ranger Raptor (also in green), to complete the Raptor set.
I can’t even begin to fathom spending 80 grand on a goddamn Wrangler but I guess people do
Something, something, wouldn’t understand, etc.
I know people that spent: $45,000 on a side by side;$55,000 on a Duck Hunting boat (that is useless for anything BUT duck hunting);$60,000 plus on a camper that gets used 3 times a year;$140k plus for a used plane;$75 grand for a pontoon boat
All these are different people of course, but all of these toys will depreciate WAY harder and be out of warranty WAY sooner than that Jeep.
Is it a solid financial decision? Oh god no.
Is it a better financial decision than every single other $80,000 and-up vehicle? I honestly think it is.
So jeep declared 2025 as the last model year for the 392, called it the Final Addition and charged nearly 100k for it. Then pretty much shrugged their shoulders came out with a 2026 and dropped the price 20%? Talk about depreciation. I’d be pissed if I bought one last year. Are they at least giving money back to anyone that overpaid last year?
It’s $34k-ish for a factory powertrain warranty, 50 state emissions certification, running as well as a Jeep can run and all the supporting enhancement to handle that power. Put that way, it’s probably a decent deal compared to me hacking together the same thing in my garage.
Yes deathwobble is super improved by a nose heavy configuration w a big v8.
I have owned well over a dozen SFA Jeeps over the last decade and I have never once experienced death wobble. At a minimum, it’s grossly overstated, and likely stems from a badly balanced wheel or poor maintenance.
Stellantis has been sued multiple times. They lost.
N=1 but the steering wheel on my JL moved like a jackhammer on the highway. It was fixed under warranty. I made the same assumptions you did.
I witnessed my first death wobble about 2 weeks ago. Newer Wrangler was in front of me while merging onto the highway for the morning commute. This person was not really paying attention to traffic in front of them and had to get on the brakes pretty hard. That front end started dancing like crazy.. they then left about 20 car lengths worth of space in front of them after they slowed down enough to stop the wobble.
First, That Purple is FANTASTIC.
I think this is the Moab version which may not have all the Rubicon goodies like front locker and swaybar disconnect etc. This stuff most rubicon buyers never use anyway and for sure not that many 392 at the $90-100K price are not off road bashing that often so getting the V-8 and not paying for the stuff you will not use is a bargain, I guess.