Jeep makes some of the best off-roading vehicles, but critics contest the brand’s quality. The Jeep Wrangler has sold well in the United States due to its military roots and rugged character. However, many Jeep models are notoriously unreliable, and most of them receive low scores from review sites.

Regardless, Vincentric just named the 2022 Jeep Wrangler the compact SUV that offers the best value in the United States. What metrics does Vincentric use to determine the best vehicles, and what makes the Wrangler worthy of praise?

Is it easy to win a Vincentric award?

Vincentric gives vehicles Best Value in America Awards based on several cost factors. Any given vehicle must have considerably lower financing, taxes, and fees compared to rivals. It should also be cheaper to insure and have lower repair and maintenance costs.

In addition, award winners need relatively low depreciation rates and shouldn’t pose a high risk of opportunity cost. Finally, these cars should also be efficient enough to save drivers a nice chunk of change on gas.

Toyota models dominated the passenger sedan segment, including the Camry and Prius Prime.

Also, Vincentric named the Jeep Gladiator the best value among compact pickup trucks, even amid GM competition.

And among the luxury winners were the Chevrolet Corvette, Tesla Model 3, and Lincoln Navigator.

Why is the 2022 Jeep Wrangler such a good value among small SUVs?

The Jeep Wrangler’s ownership costs were 12% lower than Vincentric projected, earning this SUV its seventh Best Value win. That’s excellent considering a new Wrangler typically costs a premium over rivals. The base trim retails for nearly $30,000, and most trims cost between $40,000 and $50,000.

However, if you pay a little extra for the turbodiesel, you’ll get the best gas mileage. This engine gets 22/29 mpg city/highway and can be optioned on any Wrangler trim. 

Rubicon models pack the brawniest engine, a V8 harnessing 470 hp and the same amount of torque. Both the base 285-hp V6 and turbocharged 260-hp V6 with more low-end torque are also great choices.

The base Jeep Wrangler Sport also comes with plentiful off-roading equipment for the price. Four-wheel drive, all-season tires, a two-speed transfer case, tow hooks, skid plates, and fog lights come standard. You can also add rock sliders and a limited rear-slip differential and choose between a soft or hard roof.

Rubicon models also come with beefy 33-inch tires, Fox shocks, and locking front and rear differentials. And the Rubicon 392, priced at $74,800, comes with the most luxurious interior materials and advanced safety tech.

The Jeep Wrangler’s best-value win might seem shocking

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler palces second-to-last in Consumer Reports rankings, with an overall score of only 28/100. Though Consumer Reports testers noted this SUV offers improvements over previous models, it still has many irritating flaws. The ride is shaky on civilized pavement, and navigating the SUV around turns feels riskier than it should be.

CR’s testers also found the steering lacked feedback, and they didn’t like the Wrangler’s below-average braking performance. Plus, wind noise inside the cabin was overpowering at highway speeds. Even the interior is hard to access, and the seats feel flimsy.

Still, even CR’s hard-to-please testers had to relent that the Wrangler rides impressively off-road. They also liked the upscale interior touches on the higher trims and most of the interior controls.

Sure, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler is a long way from perfect, but its overall value is at an all-time high.