3 Jeep Wrangler Alternatives That Are Actually Reliable
Love the famous Jeep SUV but aren’t all in on the decision yet? These are a few Jeep Wrangler alternatives from Ford, Land Rover, and even GMC. While there are many sport utility vehicles on the market, not many of those can come close to the capability of the Wrangler. However, these three options come close in a few ways.
What are the best Jeep Wrangler alternatives?
Even if U.S. News gives the Wrangler mixed reviews, this Jeep Wrangler alternative is obviously the Ford Bronco. If you are aiming for off-road capability and good handling, the Ford Bronco might be as close as it gets.
The Wrangler has plenty of engines to choose from, off-road capability, and updated technology. Ford’s Bronco can match most of that, but it can get expensive as you go up in trim levels. Jeep does that too, but the Bronco has also been much harder to get ahold of. The customization and various body styles have slowed production and made certain configurations harder to find.
J.D. Power and U.S. News gave the 2023 Wrangler a predicted reliability score of 86 out of 100. That is considered a great score and comes in above much of the competition. Those groups gave the Bronco a reliability score of 77 out of 100, which is still good enough.
Does Land Rover make a good best Jeep Wrangler alternative?
For those who want a Jeep Wrangler alternative that is a little more grown up, the Land Rover Defender has similar features. This SUV lands in the luxury off-road category, which is not a very big category. The Defender is rugged and comfortable but might be a little too much for Wrangler fans. It borders on luxury, but the interior isn’t as refined as some of the competition.
Starting at about $20,000 more than the Wrangler, the Defender has three powerful engines to choose from. It can also tackle the sand and dirt much better than the competition. Shoppers can choose from two or four doors, which offers plenty of space for the whole family. The four-door option adds a small third row.
J.D. Power gave the 2023 Defender an 80 out of 100 reliability score. Depending on the engine choice, the 296 to 518 horsepower rating is similar to the Wranglers. If you are over the competition, the Land Rover Defender is a good Jeep Wrangler alternative.
The Hummer EV is another good Wrangler option
If you really want to blow the Jeep Wrangler out of the park, in both budget and capability, the GMC Hummer EV Pickup does both. Starting at an astronomical $108,300, the Hummer EV is all-electric and has 1,000 horsepower. It also has 1,200 pound-feet of torque and weighs more than 9,000 pounds.
Fast, capable, and about as big as it gets, the electric Hummer is bound to turn some heads. It is reasonably competent off-road and has some features only found on the Hummer, like the famed Crab Walk feature. This allows it to move sideways out of a sticky situation. It has adaptive suspension, four-wheel steering, locking front and rear differentials, and torque vectoring. Since the Hummer EV is brand new, it doesn’t get a reliability score. All eyes are on this new generation of electric vehicles, so issues might pop up but also should be quickly fixed.
These are just a few Jeep Wrangler alternatives, but it is hard to beat that silly SUV. There are reasons to leave the Wrangler behind, and Land Rover, Ford, and GMC are the brands to do it in.