2025 Jeep Wrangler 2-Door Review

The 2025 Wrangler Rubicon X is a fun off-roader, and that's about it.

Beverly Braga | 

Oct 17, 2025 | 7 min read

Beverly Braga

The Jeep brand has a storied history rooted in military might, but today, the vehicles are more likely to be used as an everyday commuter. That isn't to say that modern Jeeps are less capable than the "light reconnaissance vehicle" first delivered to the U.S. Army in 1940. A benchmark of rugged SUVs, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler represents the culmination of 85 years of tactile off-road prowess, but with contemporary on-road technology.

Although the 2025 Wrangler is essentially the same as last year's model, new features include standard power door locks and windows. There are fresh paint colors, too — a military-inspired olive exterior paint dubbed '41, Mojito green, and Joose orange. Otherwise, the Wrangler continues in a variety of configurations.

For example, although Jeep equips this SUV with standard four-wheel drive, several different 4x4 systems, suspension configurations, and wheel/tire combinations are available, depending on the trim. Those buyers who opt for the most capable version off-road should know that they'll sacrifice features such as ride comfort on the road. Base your choice on realistic needs rather than just-in-case scenarios, and there is a Jeep Wrangler that will fit the bill.

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About the 2025 Jeep Wrangler 2-Door Review Vehicle

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler is available in two-door and four-door body styles. This review is about the Wrangler 2-Door, which is available in five trim levels: Sport, Sport S, Willys, Rubicon, and Rubicon X. Jeep Wrangler 2-Door prices start around $35,000 for the two-door Sport and range up to about $59,000 for the Rubicon X. Those prices include the destination charge to ship the SUV to a dealership from the Toledo, Ohio, assembly plant.

For this Wrangler review, I test-drove a Rubicon X in southeastern Michigan. Optional equipment highlights included Firecracker Red premium paint, a Doors-Off Mirror kit, and the Customer Preferred package, which included a host of features, such as a hard top, full-time four-wheel drive, and nappa leather seats. My test vehicle was also equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

With those options, the manufacturer's suggested retail price was $66,700, including the $1,995 destination charge. Jeep provided the vehicle for this Wrangler review.

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The 2025 Wrangler Is Ready for Every Off-Road Occasion

The Jeep Wrangler hasn't veered far from its army roots. Still sporting a boxy utilitarian profile, the modern Wrangler has shown a progressive yet constrained design evolution. To be honest, why bother changing its iconic look? When seen from afar, a Wrangler can be mistaken for nothing else but a Jeep.

With equal off-road intent, the Wrangler Rubicon's interior is a no-nonsense showcase of sturdy switches, buttons, and knobs. The large, tactile controls are intentionally more intuitive than touchscreen taps, especially when traversing the bumps and boulders of off-road trails.

During trail runs, the Wrangler's seats are cushioned enough, but I think they could use some extra bolstering to minimize the driver and passengers getting jostled on rough surfaces. On smooth pavement, however, I found the seats provided little comfort in response to the Wrangler Rubicon X's jittery ride (which was likely aggravated by its huge all-terrain tires). And don't get me started on ingress/egress for petite drivers such as my 5-foot-2-inch self, which is a challenge. The side steps on my test SUV were not as helpful as I had hoped.

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Rear passengers will likely deem the Wrangler 2-Door to be rather cramped. But there is the option of removing the roof and doors when needing a breath of fresh air and spatial freedom, which is something few SUVs can offer. They'll access the second row via the sliding front-passenger seat. Once they've squeezed in, they'll find the back seat's design, coupled with the center-console placement, forces them into a somewhat awkward off-center seating position.

The Wrangler 2-Door model's 12.9 cubic-foot cargo area is also cramped, offering just enough room for a standard backpack and a carry-on suitcase positioned sideways, and that's about it. Drop the back seat, and the volume expands to 31.7 cu-ft. You can also remove the back seat to create a two-seater with 46.9 cubes of cargo or dog-carrying space.

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Trail Guides Help the Wrangler Find Its Happy Place

The 2025 Wrangler comes standard with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen that features Uconnect 5. The system offers wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, simultaneous dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, and access to a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot.

With crisp, clean graphics, Uconnect 5 was easy to use and offered fast response times. Yet the navigation directions were wonky, whether using the built-in system or Apple CarPlay. "You have reached your destination" regularly appeared on the display, even when I was nearly a mile away from the address. The customizable homescreen has limits, too. For example, I couldn't add a weather module.

But the highlight for any Jeeper is the optional Adventure Guides and GPS Trail Logs. Newly available last year, the partnership with Trails Offroad integrates more than 200 off-road guides into the Uconnect 5 system, including all Jeep Badge of Honor Trails. A premium subscription unlocks more than 3,000 trails.

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According to Jeep, the 2025 Wrangler has more than 85 standard safety and security features. However, some typical advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), such as lane-keeping assist, aren't available at all. Meanwhile, others, such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, require you to pay for an option package to obtain them.

The ADAS features on my Rubicon X test vehicle performed well and without any fuss. The adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality was smooth during braking and acceleration, and the front and rear cameras provided high-definition picture quality day and night.

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Great Off-Road, but the 2025 Wrangler Has Sketchy On-Road Manners

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler 2-Door is available with a standard V6 engine or an available turbocharged four-cylinder. The V6 comes only with a six-speed manual transmission, while the four-cylinder comes with an eight-speed automatic. My test vehicle had the automatic and the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.

This powertrain is hardly middling, offering surprisingly smooth power delivery and just a subtle hint of turbo whine to keep things interesting. Considering the two-door Rubicon X weighs 4,246 pounds and is likely one of the least aerodynamic vehicles on the road, the small engine nevertheless makes the stocky Wrangler fun to drive. But that trait cannot compensate for the loss of comfort and practicality.

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The massive tires and removable roof panels make the Wrangler Rubicon X an often jarring driving experience. There seems to be little sound deadening, so the cabin is far louder than you'd expect in a modern vehicle. The on-road ride quality also suffers due to the oversized off-road treads, so unless you're on dirt all the time, the BF Goodrich T/A KO2s are excessive accessorizing.

But take the Wrangler Rubicon X off-road and all is forgiven. While the Jeep feels like a lost soul on the highway, once off the pavement, it's right at home. I didn't go cliff climbing during my time with the Wrangler, but driving through Michigan forests was more exciting than what you'd encounter between a suburban driveway and the local big-box store.

With that said, anyone looking for a fuel-efficient SUV can pass on the Wrangler. The EPA-estimated fuel economy for my test vehicle was 21 mpg in combined city and highway driving. But after 326.3 miles and two fill-ups, my average was 16.4 mpg.

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Is the 2025 Jeep Wrangler 2-Door a Good SUV?

If you're looking for a quiet and chill SUV, you may not get what you want with the 2025 Wrangler Rubicon X 2-Door. It is purpose-built for tackling trails, and if you're buying it for a different reason, I'd reconsider. That's also true when shopping for the Wrangler's direct competitor, the Ford Bronco.

However, if your ideal vehicle is a wildly capable 4x4 convertible, then the Wrangler Rubicon X 2-Door could be a match. Its fuel economy is not for the faint of heart, and its price is eye-watering, given the number of features it lacks. However, there's something to be said for its vintage looks and can-do attitude — "It's a Jeep Thing." You either get it or you don't.

Beverly Braga

Beverly Braga is a freelance writer and consultant with nearly 20 years of experience as a storyteller and communications professional. Her work has appeared in numerous print and digital outlets covering the automotive, entertainment, lifestyle, as well as food and beverage industries.