With the Ford Bronco now hot on its heels, the Jeep Wrangler is racing to keep itself on top in a battle for off-road SUV supremacy. For the 2024 model year, the iconic 4x4 gains some small yet welcome upgrades, and they're just enough to keep the Wrangler relevant for a few more years.

We'll start with the revamped front end, which sees some major changes to the distinctive seven-slot grille, which has been associated with the Jeep name for decades. The mesh pattern behind the iconic slots has been expanded to cover the majority of the front end, while the actual seven slots have been shortened and retouched to stand out against the darkened background. Overall, it makes for a more upscale look, though diehard Jeep fans might not be so fond of the adjustments.

The most noticable changes have occurred inside the cabin, where the old 8.4" touchscreen has been replaced by a considerably larger 12.3" unit, which runs Stellantis's latest Uconnect 5 infotainment. The system now integrates Trails Offroad, which includes guides for 62 Jeep Badge of Honor trails. However, Jeep has decided to play the subscription game, and offers up to 3,000 trail guides for those who choose to pay extra. Elsewhere, the instrument cluster is now wrapped in soft fabrics with contrast stitching, and smartphone mirroring via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is now wireless across the board.

Jeep has also made some improvements in terms of safety, with side curtain airbags for the first and second rows now marked as standard for all models. Also, every trim except for the entry-level Sport now gets available blind-spot monitoring and a parking assist, while all but the Sport S receives standard forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control.

The plug-in-hybrid Wrangler 4xe now features a power supply unit that Jeep calls the Power Box. It contains four 120-volt outlets, providing 30 amps of output in total. Additionally, two new plug-in-hybrid trims have joined the 4xe lineup. The Sport S has been added as a more affordable option, and therefore sits at the bottom of the plug-in-hybrid range. It is meant to align with the gas-powered Sport trim, offering fewer goodies than the original 4xe. Meanwhile, Jeep has also introduced the Rubicon X, which will be offered in either gas or 4xe form, slotted above the regular Rubicon. The X in the name indicates more features, including a Rock-Trac full-time transfer case, steel bumpers, an off-road camera, and 35-inch BFGoodrich A/T tires. The standard Rubicon doesn't skimp out on extra feaures, though, as that trim gains a full-float Dana rear axle. It's also worth noting the 4xe Willys, which receives a new Selec-Trac full-time transfer case.

The 2024 Wrangler goes unchanged under the hood, where you'll still find the base V6, inline-four, plug-in-hybrid 4xe, and 392 supercharged V8 as the four available powertrain options. The latter three are limited to an eight-speed automatic, while the V6 offers either a six-speed manual or the aforementioned automatic.

Pricing for the 2024 Wrangler hasn't been disclosed just yet, but expect it to start around the mid-$30,000 range.

Images: Jeep