My daughter turned 16 but I'm having her practice for 6 months with her mom and I before we get her a car.

She has her heart set on a Jeep Wrangler so I gave her a budget and I've been on the hunt for a 4 door Wrangler.

I would prefer 2024 or newer for the side airbags, but the only model that is remotely close to that budget is their hybrid models, the 4xe.

After doing some reading, Jeep and Samsung really messed up with their releases up until 2023. Lots of recalls and law suits.

It seems the new 4 cylinders are thus far okay as far as reliability, but I'd probably install a catch can to keep the valves clean.

The 6 cylinders seem to be tanks. I would entertain and older model and install some safety features like a rear view camera, Bluetooth, and safety side mirrors. All of that could be had less than a G.

Gas mileage isn't an issue, but a plug in for daily driving seems pretty cool. I'm more concerned about safety than anything so might just tell her here's a used Volvo you're welcome, but those with daughters might understand the predicament I'm in.

I'd love to hear from Jeep owners.

Thanks! Yeah I don't want to get her a lifted or Rubicon. I've been trying to sell her on Grand Cherokees.

$24K is her budget. I told her side airbags are required, single owner, less than 40K miles, so her options for a wrangler are super limited. But there are plenty of 4xe's flirting with that price on autotrader

Teslag said:

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If your top concern is safety a Jeep wrangler for a teen diver is one of the very last vehicles I'd consider.

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With you that it's not up in safety, as implied, but man, for the routine lower speed fender benders, I would trust a 5,000lb jeep over a 3,000lb Mazda 3.

The Jeeps biggest risk is losing control and rolling over, whether from bad reaction or the death wobble, both are significant concerns.

However, the risk is low for the roll over for where she will be driving. She'll be driving 10 miles in packed traffic and not allowed on highways until she's 17.

I've had 5 Wranglers (all daily drivers) since 2012. They're fun DD if you're not expecting a car like ride, but the JLs come close.

Jeep changed the steering boxes to aluminum in 2018-2020 and the steering was sloppy as hell, so they went back to steel in 2021. I had a 2020 and it drove like I was drunk. There was a ton of play in the steering. I dumped it for what I paid for it 9 months in because it was so bad (COVID era pricing panic).

My first three Jeeps had the 3.6. It was a solid engine with few problems. My 2016 hit 100k with zero issues.

My wife now has a 2023 4 door Sport (no power anything) and I have a 2024 2 door Sport. Hers is a hard top and mine is a soft top. Both have the 2.0. I wasn't sure about the 2.0 at first, but I really enjoy it. It's "peppy" and has no trouble passing at highway speeds. The key to longevity with them is regular oil changes at 5k miles, regardless of what the oil monitor says. It's 5 quarts with a traditional spin on filter, so changes take less than 15 minutes in the driveway.

The 2024s have the redesigned interior with more airbags and a bigger nav screen. I thought the big screen in a Jeep was stupid at first, but I've really come to like it. When I drive m wife's Jeep, the smaller screen feels like I'm looking at a postage stamp.

The only issues I've seen on our two JLs is that the transmission pan on my wife's is starting to leak. She's at 57k miles so it's under warranty. The steering stabilizer on my Jeep has crapped the bed at 22k miles, already. Apparently it's a cheap part that is terribly designed - to the point that the engineer who designed it was fired, according to some of the guys on the JL board. It's a simple fix, though, and I have a Fox stabilizer coming in this weekend. $200 and 2 18mm bolts and it'll be better than new.

I wouldn't hesitate to get your daughter a Jeep. My son turns 15 in a few days and he'll get my Jeep when he turns 16.

I had a 2022 Gladiator for one year. I don't think that it was an unsafe car. It's easy to park and slightly higher up given you better visibility than a car. I always had trucks before and just didn't like the tighter cabin conditions and limited towing capacity. It is a cool car to drive if you want something smaller.

Got our kids a 2010 (just sold) and 2013 4D Wranglers as their first cars. We enjoyed them. Had a few issues, but they were older cars. Lifted both 2 inches and installed aftermarket apple car play radios. Kids enjoyed them and we kept the 2013 as a third car for wife and I. I enjoy driving them around town. Easy to park. They are not cheap, and we had to buy an older model to meet price requirement.

not a Jeep, but for a 16 year old kid I may have something of interest for you.

we will be selling my wife's 2016 4runner limited in about 6 months or so. 140,XXX miles on it.

theJonatron said:

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Thanks! Yeah I don't want to get her a lifted or Rubicon. I've been trying to sell her on Grand Cherokees.

$24K is her budget. I told her side airbags are required, single owner, less than 40K miles, so her options for a wrangler are super limited. But there are plenty of 4xe's flirting with that price on autotrader

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If you can get her into a low mileage Grand Cherokee, that should hold her for the next 10 years, until the second grandkid comes along.

Kind of LOL but, the used car I got my Aggie daughter for A&M graduation lasted her 8 years (from 80,000 miles to 180,000 miles) until the 2nd kid came along. That's when her and husband decided they needed a SUV with a 3rd row (unfortunately they considered the Expedition too beaucoups).

As far as a Jeep Wrangler, a couple of positives and a couple of negatives:
Positives

• You're instantly a member of a car club that is by and large pretty friendly - except for the "built not bought" guys who won't look at you if you drive a stock Rubicon. Otherwise, ducks galore.
• Unless you're an enthusiast, commoners can't tell the difference between a Jeep Wrangler that's 1 year old, or 15 years old.
• There are endless upgrades available plus YouTube videos on how to do them.
• There will always be somebody who wants to buy your Jeep from you.
• Of course, if you get her one with a manual transmission, her friends won't be able to drive it.
• They sit up high like an SUV
• They can go lots of places that other vehicles can't and they're easy to park.
• Easy to clean out the inside when your friend makes a mess inside the vehicle (use your imagination)

Negatives

• Lots of stuff can break and will
• They're loud - don't waste your money on an Alpine or Blaupunkt or whatever
• They don't go very fast (also a positive if you have a lead foot like I do, I'm never going to get a ticket for doing 100 mph in my Wrangler)

Bought my daughter a new 2018 JKU when she turned 16. Eight years and 100,000 miles later she still loves it.

Well maintained and a few minor repairs:
-wiper motor
-swing gate lock
-thermostat
-plastic oil filter housing/adapter

That's it! Still drives great, but we are keeping an eye on front-end parts.

It's not lifted, new wheels and 285/70/17 tires at 40,000.

'06 TJLR (stretch 2dr Rubi) and currently a '19 JLUR (4dr Rubi)

Your search precludes the TJ's which is good.

I'd keep an eye out for a 4dr JLU Safari. Soccer Mom level daily driver. The JL's,vs the TJ's, are way better on the Highway. You won't mistake them for a Caddie, but you won't be crying uncle after 2 hours on the highway like the TJ.

I've rented a 4xe and it's batteries last 25-30 miles on a full charge and the engine doesn't recharge them at all that I could tell vs a Dodge Dart I later rented that did. On the JL 4xe, it takes about 13 hours to charge that 25-30 miles on 110v. The ICE part of the engine is a 2.0 turbo. It's not hateful, but the combo was not worth the squeeze vs my V6 Rubi.

The JL's start getting uncomfortable above 80 if any curves are involved, but I've on worried about rolling over on a few trails doing stupid stuff.

theJonatron said:

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Thanks! Yeah I don't want to get her a lifted or Rubicon. I've been trying to sell her on Grand Cherokees.

$24K is her budget. I told her side airbags are required, single owner, less than 40K miles, so her options for a wrangler are super limited. But there are plenty of 4xe's flirting with that price on autotrader

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The 4xe is a pile of crap. Do not buy one.

Jetpilot86 said:

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'06 TJLR (stretch 2dr Rubi) and currently a '19 JLUR (4dr Rubi)

Your search precludes the TJ's which is good.

I'd keep an eye out for a 4dr JLU Safari. Soccer Mom level daily driver. The JL's,vs the TJ's, are way better on the Highway. You won't mistake them for a Caddie, but you won't be crying uncle after 2 hours on the highway like the TJ.

I've rented a 4xe and it's batteries last 25-30 miles on a full charge and the engine doesn't recharge them at all that I could tell vs a Dodge Dart I later rented that did. On the JL 4xe, it takes about 13 hours to charge that 25-30 miles on 110v. The ICE part of the engine is a 2.0 turbo. It's not hateful, but the combo was not worth the squeeze vs my V6 Rubi.

The JL's start getting uncomfortable above 80 if any curves are involved, but I've on worried about rolling over on a few trails doing stupid stuff.

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Username definitely doesn't match (my first time playing this game). Jetpilot uncomfortable with speed and a few gs on curves?

rme said:

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Jetpilot86 said:

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'06 TJLR (stretch 2dr Rubi) and currently a '19 JLUR (4dr Rubi)

Your search precludes the TJ's which is good.

I'd keep an eye out for a 4dr JLU Safari. Soccer Mom level daily driver. The JL's,vs the TJ's, are way better on the Highway. You won't mistake them for a Caddie, but you won't be crying uncle after 2 hours on the highway like the TJ.

I've rented a 4xe and it's batteries last 25-30 miles on a full charge and the engine doesn't recharge them at all that I could tell vs a Dodge Dart I later rented that did. On the JL 4xe, it takes about 13 hours to charge that 25-30 miles on 110v. The ICE part of the engine is a 2.0 turbo. It's not hateful, but the combo was not worth the squeeze vs my V6 Rubi.

The JL's start getting uncomfortable above 80 if any curves are involved, but I've on worried about rolling over on a few trails doing stupid stuff.

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Username definitely doesn't match (my first time playing this game). Jetpilot uncomfortable with speed and a few gs on curves?

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Speed, curves & G's are best combined with AGL, Above Ground Level, also not in a Jeep.

Perfect!

<takes bow>

My daughter drove a 2-door JK for about 18 months after turning 16. It had a modest lift, larger tires, and giant steel front and rear bumpers. It was a tank. She liked it because it was kind of cool sitting in the school parking lot and getting 'ducked' was fun for her.

But I absolutely hated driving it over 60 mph. Highways were brutal.

We sold it for a CX-30 which she absolutely loves.

Now my youngest is going the opposite direction with an ND Miata. She will drive that for a year or so (in town only) before moving into something more long-term.

dodger02 said:

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My daughter drove a 2-door JK for about 18 months after turning 16. It had a modest lift, larger tires, and giant steel front and rear bumpers. It was a tank. She liked it because it was kind of cool sitting in the school parking lot and getting 'ducked' was fun for her.

But I absolutely hated driving it over 60 mph. Highways were brutal.

We sold it for a CX-30 which she absolutely loves.

Now my youngest is going the opposite direction with an ND Miata. She will drive that for a year or so (in town only) before moving into something more long-term.

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Same for my daughter, but a TJ and now in a CX-5.

Teslag said:

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If your top concern is safety a Jeep wrangler for a teen diver is one of the very last vehicles I'd consider.

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100%

You want something that can stop. And steer. And avoid a collision. But then be safe in one.

https://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com/newsrelease.do?id=27207&mid=1

HollywoodBQ said:

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I've got a friend who rolled his (offroad at Merus in Palo Duro Canyon) two months ago and he's looking for a new one right now. He's finding 2021s in the mid 30k range with reasonably low miles.
Side note - He was uninjured and his Jeep was still driveable after the rollover but, his insurance totalled it out. Which was the right thing to do because it was smashed up pretty bad.

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Made me think of this insurance payout:

That wasn't your friend, though, right?

Naveronski said:

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HollywoodBQ said:

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I've got a friend who rolled his (offroad at Merus in Palo Duro Canyon) two months ago and he's looking for a new one right now. He's finding 2021s in the mid 30k range with reasonably low miles.
Side note - He was uninjured and his Jeep was still driveable after the rollover but, his insurance totalled it out. Which was the right thing to do because it was smashed up pretty bad.

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Made me think of this insurance payout:

That wasn't your friend, though, right?

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No, wasn't him. Funnily enough, we had both watched that video before we went out there in November 2025.

My friend's wife was driving and he was in the passenger seat when they rolled over on the "Short Cut" trail.

I have to say that the Merus staff were exceptional in their response once we got into trouble.

Much to my surprise, one of the staff members mentioned that State Farm has covered a few Jeep total losses out at Merus. That happened to be who my friend was insured with and they covered it.

I got a jeep when I was 16. The safety concerns are way overblown in my opinion. Nothing more dangerous about driving a jeep. I loved my Jeep and have been looking for another one for about the last year.

My daughter wanted one too. I talked her into a Bronco sport. No, not as cool but has way more features than a jeep, is safer and much better gas mileage. She loves it.

RCR06 said:

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I got a jeep when I was 16. The safety concerns are way overblown in my opinion. Nothing more dangerous about driving a jeep. I loved my Jeep and have been looking for another one for about the last year.

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Even Jeep dealerships acknowledge that they're more dangerous than other vehicles.
" Crash Test Ratings: Historically, Jeep Wranglers haven't performed as well in crash tests compared to some other vehicles. For instance, in the past, they've received lower scores from organizations like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)."

https://www.hendrickjeepwilmington.com/blog/2024/august/27/jeep-wrangler-safety.htm

Naveronski said:

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RCR06 said:

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I got a jeep when I was 16. The safety concerns are way overblown in my opinion. Nothing more dangerous about driving a jeep. I loved my Jeep and have been looking for another one for about the last year.

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Even Jeep dealerships acknowledge that they're more dangerous than other vehicles.
" Crash Test Ratings: Historically, Jeep Wranglers haven't performed as well in crash tests compared to some other vehicles. For instance, in the past, they've received lower scores from organizations like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)."

https://www.hendrickjeepwilmington.com/blog/2024/august/27/jeep-wrangler-safety.htm

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From another jeep dealership.

"Jeep has released a PDF detailing all 75 safety and security features within the 2018 and laters Wrangler models. The Wrangler is intended for off-road use, so it needs to be able to stand up to the elements. Jeep has built the Wrangler with a high-strength steel frame to protect the passengers with a rigid chassis and specific "crumple zone" areas that can absorb and distribute shock. There are also multi-stage front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger."

"Most of the testing from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) involves more or less head-on crashes. IIHS tests gave the 2007 Wrangler received "Good" ratings for small and moderate overlap front crashes, proving that even an older Wrangler can provide solid protection in collisions."

"Still, that doesn't mean these older and more affordable options are unsafe. They generally include important features like electronic stability control, traction control, rollover mitigation, and driver and front passenger airbags. The older the used Jeep Wrangler, the more unlikely it will be to have a full set of safety features. But in all fairness, this is true of every vehicle. The safety features that we know and love today are relatively recent in the timeline of automobile development."

https://www.dancummins.net/blogs/7415/safety-first-for-first-time-drivers-should-i-let-my-teenager-drive-a-jeep-wrangler

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