Compare the2024 Jeep WranglerVS 2023 Tesla Model Y

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Wrangler 4-Door are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model Y doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Wrangler Automatic’s standard Hill-descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Model Y doesn’t offer Hill-descent Control.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Wrangler’s optional Rear Cross Path Detection uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model Y doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Wrangler offers optional SiriusXM Guardian, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model Y doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Wrangler and the Model Y have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Wrangler for 2 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 2 visits). Tesla doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Model Y.

There are almost 16 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Wrangler’s warranty.

The Wrangler has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the Model Y’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep above average in initial quality. With 66 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is rated below average.

The Wrangler Rubicon 392’s 6.4 V8 produces 15 more horsepower (470 vs. 455) than the Model Y Performance’s optional electric motors.

The Wrangler 4xe’s maximum EPA estimated range on a full tank and a full charge is 365 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The Model Y’s range is only 303 to 330 miles, after which the minimum time to recharge is 15 minutes for only a 45% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge at a professionally installed 220-volt charging station can take up to 8 hours and 30 minutes.

The Wrangler Rubicon 392’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Model Y doesn’t offer launch control.

For better traction, the Wrangler 4-door Rubicon 392/Xteme 35’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model Y (315/70R17 vs. 255/35R21).

The Wrangler has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Model Y doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Wrangler has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Model Y; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Wrangler has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Wrangler flat and controlled during cornering. The Model Y’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Wrangler Rubicon has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Model Y doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Wrangler 4-door’s wheelbase is 4.6 inches longer than on the Model Y (118.4 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Wrangler 2-door’s turning circle is 7.1 feet tighter than the Model Y’s (32.7 feet vs. 39.8 feet). The Wrangler 4-door’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Model Y’s (38.8 feet vs. 39.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Wrangler 2-door has a 3.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Model Y (9.7 vs. 6.6 inches), allowing the Wrangler to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Wrangler 4-door Xtreme 35’s minimum ground clearance is 6.3 inches higher than on the Model Y (12.9 vs. 6.6 inches).

The Jeep Wrangler may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 350 pounds less than the Tesla Model Y.

The Wrangler 4-door has a much larger cargo volume than the Model Y with its rear seat up (31.7 vs. 16.9 cubic feet).

The Wrangler’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the left swing out door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Model Y’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Maximum trailer towing in the Tesla Model Y is limited to 3500 pounds. The Wrangler 4-door offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Wrangler can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Wrangler can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Model Y can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Wrangler uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Model Y doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Wrangler has a standard rear wiper. The Model Y doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Wrangler’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model Y doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Wrangler has standard extendable sun visors. The Model Y doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Wrangler Rubicon/Willys/Sahara/High Altitude/Rubicon has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Model Y doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Jeep Wrangler JL comes in four door and soft top bodystyles; the Tesla Model Y isn’t available as a soft top.

Motor Trend selected the Wrangler as their 2019 Sport Utility of the Year. The Model Y has never been chosen.