Jeep Wrangler History
Jeep's iconic off-roader and heir to the CJ — solid axles, removable doors and roof, over four generations.
Photo: “1987 Jeep YJ in Colorado Red, Front Right, 07-27-2019.jpg” by Elise240SX / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
The complete year archive
Every model year
Browse the Jeep Wrangler year by year, or narrow the archive by generation, body style, engine, and highlights.
- Model years
- 39
- Generations
- 4
- Archive span
- 1987–2026
Photo: “1987 Jeep YJ in Colorado Red, Front Right, 07-27-2019.jpg” by Elise240SX / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Photo: “1996-2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ.jpg” by Carluver23 / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Photo: “2010 Jeep Wrangler Islander.jpeg” by Oshndoc at English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 3.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Third generation · JK
2007–2017
A clean-sheet design that, for the first time, offered a four-door Wrangler Unlimited alongside the two-door — the four-door went on to dominate sales. (For 2018 the JK was sold alongside the incoming JL; this dataset assigns MY2018 to the JL.)
Photo: “2024 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon (United States) front view.png” by Autosdeprimera / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 3.0. Cropped to 16:9.
History
The Wrangler nameplate launched for 1987 (YJ) to replace the long-running CJ-7, keeping the body-on-frame, solid-axle 4x4 formula but adding a wider track and more on-road comfort. Its square headlamps make the YJ the only Wrangler ever fitted with rectangular lights.
The 1997 TJ swapped leaf springs for a coil-spring suspension and returned to round headlamps, and introduced the Rubicon trim for 2003. The 2007 JK added the first four-door Wrangler (the Unlimited), which came to make up roughly three-quarters of sales.
The current JL (2018) broadened the range with the 4xe plug-in hybrid and the V8 Rubicon 392, both for 2021 — the most electrified and most powerful Wranglers ever, while keeping the removable-top, fold-down-windshield character intact.
Generations
First generation · YJ
The original Wrangler, replacing the CJ-7. Distinguished by its unique square (rectangular) headlamps — the only Wrangler with them — plus a wider track and more on-road comfort, while keeping leaf-spring suspension.
Second generation · TJ
Returned to the heritage round headlamps and, most significantly, swapped leaf springs for a coil-spring suspension that dramatically improved ride and articulation. Introduced the Rubicon trim for 2003.
Third generation · JK
A clean-sheet design that, for the first time, offered a four-door Wrangler Unlimited alongside the two-door — the four-door went on to dominate sales. (For 2018 the JK was sold alongside the incoming JL; this dataset assigns MY2018 to the JL.)
Fourth generation · JL
The current Wrangler, lighter and more refined, later adding the 4xe plug-in hybrid (2021) and the V8 Rubicon 392 (2021) at the top of the range.
Famous Wrangler variants
The nameplates that define the Wrangler — each with its own cross-year history, engines, production, and collectibility.
Browse by generation
Browse by body style
Related models
Collect the nameplate
Find a scale model of the Jeep Wrangler
Search Amazon across available years, colors, and scales. Exact releases vary, so confirm the listing before ordering.