Price Increase = Quality Increase?

[NWJeepr]

Have owned both, a refreshed (2012+) JK and now a 2023 JL.

I'd say build quality is about the same, although I believe the JL is a better platform.

The key with Wranglers is realizing they were designed to about a ~30k price point. You can add features and more hardware, but you're still getting a rig that was built to an entry/low-intermediate level of quality and materials.

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[kah.mun.rah]

Thanks, but was really asking about build quality, not features offered on a JL vs JK.

IMO the build quality has decreased because of the new features.

 

[Shibadog]

Build quality and Jeep don’t belong in the same sentence. -see “new vehicles with door hinge corrosion”

 

[Bayrat]

Having owned 4 JKs, and 2 JLs, I would say that the JK is closer to the original concept if you purchased a bare bones manual shift. Still, they had their issues. As mentioned, the electronics are the unavoidable demons in all modern vehicles.

 

[73TAWM]

Came across this little article after reading your post. Maybe it will be useful to you.

https://www.quadratec.com/c/blog/wh...erences+In+Off-Roading+A+Wrangler+TJ,+JK+&+JL

 

[Philly_]

I enjoy my JL 1000x more than I did my JK. That could be in part to buying the JL new, and the JK had just over 50k miles on it when it became mine, but the entire Jeep feels more solid.

I've only owned the automatics, and my JK was a 2010, so prior to the model refresh with the old 42RLE transmission and that was an absolute nightmare. They were notorious for eating up what little power the 3.8L had, and grenading themselves at ~100k miles. I can't speak for the 2012+ JK's but they seemed to hold up a lot better, although I didn't love the interior refresh. It felt kind of like lipstick on a pig to me; whereas, the original JK interior was fairly barebones, which is something I expect from a Jeep. Don't get me wrong, I love all my creature comforts in my JL, but they felt like an afterthought to me in the refreshed JK's.

So basically, I'd say quality is probably about the same, but with different problems because it's a different platform. I would take another JL over another JK just about any day of the week.

 

[Tumbleweed]

I’ve owned a 2009, 2014, 2018, and 2020 Wrangler Unlimited, and with each year, both the quality and quality control has declined while the service technicians have shown increasing levels of incompetence. I could make a novel from of all the warranty paperwork i've accrued over the years. At one point i had a 2020 Tacoma that had zero issues by the time the Jeeps have had a dozen, but i still ended up trading it in for a 2020 Wrangler as its just so damn boring to drive in comparison and i'm too poor to afford a Bronco lol

 

[Windshieldfarmer]

I’ve owned both. The JK was more rudimentary but has held up better over time. My 2020 JL has had many more problems.

 

[NPC 20883467]

Thanks, but was really asking about build quality, not features offered on a JL vs JK.

JL build quality...?

 

[mwilk012]

I’ve owned both. The JK was more rudimentary but has held up better over time. My 2020 JL has had many more problems.

My JL is much better than my JK ever was. Do we cancel out?

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