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One old chestnut of car-buying is that a new car’s value plummets the second you leave the lot — and therefore, you can save some money buying a mildly used car. In many cases, that is true — the average new car has lost about 17 percent of its value by the time it’s a year old — but it’s not true with all cars.
With some vehicles, it takes a while for the depreciation to kick in. For those cars and trucks, rather than buying used, you’re better off heading to the dealer for a new one.
The Wrangler is Jeep’s iconic body-on-frame SUV. It descends from the original CJ line. The latest “JL” generation debuted for the 2018 model year and was refreshed for the 2024 model year. The Wrangler is the most off-road capable SUV in Jeep’s lineup. Its capability and ample charm have outweighed concerns about driving dynamics. The Wrangler’s resale value is among the best in the U.S. It has a new rival in the Ford Bronco.
Jeep offers two Wrangler body styles: the two-door and four-door “Unlimited” model — now preferred by about 90% of buyers. You can buy a Wrangler with four and six-cylinder gas engines, a four-cylinder 4xe plug-in hybrid or a Hemi V8 in the Wrangler 392. The 3.6-liter V6 gas Wrangler can come with a manual transmission. All other Wranglers have an eight-speed automatic.