Compare the2026 Jeep WranglerVS 2026 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Wrangler. But it costs extra on the Model Y.

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.

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, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

There are almost 12 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 AWD’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Wrangler second among compact suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Model Y isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is rated below average.

The Wrangler Moab 392’s 6.4 V8 produces 10 more horsepower (470 vs. 460) than the Model Y Performance’s optional electric motors.

The Wrangler 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 Moab 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 Performance 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 4Xe’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Model Y’s (38.9 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 Rubicon 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 Wrangler 2-door is 1 foot, 9.8 inches shorter than the Model Y, making the Wrangler easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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.

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 is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the Model Y, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the Wrangler offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the Model Y.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the Wrangler equipped with available HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The Model Y, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Jeep Wrangler empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

Compared to the Tesla Model Y’s traditional radio, the Jeep Wrangler optionally equipped with SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks.

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.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Jeep Wrangler retains 64.38% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 39.16% resale value of the 2025 Tesla Model Y after five years, which can save the Jeep’s owner up to $25067.83973 in depreciation.

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