The award-winning Jeep Wrangler has an impressive, long-standing track record of success. The past few decades have been good to Jeep, with the prized Wrangler having been regularly noted for both its great value and stellar performance. Magazines, studies and even the Guinness Book of World Records have all paid homage to this iconic vehicle at one point or another. After reading about the Wrangler’s numerous awards, don’t be surprised to find yourself Googling a “Jeep Dealership Near Me.” You may want to pick one up as your next new or used vehicle. The history of the ever-popular Jeep Wrangler not only sells itself once but also seems to re-sell itself for a great value year after year.
Kelley Blue Book
Kelley Blue Book is based in Irvine, California. Cox Automotive and Cox Enterprises currently own this respected company, which has been objectively evaluating data on cars since 1926. Kelley Blue Book is recognized by consumers and auto industry professionals for its high standards of research and credible vehicle valuation. Over the years, records have shown that “KBB” is a big fan of the Jeep Wrangler.
The Jeep Wrangler is a serial winner of Kelly Blue Book awards for its ability to retain value on the resale market. Kelley Blue Book has recognized the Wrangler on multiple occasions with it’s “Models to Best Hold Its Value” award. The Wrangler first won this award in 1998, followed by continued acknowledgments in 1999, 2003, 2011 and 2012. A similar award from the KBB was given in 2009 when the Jeep Wrangler won the “Best Resale Value Award” within the sport utility vehicle category. Among compact sport utility vehicles, the Jeep Wrangler also won the “Best Resale Value Award” in 2012 and 2013 as well. Based on Kelley Blue Book’s trusted opinion, it seems the Jeep Wrangler is consistently a good buy.
Going Above the Border with Canadian Awards
The Jeep Wrangler’s timeless value has not only been celebrated here in the United States. Canadian vehicle authorities have been impressed by this classic SUV as well. For three straight years in a row, (from 2011-2013), the Jeep Wrangler has won the “Best Retained Value Award” among subcompact SUVs by the well-read Canadian Black Book.
The Candian Black Book was originally established in the United States by a group of Georgia businessmen who were comparing notes at the local auto auctions. By 1960, it was moved up to Canada where it is currently a division of Hearst Business Media Corporation. Using the collection of big data, paired with innovative analytics technology, the Canadian Black Book is a leading source of the latest vehicle trends. It uses the information on consumer habits, along with insights from industry insiders and third-party vendors to create reports. The Wrangler is a fan-favorite with regular resale success, demonstrated by the numbers.
The Guinness Book of World Records
Beyond a proven ability to retain its value, the Jeep Wrangler has also been awarded for its ability to complete an arduous feat of strength. From March 7th to March 13th, 2007, the Jeep Wrangler carried Matthias Jeschke and his Extrem Events adventure team up the Ojos del Salado in Chile. This is the highest volcano on Earth, peaking at 21,804 feet. As a result, the Jeep Wrangler won the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest altitude attained by a four-wheeled vehicle at the time.
To complete their mission, Jeschke’s team used two standard Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicons with 3.8 V6 engines. Two camera teams joined along to record the grueling adventure, which began in the Copiapo Province. Additional groups who contributed in making the trip a success included engineers, a branding team, a purchasing team, and a navigation team. To keep the drivers on-route for their difficult journey, the navigation team set-up GPS equipment, along with satellite phones and several notebook PCs for backup.
Additional prep for this record-breaking journey consisted of testing the Wrangler’s true ability to handle rough terrain. Before setting out for the real deal, the vehicles were put through a series of hard testing that included driving over rocks, sand, boulders and determining the actual tipping limits. The engineering team meticulously checked all mechanical and structural parts of the vehicles, leading up to Wranglers’ successful climb towards award-winning heights, both literally and figuratively.
The Jeep Wrangler’s Recognition in Print
That same year, the Jeep Wrangler was also recognized by Four Wheeler Magazine’s “Four Wheeler of the Year Award.” The same award was won again from the magazine in 2013. In 2010, Four Wheeler named the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon it’s “4×4 of the Decade.” If anyone has seen the Jeep Wrangler evolve over the years, it’s the writers and readers of Four Wheeler Magazine. Four Wheeler Magazine is the oldest magazine dedicated to SUVs and off-road vehicles. Its first publication was in 1962, making it an established reference for over 50 years. The Motor Trend Group is the publisher behind this popular magazine, based out of El Segundo, California. Being featured by such an important contributor to fans of the auto industry has helped the Jeep Wrangler secure its spot as a top vehicle.
Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine has also been watching the Jeep Wrangler with a favorable set of eyes. On three different occasions, 1997, 2007 and 2012, the magazine awarded the Wrangler its “4×4 of the Year” award. This magazine has been reporting on cars since 1977 when it was originally founded as an off-shoot of Hot Rod Magazine.
Beyond exclusively auto magazines, Forbes and Business Week have recognized the Jeep Wrangler for excellence as well. In 2008, Forbes Autos listed the Jeep Wrangler as the number four automobile on its top 10 list of vehicles with the highest resale value. The next year, in 2009, Business Week selected the Jeep Wrangler for its prestigious designation as “One of the Most Iconic Cars of the Last 20 Years.” The timelessness of the Jeep Wrangler is made very apparent by its strong and consistent presence in the world of auto enthusiasm since the 1990s.
Continued Success in 2018
Most recently, iSeeCars awarded the Jeep Wrangler as a Top 10 Vehicle with the lowest depreciation. In fact, the Jeep Wrangler secured both the #1 and #2 spot on the list, with the four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited at the top. Both showed an average five-year depreciation of 27.3%. Compared to the average new vehicle depreciation of 50.2% after five years, this is a testament to Jeep’s continued commitment to durability and longevity.
Conclusion
If you’re someone who prefers to buy only new vehicles, a new Jeep Wrangler is a safe bet. Save yourself the depreciation costs and go for a brand that you can trust. With an excellent track record for resale value, you can enjoy a dependable Wrangler for as many years as you like. Then when you want a newer model, you can trade it in for a reasonable price. You never know when you might need to sell your vehicle, so choosing an option that you know will hold onto its value is always a smart way to go. The Jeep Wrangler comes backed up by decades of award-winninxg history, so making the decision to buy is a no-brainer.