Automotive
The infamous Jeep Wrangler has undoubtedly had its fair share of one-off special editions to appease the massive following and fan base of one of the most recognizable, go-anywhere, vehicles around. For the 2025 model year, Jeep keeps with the tradition of offering something rather unique in a Willys 41 edition of the Wrangler Unlimited that spreads to the 4xe plug-in-hybrid (PHEV) version, which I get to experience this week.
The Jeep Wrangler received some updates for the 2024 model year, bringing a new larger infotainment unit along with some refreshing styling, but it is continuing the fourth generation from the 2018 redesign. For the 2025 model year, the Wrangler gets a unique special edition, the Willys ’41 edition, which is a neat classic play on the original Willys Jeep that fundamentally started it all in 1941. From its looks, there’s a lot to digest in its quest to harken back to the 40s and pay homage to the original 1941 Willys MB, the iconic military workhorse that was the cornerstone of transportation for the Army’s and during famous wars.
To properly respect the original, the new 2025 Jeep Wrangler Willys ’41 theme proudly sports the original military olive drab paint, basic steel-looking olive drab 17-inch aluminum wheels wrapped with 33-inch all-terrain tires, tan Heritage cloth seats and olive drab accents inside, and period-correct drab blue decals. All of the unique elements come together to make the ‘new’ Willys Jeep a newfound icon that pays proper respect to its 1941 original predecessor.
Making things fit into the proper modern-day mold is Jeeps choice to offer up the Willys ’41 edition for the 4xe variation of the Wrangler Unlimited 4-door, which is a welcoming addition to the lineup considering the versatility of the 4xe PHEV platform. It’s a platform I’ve tested on many occasions in previous reviews, walking away surprised by the performance of such a vehicle and its ability to plug it in for a charge that can take you up to 21 miles on electric power alone. After that, the vehicle operates as a unique hybrid where there’s nothing else quite like it for its go-anywhere attitude and ruggedness that you expect out of a Wrangler.
Powering the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4xe Willys ’41 edition is the same PHEV setup that’s been around for several years, touting a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that works in sync with dual electric motors to power the front and rear axles. With the engine and electric motors working together you get a total of 375 horsepower and as much as 470 lb-ft of torque. That robust power tends to elevate the Wrangler in new ways where it still finds itself at home on rough terrain yet has some extra grunt over the standard V6 powertrain, even though you have some extra weight in the 4xe to carry around. There’s even a 4-high auto setting for the transfer case so you can enjoy four-wheel-drive out on the street and not just reserved for off-roading.
Zero to 60 mph takes place in 6.7 seconds, but some inconsistencies may arise with the PHEV system sorting out and firing up the turbocharged gas engine to sync up with the electric motors. I found this slight hiccup to rear its ugly head on several occasions, but thankfully, not to the point of being dangerous. Otherwise, the 4xe’s PHEV setup is quite intelligent in power management and attempts to return the EPA-estimated 20 mpg overall.
Charging up the 17.3-kWh battery pack and utilizing the PHEV system to the best of your abilities out on the road you’ll aim to get the EPA estimated 49 MPGe figure. There’s a welcoming drive mode selection for the PHEV system, with the default Hybrid mode, Electric, and E-Save for either saving the battery power or charging up the battery while driving. Using the E-Save mode set to charge up the battery pack will result in taking an MPG hit.
The unsurpassed versatility in a Jeep Wrangler is all the rave, which is just one more aspect of having such a vehicle that’s loved by so many and makes you want to commit to the Jeep wave when passing by a fellow Jeep. The interior, which isn’t necessarily an inviting space or at all luxurious, remains functional for its purpose, where you will have to consciously find a comfy position as there’s not much comfort to offer. However, the functional space inside a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited has been improved over the years, and recently, it was refreshed with a new larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, along with some reworking of the climate vents just below it. Otherwise, there’s a lot of rugged aspects that fit the mold of a hardcore off-roading vehicle that can get down and dirty – and wet – without much worry.
There’s plenty of active safety features to overcome the worry of the questionable crash ratings of the Jeep Wrangler for some. Still, I would have liked to see a 360-camera setup as a standard feature, which, along with a desirable front camera, isn’t found on my test vehicle.
Paying homage to the original Jeep Willys from 1941 in this Wrangler Willys ’41 edition is one of the better special editions in my view for a modern-day Jeep out of the factory. In totality, Jeep did well in offering such a package that could be well worth the as-tested price of $73,095 for some.
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