Safety First for First Time Drivers: Should I Let My Teenager Drive a Jeep Wrangler?

Ah, to be young again. As each birthday arrives, so do new privileges and responsibilities. One of the most anticipated milestones in a teenager’s life is learning to drive and earning the coveted driver’s license. Driving means never again riding the bus or having a parent-chaperoned carpool. Driving means stopping in the fast-food drive-thru any time you want. But most importantly to the teenage crowd, driving means adventure and having the freedom to explore the open roads. And when looking for affordable adventure, there is no better option than a used Jeep Wrangler.

The Jeep Wrangler is an attractive vehicle for anyone yearning for freedom and adventure, so it’s natural that many teenage drivers would gravitate towards the off-road-ready vehicle. While a brand new version is inaccessible to most teenagers’ budgets, a used Jeep Wrangler can be a very tempting option. But parents are less concerned with the cool factor or the call of the wild. In fact, parents just want to know that their young drivers will be safe as they learn the ropes of being behind the wheel. Mistakes happen, and while accidents may occur, parents and teenage drivers alike want to be sure that everyone is as safe as possible on the road. So how does the Jeep Wrangler stack up to other “first car” prospects? Are Jeep Wranglers safe for teenage drivers? There are many variables that might lead a parent to consider – or reconsider – this popular vehicle for a first-time driver.

The Safety Features Found on a New Wrangler

An aspiring teen Wrangler driver will likely make a compelling case for their dream vehicle. That might mean listing all of the safety features currently found on the Jeep Wrangler. While this strategy is certainly commendable and shows that they’ve done their research, parents need to be aware that many of the safety features on current Jeep Wranglers were only introduced post-2018. Therefore, any used vehicles before that year may not include the same features or protection. At the same time, if a used 2018 or later model is in your teen’s budget, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing they have the highest number of available safety features for the brand.

Jeep has released a PDF detailing all 75 safety and security features within the 2018 and laters Wrangler models. The Wrangler is intended for off-road use, so it needs to be able to stand up to the elements. Jeep has built the Wrangler with a high-strength steel frame to protect the passengers with a rigid chassis and specific “crumple zone” areas that can absorb and distribute shock. There are also multi-stage front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger.

The list of safety features also includes driving and engineering components, such as all-speed traction control and an anti-lock brake system with rough-road detection, which can gauge the road and modulate braking based on performance and slippage. Electronic roll mitigation is another key feature, which works with electronic stability control functions to apply brakes individually to keep the vehicle traveling straight, even as wheels begin to slip or lose purchase on slippery surfaces and gravel.

Physical safety features are also included. These include daytime running lights and an Enhanced Accident Response System that automatically activates the hazard lights and interior lighting if the airbags are deployed. The seat belts are also designed to provide physical protection by sensing the amount of force used against the actual belt and adjusting tension to tighten or provide slack as needed to prevent violent upper body and head movement.

Driver assistance technology is also available on the current generation of Jeep Wrangler, though not standard. This includes Blind Spot Monitoring, Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Automatic High-Beam Headlamps, and Rear Cross Path Detection. A used Wrangler equipped with all of these modern features will certainly help keep your teenager safe on the road.

Safety Features on Older Used Wranglers

While the 2018 JL-generation Wranglers are clearly engineered with a sense of safety, what about older models? Well, things get a bit more complicated. Before bringing crushing disappointment upon your teen, bear in mind that the Wrangler wasn’t designed to be a mild-mannered city street vehicle. It has always been intended to get covered in mud, ford through water, climb rocks, and get plenty of wind in the passengers’ hair. In fact, a four-door Wrangler wasn’t even available until the 2007 model year. The safety features of the older Wranglers were focused less on preventing traffic accidents and more on keeping you safe while off-roading.

Still, that doesn’t mean these older and more affordable options are unsafe. They generally include important features like electronic stability control, traction control, rollover mitigation, and driver and front passenger airbags. The older the used Jeep Wrangler, the more unlikely it will be to have a full set of safety features. But in all fairness, this is true of every vehicle. The safety features that we know and love today are relatively recent in the timeline of automobile development.

But unlike more mainstream choices, the Wrangler has a few other tricks up its sleeve. If you live in a more rural area, then the Wrangler’s standard 4×4 system can also be considered a safety feature in its own right. Having off-road 4×4 can keep your teen securely on the road in conditions where even SUVs risk sliding into a ditch, and even if a Wrangler does end up in a ditch, its off-road capabilities usually allow it to get back out without having to wait for a tow truck.

What Do The Experts Say about Safety and the Jeep Wrangler?

As one can imagine, the opinions are somewhat divided. After all, this is a vehicle that comes with a folding windshield and a soft top – hardtops have been an option along the way but are often considered to impede the overall freedom and excitement of driving a Wrangler. Amazingly enough, there are few official studies on the suitability of the soft top in a crash. However, the safety of Jeeps in rollover accidents can be attested to by any experienced off-roader.

Most of the testing from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) involves more or less head-on crashes. IIHS tests gave the 2007 Wrangler received “Good” ratings for small and moderate overlap front crashes, proving that even an older Wrangler can provide solid protection in collisions.

The tests of the redesigned 2018 model showed improvement to these scores, with the additional safety and security features each doing their job to prevent injury to the driver. In the 2018 testing, the Wrangler received “Good” ratings nearly across the board, only losing points on the difficult “small overlap test” that has proven challenging for all vehicle types. It also received full marks for the optional driver-assist feature, which successfully avoided a collision at 25 mph.

Should You Let Your Teen Drive a Wrangler?

Ultimately, any car is only as safe as the driver. While safety features and driver assistance technologies can help mitigate accidents, they are called “accidents” for a reason. The number one consideration should be teaching your teen driver how to stay alert and adhere to the rules of the road. A good driver in an “unsafe” car is far less likely to be injured than a reckless driver in even the safest vehicle. However, the Wrangler is far from an unsafe vehicle and even offers state of the art features if you find a more recent used model.

The Wrangler also offers its own unique brand of safety, thanks to its off-road legacy. This Jeep is designed for climbing hills and splashing around in the mud. If your teenage driver aims to do the same, there is simply no better vehicle. Taking a mainstream SUV or the average pickup truck off-roading is only asking for trouble, while a Wrangler can take nearly anything in stride. Even if off-roading is limited to bad weather driving on back roads, there are few vehicles that can provide the same level of confidence that you will get out of a used Wrangler.

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