Deciding between a 2 door vs 4 door Jeep Wrangler can become a nightmare. In this post, we'll talk about the pros and cons of each to help you make an informed decision when it comes time to purchase your next Jeep.
We'll give you some specs and advice to make the decision, but we can't make it for you. We'll leave the hard part up to you. Both Jeeps are equally awesome for their capabilities and what they're designed for. We have much respect for due to their lineage.
Table of Contents
Dimensional differences
When it comes to dimensions there is quite a difference between 2 doors and 4 doors. Both of them have the same track width, height and ground clearance. Where the big differences lie is the rear cargo area in the back and leg room for the back passengers.
With the 4 doors, the passengers in the rear have extra leg and hip room. The leg room for rear passengers gets almost an extra 3 inches. Leg room is at 38.3 inches while the 2 doors have 35.7 inches.
Those same passengers will like the extra hip room as well. The two doors have 45" of hip room while the bigger Jeep has 56.7" for the back seats.
Where the 2 door does beat the 4 door version is in the back seat shoulder room. The 2 door has 57.7 inches for the shoulders where the back seats of the 4 door only have 55.7 inches.
The front passenger areas are mostly identical in dimensions.
On-Road Performance & Comfort
Handling
A longer wheelbase vehicle will just about always handle better on the road. The corrections made during emergency situations are magnified in a shorter vehicle. It's far easier to correct a longer vehicle.
Longer vehicles tend to ride nicer than a shorter vehicle. If you have a long daily commute, you'll like the 4 doors.
Performance
No matter how many doors a vehicle has, performance will always be better with the lighter vehicle. The same can be said when it comes to the 2 door vs 4 door Jeep comparison. Of course, this is assuming they have the same running gear.
Stopping and starting will be faster with the lighter Jeep.
Towing
If you tow trailers on occasion, you may want to opt for the 4 door Jeep depending on what you're hauling. You'll like that the 4 door version will tow up to 3500 pounds. the 2 door Jeep will tow 2000 pounds.
First off, you'll have to get one with a tow package no matter which version of the Jeep Wrangler you buy.
I've never towed on a daily basis but have done it with our 2 door Jeep plenty of times to know that it can get a little nerve-racking coming down a hill in the dead of winter.
Cargo space
When it comes to storage room, you'll never have enough. A Jeep is a lot like a shop. No matter how big you build it, you'll eventually run out of storage room. With that being said, the 4 door Jeep has more cargo space.
If you have a family with small children, you'll appreciate the rear doors. Trust me, it's a lot easier to get the little passengers out the door than reaching behind the front seats.
With a family or overnight outing, the 4 door Wrangler has ample cargo room behind the rear seats. The longer Jeep has 72.4 cubic feet of storage compared to the 31.7 cubic feet offered by the smaller 2 door.
If you eventually install a cargo rack above the roof, the 4 door will give you a extra storage space there as well. Something to think about if you're into the overlanding and camping lifestyle.
Off-Road
Both the 2 door and the 4 door Jeep Wrangler are completely capable off-road vehicles. Although they come from the same family, they are completely different in their off-road manners and should be driven as such.
Next we'll discuss the differences between the two different Wranglers when it comes to getting off the beaten path.
Climbing stability
If you often hit the trails with steep inclines, you'll appreciate the 4 door Wrangler's longer wheelbase. The longer Jeep is definitely more confidence inspiring than the little 2 door vehicle.
On extremely steep climbs, you can flip your Jeep backwards. It's been done thousands of times I'd bet. It feels a little unnerving when all you can see is sky when you're driving up steep terrain. It gets worse when the front end becomes lighter.
My 4 door JK feels better and more stable when climbing.
Turning Radius
If you take your vehicle in tight switchback trails or tightly carved routes through trees, the 2 door is probably your best bet with its shorter turning radius. I've been places northeast of Fairbanks that I know my 4 door Rubicon couldn't have made it due to the trees.
If you decide on the longer Wrangler, know that you'll be going from first to reverse a lot on tight trails. This can be the same in super tight canyons that can't be climbed over.
The 2022 longer Wrangler has a turning radius of 20.4 feet vs the 2 door Jeep which has a turning radius of 17.3 feet. May seem insignificant but turning radius is super important when getting off the road or navigating tight city streets.
For a better understanding of turning radius, this article explains it pretty clear.
Large Tires?
If you plan to lift your new Jeep or run larger tires, the 2 door Wranglers like my TJ will do fine with larger tires. I run 35" MTRs and that seems to be as big as I'd go without a longer wheelbase.
When you drive on snow and ice as I did all the time in Fairbanks, a short vehicle with large tires gets downright squirrely.
The longer Jeep feels right at home on 37-inch tires. Some guys run much larger tires with aftermarket upgrades. I see them all the time running down the highways on 37+ all day long.
Is a 2 door or 4 door Wrangler better?
First off, what is your idea of better? I like them both. Ultimately, it depends on what you need from your Jeep. Will you Tow? Do you have young kids? Do you need extra storage capacity?
Only you can truly answer it. It's in the eye of the beholder.
Is the 2 door Jeep better on gas?
When the 2 door vs 4 door Jeep Wrangler debate gets started, one common question is that of fuel mileage. Depending on how the Jeep is outfitted will depend on the fuel mileage it gets.
Stock against stock, the 2 door outperforms the 4 door Jeep by a few gallons. According to Jeep's site, the 2022 2 door Rubicon gets 22 mpg in the city, 24 on the highway for a combined fuel mileage of 23 mpg.
In contrast, the 2022 4 door Wrangler Rubicon gets 17 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway for a combined 19 mpg. The clear winner is obvious. The 2 door Jeep Wrangler is better on gas.
How much longer is a 4 door Jeep than a 2 door?
The 4 door Wrangler is 188.4 inches long front to back with a wheelbase of 118.4 inches. The 2 door Wrangler has an overall length of 166.8 inches with a shorter wheelbase of 96.8 inches. So, overall, the 4 door jeep is 21.6 inches longer and has a longer wheelbase by the same 21.6 inches.
Jeep essentially stretched the frame 21.6" over the shorter wheelbase Jeep. This is crucial for off-roading because both Jeeps have the same approach and departure angles. Where it hurts the 4 door is the increased susceptibility to high center the Wrangler.
Final Thoughts on the 2 door vs 4 door Jeep debate-
When it comes to the great debate of which Jeep is better, there is no answer that you're looking for. I own both a short Jeep TJ and a 2011 Jeep 4 door JK Rubicon. The perfect size is probably somewhere in between.
The 103" wheelbase of the CJ-8 and first generation Unlimited Jeeps are the perfect size for off-roading in my honest opinion.
The 4 door is great for light overlanding, carrying passengers in comfort and long highway treks. The stability of these longer Jeeps can't be overstated. They are better on snow and ice while commuting, better suited for larger tires and overall climbing.
The 2 door is original in design. It's small and compact. It's just a cool ride. The smaller Jeep is adequate for city driving where parking can be a pain in the rear. If you are often in tight trails and twisty switch back trails with extreme drop offs, the smaller Jeep will increase your comfort level.
If cost is a concern when shopping for a new Jeep, the 2 door is cheaper from the start by around $4,000. Even if money isn't a concern, think long and hard about what you'll need your Jeep for. If you have kids, get the 4 door. Just saying.
Hopefully this post has answered some of your questions regarding the 2 door vs 4 door debate. Be sure to check some of our other articles related to the original off-road vehicle.
