--- title: "A V8-Powered Jeep Wrangler 392 Is Now $30,000 Cheaper Than It Was a Year Ago" date: "2026-02-13" modified: "2026-02-13" authors: - name: "Byron Hurd" job_title: "Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/byron-hurd" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/jeep-drops-2026-wrangler-v8-starting-price-to-71990-with-new-willys-392" categories: - "Jeep News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "392" - "Jeep Wrangler" - "suv/crossover" --- # A V8-Powered Jeep Wrangler 392 Is Now $30,000 Cheaper Than It Was a Year Ago ![2026 Jeep Wrangler Willys 392]() *\Stellantis\* Late last year, Jeep CEO Bob Broderdorf said that the brand didn't want to "hold engines hostage" by paywalling them behind expensive packages. And when he said "engines," he meant fun engines—V8s, in other words. It was a preamble to the news that Jeep would offer a second 6.4-liter Wrangler for 2026: the [Moab 392](). And sure enough, it cost just a bit more than the Rubicon 392 did when it originally debuted years ago. Well, move over, Moab. You're old news. There's [already a new "affordable" 392 in town](). This time it's a Willys, and it's a whopping *$30,000* cheaper than last year's (*Not so*) [Final Edition]()—the only version that was available. “Our Wrangler Willys has always represented the purest expression of Jeep capability,” Broderdorf said in Jeep's announcement. “Our community has been clear, they want a Wrangler that returns to a more classic, back‑to‑basics formula, paired with the unmistakable power of a V-8." "Back-to-basics" is appropriate here, as Jeep helped justify the Wrangler 392's price creep by loading it up. This was great for customers who didn't need to be concerned with their budgets, but enthusiasts who simply wanted a bare-bones Wrangler with a NASCAR exhaust note were left on the outside looking in as pleas for more affordable variants were consistently met with the exact opposite. ![]() *Stellantis* ![]() *Stellantis* ![]() *2026 Jeep Wrangler Willys 392* **Jeep* Stellantis* Last year, Jeep announced that it would [slash 2026 Wrangler prices]() in an effort to reverse several consecutive years of price creep, and making the 392 available at a more palatable price point required moving beyond the top-trim Rubicon. "The Wrangler Willys 392 is our answer, building on our commitment to expand V-8 availability across the Wrangler lineup. It delivers the heritage simplicity people love, the HEMI performance they’ve been asking for and the kind of value that makes this Jeep more accessible than ever. It celebrates everything that built this brand while pushing Jeep excitement into its next era.” It's no Rubicon, but the Willys 392 will still come with everything you need to make loud noises in remote locations. The locking rear differential, Dana 44 front and rear axles and 4.56:1 axle ratio are standard, as is a set of 35-inch BF Goodrich KO2s. You even get the trick cold air intake from the Rubicon 392; no need to tell people that it's the only way to route the incoming air with the V8 in this platform. That'll be our little secret. The 2026 Jeep Wrangler Willys 392 will go on sale in March starting at $71,990 (including $1,995 for destination). *Got a news tip? Let us know at tips@thedrive.com!* ## Author Byron is an editor at The Drive with a keen eye for infrastructure, sales and regulatory stories. He brings a light, punchy style to all of his content, believing that there's plenty out there to be laughed at—himself included. Born and raised in Maryland but now based just a stone's throw from Detroit, Byron is an auto enthusiast and generalist who enjoys building and tinkering with things of all kinds, from cars, computers and digital cityscapes, to the new garage that will soon house his fleet (a CT4-V Blackwing, a JK Wrangler and an NA Miata). Inspired by an early love of rollercoasters, Byron quickly caught the high-performance driving itch. He's been tracking and auto-crossing his cars since 2007. In his downtime, Byron enjoys reading, playing city builders, and studying the history of the Motor City. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()