- The 2023 Jeep Wrangler offers two new factory-installed options: washout floors and weatherproof seats.
- The heavy-duty flooring ($995) and heavy-duty seats ($1695) are now available to order on certain four-door Wranglers.
- Jeep appears to be responding to similar features already available on the Ford Bronco.
Jeep fans might want to start appreciating the Ford Bronco a little more. After all, it appears the Wrangler’s biggest rival is influencing the brand to introduce noteworthy features, such as the washout floors and weatherproof seats that are now available as factory options on certain four-door models.
Weatherproofing the Wrangler
When the Bronco debuted a couple years ago, it could be outfitted with factory-installed rubberized hose-it-out flooring and marine-grade vinyl upholstery—unlike its competitor. Fast forward to 2023, the Jeep Wrangler can now be ordered with similar add-ons designed to help its interior better withstand the elements and make it easier to clean. The newly optional heavy-duty flooring costs $995 and the heavy-duty seats add $1695.
When the Wrangler’s top is off and the doors are removed, the cabin is obviously extra exposed. That’s where the optional vinyl seats come in handy, thanks to added protection against water, mildew, tears, and more. Jeep’s weatherproof seats come in any color you want as long as it’s black. They also feature Light Tungsten stitching and an adorable Wrangler grille embroidered on the seatbacks.
Replacing the Wrangler’s standard flooring for the washout option does exactly what you’d expect: It makes cleaning the surface even easier and includes integrated floor drains. Along with its improved ability to get hosed out, the black heavy-duty floor has multiple layers that are said to also provide sound deadening and thermal protection.
Unfortunately, these two new Jeep options aren’t compatible with every Wrangler. All the plug-in-hybrid 4xe trims and any two-door configuration are specifically excluded from the weatherproofing fun. The 470-hp Rubicon 392 is also left out.
Keeping Up with the Broncos
This isn’t the first time Jeep appears to have taken a leaf out of Ford’s book. Not long after the Bronco was revealed with exterior mirrors mounted to the base of the A pillars rather than on the removable doors—like the Wrangler had always done—Jeep introduced an optional doors-off mirror kit installed by the factory.
Jeep Wrangler with Xtreme Recon package.
The Wrangler Rubicon Xtreme Recon package that followed a year later also looked like a direct response to the Bronco’s available Sasquatch package, which notably included 35-inch-tall tires and other hardware that until then wasn’t offered on the Jeep.
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Senior Editor
Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.
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