- The 2023 Jeep Wrangler offers two new factory-installed options: waxed floors and weatherproof seats.
- The heavy-duty floors ($995) and heavy-duty seats ($1695) are now available to order on select four-door Wranglers.
- Jeep seems 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, the Wrangler’s biggest rival appears to be influencing the brand to introduce notable features like the washout floors and weather-resistant seats that are now available as factory options on select four-door models.
Weatherproofing the Wrangler
When the Bronco debuted a few years ago, it could be equipped with factory-installed rubber hose-it-out flooring and marine-grade vinyl upholstery—unlike its competition. 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 new optional heavy-duty floor costs $995 and the heavy-duty seats add $1695.
Of course, when the Wrangler’s top is down and the doors are removed, the cabin is extra exposed. That’s where the optional vinyl seats come in handy, thanks to extra 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 have light tungsten stitching and a beautiful Wrangler grille embroidered on the seats.
Swapping the Wrangler’s standard floor 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 fade, the black heavy-duty floor has multiple layers that are said to also provide sound dampening and thermal protection.
Unfortunately, these two new Jeep options are not compatible with every Wrangler. All the plug-in hybrid 4xe trims and any two-door configuration are specifically excluded from the weatherproof fun. The 470-hp Rubicon 392 is also left out.
Keep up with the Broncos
This isn’t the first time Jeep seems to be taking a leaf out of Ford’s book. Not long after the Bronco was unveiled, with exterior mirrors mounted at the base of the A-pillars rather than on the removable doors—as the Wrangler had always done—Jeep introduced an optional factory-installed door mirror kit. .
Jeep Wrangler with Xtreme Recon Package.
The Wrangler Rubicon Xtreme Recon package that followed a year later also seemed to be a direct response to the Bronco’s available Sasquatch package, notably including 35-inch-high tires and other hardware not previously available was not offered on the Jeep.
Senior Editor
Eric Stafford’s car addiction started before he could walk, and it 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-esque car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social media influencers make it seem, so he eschewed financial success altogether to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a degree from 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.
