The 2026 Jeep Wrangler Willys is the off-road hardware trim in the Wrangler lineup. It sits between the Sport S and Sahara in the trim order but brings Dana 44 axles, a locking rear differential, 33” mud terrain tires, and Off-Road+ with 4HI rear axle lock — hardware that puts it decisively in off-road territory without requiring the full Rubicon package. For Long Island buyers who want a Wrangler that can actually handle trails, beach access, and unpaved terrain, the Willys is the trim that delivers those capabilities.
Bottom Line: The Willys is the highest-volume Wrangler trim. It delivers Dana 44 front and rear axles, a locking rear differential, 33-inch mud terrain tires, and programmable auxiliary switches in a purpose-built off-road configuration.
- Dana 44 front and rear axles: the same heavy-duty axles found on the Rubicon
- 4.10 axle ratio: optimized for low-speed torque on trails vs. the Sport’s 3.45
- 33” mud terrain tires: engineered for soft sand, mud, and loose surfaces the Sport’s all-seasons can’t handle
What the Willys Is Built Around
The Willys trim takes the Sport S’s foundation and builds a dedicated off-road package on top of it. Here is the complete Willys specification:
Exterior:
- 17” Black Aluminum Wheels
- 33” Mud Terrain Tires (upgrade from Sport’s 32” all-season)
- N/C LED Headlamps and Fog Lamps
- Black Grille
- Willys Hood and Swing Gate Decals
Off-Road Hardware:
- Dana 44 Front Axle
- Dana 44 Rear Axle (upgrade from Sport S’s standard axles)
- Locking Rear Differential
- 4.10 Axle Ratio (upgrade from Sport S’s 3.45)
- Off-Road+ with 4HI Rear Axle Lock
- Trailer Tow
- Programmable Auxiliary Switches
- Rock Rails
- All-Weather Slush Mats
The Willys received a meaningful specification improvement for 2026 compared to 25MY — Jeep expanded what’s included in the trim package.
Why the Axle Upgrade Matters
The axle is the component that gets the most attention in the Willys’s spec sheet, and for good reason. The Dana 44 is a heavier-duty axle housing with stronger components than the lighter axles found on the Sport and Sport S. Under sustained off-road use — particularly with the larger 33” mud terrain tires — the Dana 44 handles the additional stress more reliably.
The 4.10 axle ratio is the companion spec that makes the Dana 44 useful on trails. A lower (numerically higher) axle ratio like 4.10 means the engine makes more rotations per wheel rotation — translating engine output into wheel torque more aggressively at low speeds. On sand, mud, or rocky terrain where maintaining momentum at slow speeds matters, the 4.10 ratio gives the driver more traction control than the 3.45 available on lighter-duty setups.
The Mud Terrain Tires
The jump from 32” all-season tires to 33” mud terrain tires is meaningful for Long Island buyers who use beach access roads in summer. All-season tires are engineered for pavement and light snow — their tread patterns are designed for efficient water evacuation and low road noise, not for soft sand or loose terrain. Mud terrain tires have an aggressive, open-lug tread pattern that digs into soft surfaces, clears debris, and provides grip on surfaces where all-season tires spin.
For beach access at Fire Island, Jones Beach peripheral areas, or sand dune environments, the Willys’s mud terrain tires are the relevant off-road upgrade. They’ll also handle the occasional snow day on unpaved roads significantly better than the Sport’s all-seasons.
What the Willys Doesn’t Have (vs Rubicon)
Understanding the Willys’s limits is as important as understanding its strengths. Compared to the Rubicon, the Willys does not include:
- Front locking differential (Willys has rear only, Rubicon has front and rear)
- 4:1 Rock-Trac HD transfer case (Willys uses a lower ratio transfer case)
- Electronic front sway bar disconnect (Rubicon exclusive)
These three Rubicon-exclusive features are what make the Rubicon capable on technical rock terrain. The Willys is a capable off-road vehicle; the Rubicon is a purpose-built rock crawler. For trail use that doesn’t involve technical boulders or extreme articulation — beach access, fire roads, moderate trails, soft sand — the Willys has more than enough capability. For the Catskill trail systems that require rock crawling or sustained technical terrain, the Rubicon’s front locker and sway bar disconnect make a real difference.
Willys vs Rubicon: The Capability Question
The Willys and Rubicon are built for different off-road use cases. For most Long Island buyers, the honest audit is: what off-road terrain will I actually use in the next year? If the answer is Jones Beach access roads, Hither Hills beach parking in the Hamptons, or light trail trips upstate — the Willys has the hardware for all of it. If the answer includes named trail systems with rock features, the Rubicon’s front locker, sway bar disconnect, and 4:1 Rock-Trac earn their place.
The Willys’s position as the highest-volume Wrangler trim suggests many buyers do that audit and conclude the Willys is the right answer for their actual use.
"The Willys sells itself on paper once I show a customer the spec sheet. Dana 44 axles and mud terrain tires without the full Rubicon hardware suite — for most South Shore buyers who want a real off-road Wrangler but aren't going to rock crawl in the Catskills, the Willys is the right answer. I ask: will you be on sand this summer? That's a Willys question. Will you be on boulders this fall? That becomes a Rubicon question."
General Manager, Merrick Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram
Vehicle specs and safety data sourced from NHTSA, IIHS, and EPA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What axles does the Wrangler Willys have? Dana 44 front and rear axles — the same heavy-duty axle housings used on the Rubicon. This is the most significant upgrade over the Sport and Sport S, which use lighter-duty standard axles.
Does the Willys have a front locking differential? No. The Willys has a rear locking differential only. The front locking differential is a Rubicon-exclusive feature. For most off-road use cases, the rear locker combined with the 4.10 axle ratio and mud terrain tires is sufficient.
Is the Willys available with an automatic transmission? Yes — the 3.6L V6 automatic is available as an option on the Willys.
Are the LED headlamps and fog lamps standard on the Willys? Yes — LED headlamps and fog lamps are standard on the 2026 Willys, included as part of the trim specification.
See the Willys at Merrick Jeep
Merrick Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram in Wantagh serves Merrick, Bellmore, Freeport, and South Shore Nassau County. Browse current Wrangler Willys inventory or contact the team about current Willys availability and configuration.