The Jeep Wrangler is a popular vehicle that many people love to drive. But the limited seating may disappoint you if you have a large family. So just how many seats does the Wrangler have? We have the answer for you.
Jeep Wranglers have a pair of bucket seats in the front and a bench in the rear, making a total of three seats. In the two-door Wrangler models, there is room for two in the back seat. The four-door versions bump the rear passenger capacity up to three, giving you a total seating capacity of five.
Have more questions about Jeep Wrangler seating capacity? You're in the right spot; we'll discuss the seating capacity in more detail below as well as one option to expand that capacity. Please continue reading!
Jeep Wrangler Seating Capacity
The Jeep Wrangler is what comes to mind for many people when they hear the name Jeep. But limited seating is a problem that all Wranglers have in common. Some models of Jeep Wrangler seat four people while some will allow up to five.
For the 2021 model year, the Wranglers that seat only four are the two-door versions of these trim levels:
- Sport
- Sport S
- Rubicon
- Willys
- Willys Sport
- Islander
- 80th Anniversary Edition
- Freedom
The four-door version of these trim levels seats five, as do these additional Wrangler trim levels:
- Sahara
- High Altitude
- Sport Altitude
- Sahara Altitude
The four-door versions can squeeze an extra passenger in the back because of the extended wheelbase they come with. This additional wheelbase moves the wheel-wells back, leaving more hip room for the rear passengers.
How To Install A Third Row In A Jeep Wrangler
If you want more passenger room than the typical Jeep Wrangler allows, there is hope. You can add a third-row seat in four-door models of the Wrangler. It requires a bit of work, and you may need custom-made brackets, but if you follow these directions you can carry an extra two passengers in your Jeep.
For this project you will need:
- Seat
- Seat brackets
- Drill
- Knife
- Socket & wrench set
For the seat, you want something that is safe and narrow enough to fit within the rear cargo area of your Wrangler. A seat that works well for this is a rear seat from a two-door Wrangler.
Most people who perform this upgrade use a rear seat from a two-door Wrangler JK, which is the version made from 2007-2018. Some places online sell OEM replacement seats ranging in price from $500-$1,000. You may find one for less at a salvage yard, on Craigslist, or on eBay.
The brackets you select need to be sturdy and well made. If you select the seat mentioned above, you can use these brackets:
TeraFlex Seat Bracket Kit
Click here to see this kit on Amazon.
Those brackets are specifically for a 2018 and earlier Wrangler, but we've found many people use them in later Wrangler models as well.
If you choose a different seat, you can take careful measurements and make new brackets yourself or have some made at a local machine shop. Whatever you choose to do, make sure the brackets are high-quality and strong enough to hold both the seat and your passengers' weight in case of an accident.
Once you have everything required for this project, you can begin installing your third-row seat.
1. Remove Carpet
You need to remove the carpet from your cargo area to allow access to the floor underneath. Set the carpet aside in a safe place, as you will be reinstalling it later.
In some models, there may be a subwoofer in the cargo area. Depending on which seat and brackets you choose, you may need to remove that also.
2. Mark & Drill Holes
This part can be a bit tricky, so pay careful attention to the position of the brackets when marking. Ideally, you should attach your seat to the brackets and set everything in place to check for clearance between the seat and both the tailgate and window. If that isn't possible, then make sure to measure everything very carefully.
Some bracket kits come with directions for placement that may or may not work with your seat and Jeep combo. When in doubt, measure everything an extra time to make sure everything clears.
Once you are certain where you want the brackets to sit, mark where you need to drill the holes. Use a hole punch, if possible, to ensure you drill accurately.
Before you drill, make sure to look underneath the vehicle to make sure your holes will not penetrate into something important on the underside of the vehicle. Keep in mind, you likely need to put a nut and washer on the underside, so there needs to be a little room for those.
When you are sure everything is in the correct space and you have room underneath, start drilling your holes. Begin with a small bit for a pilot hole, then work your way up to the correct size for your bolts.
3. Attach Brackets
For brackets like those in the TeraFlex kit, this will be simple. Their kit comes with inserts that you push in from above.
If you had custom brackets made, you probably are going to have to put a nut and washer on the underside. Remember, this will hold the passengers in place in case of an accident, so be sure to use good quality bolts. You should also be sure to use a large diameter washer to keep it from pulling through.
4. Reinstall Carpet
Lay the carpet into place over the top of the brackets. You need to trim the area where the bracket sticks up. For different brackets, this will work differently. But for something like the TeraFlex brackets, you can trim slots where only the tabs that hold the seat protrude.
One way to do this is to feel around with your hands until you can define the edge of the bracket under the carpet, then trim a little along that edge. From there, you should be able to feel underneath and on top to figure out the location of the rest of the cuts.
5. Install The Seat
If your seat is the kind that latches onto bolts, then you can install your bolts into your brackets at this time. In some cases, the seat bolts directly to the brackets. Whichever the case, you can now place your seat in your vehicle and attach it.
If the seat has built-in seatbelts, you don’t need to worry about those, but not all seats do. If your seatbelts bolt in, they may need to connect to the same bolts you are placing in this step. Keep this in mind so that you don’t have to loosen these bolts to attach the seatbelts in the future.
Congratulations, you now have a third-row seat! Consider protecting your passengers back there by installing a roll-bar extension, like this one:
Click here to see this sport cage on Amazon.
Are you a visual learner? Here is a video of someone performing this same basic process on their Jeep:
Are Jeep Wrangler Seats Comfortable?
The general opinion on Wrangler seats seems to be that they are decent, comfort-wise, considering the vehicle they are in. It seems that people who are average size and weight do fine with them, but some taller people or heavier people find them less comfortable.
One common complaint we found with them is that they feel like the bottom of the seat tilts forward slightly. We also found multiple complaints about the lack of lateral support on the back.
Despite the complaints above, most people like them well enough. They don’t offer the same level of comfort as a luxury car but compare well against many other vehicles.
Can You Get Power Seats In A Jeep Wrangler?
Jeep does not offer the Wrangler with power seats. You can get a lot of options, such as heated seats, but power adjustment is not an option. While we can’t find a definite answer as to why this is, many people speculate it has to do with the offroad and rugged design of Wranglers.
Is A Jeep Wrangler Comfortable For Long Drives?
The 2019 and newer Wrangler models seem to have made strides in comfort for long rides and do decent on trips. A lot of people complain about road-noise and larger passengers may not be as comfortable in the seats, but most people seem to enjoy the ride.
Some areas that are most commonly complained about are handling, road-noise, lack of room in the back, bumpy ride, and a slightly jerky start-stop system at stoplights. Many of these are less of an issue on long rides, but the road noise and bumpy ride are some things to consider.
Can A Jeep Wrangler Be A Family Car?
While the Wrangler is not the best vehicle for a family, many people use it that way without any trouble. The most recent versions of the Wrangler seem to make a better experience for the family than the pre-2018 Wranglers.
There are some areas of concern for families, though. The higher ride height makes it more difficult for small children to get into. Many family cars offer a better ride than the Wrangler. While it does okay in most crash safety tests, it has some weaknesses. You can see the entire Insurance Institute for Highway Safety results for more information about safety tests.
If all you are doing with your Wrangler is hauling the family around town, then you are likely to be happier with other vehicles. Having said that, if you occasionally take your vehicle to more rugged areas, or you enjoy the feel of riding with the top off, then the Wrangler can work well as a compromise between a full-on offroader and a family vehicle.
In Closing
The two-door Wrangler seats only four, with the four-door seating up to five. On four-door models, you can add a third row of seating by following the process we’ve outlined above. This makes carrying up to seven possible in your Wrangler. Above all else, enjoy your Wrangler!
Have more questions about Jeep Wranglers? Check out some of our other articles on these vehicles: