When someone hands you the keys to a brand new 2025 Wrangler Willys 4xe ’41 Special Edition, you just can’t say no to that. I mean, this particular car, a special tribute model, showed up in my driveway with almost 6,000 miles already on it, so it was clearly ready to hit the road and see what it could do.
This new plug-in hybrid is a tribute to the original 1941 Willys MB, combining old-school military style with the latest technology from Stellantis. The ’41 Edition is all about the details, and one thing that really stands out is the color – a classic Olive Drab paint job that’s a perfect army green shade. It’s not just the body that’s painted this way, either – the roof and wheels are all covered in the same vintage hue, giving the whole vehicle a really cool, retro look. The flat black ’41 hood decal and black accents (grille, door handles, fuel door, bumpers) are a perfect contrast to make the green look even better.
When it comes to wheels, this edition of the Jeep really stands out with its durable and retro-style closed wheels. They look like they’re built for tough jobs, giving the Willys a strong, no-nonsense look that’s perfect for heavy-duty use. At the same time, they don’t go overboard – they just add to the overall utilitarian vibe of the vehicle, keeping it grounded and ready for action.
I used to have a Jeep JK with a hard top, but storing the heavy panels after removing them was a real pain. And getting the entire roof off required some help. And let’s be honest, dealing with a traditional soft top can be a hassle too. But this ’41 Jeep I got is a total game-changer – it came with a hard top that’s painted to match the body, and it’s paired with a power-sliding soft top insert, which Jeep calls the Sky One-Touch Power Top. It’s literally the coolest solution I’ve seen, making it so much easier to switch between the two.
You get the best of both worlds – the sleek look and quiet ride of a hardtop, plus the freedom of an open-top car. With just the touch of a button, you can open up the whole roof and let the sunshine in, even when you’re stopped at a red light. It’s a really cool feature that makes driving a lot more fun, especially on a sunny day in a place like Florida.
When you step inside the cabin, it’s just what you’d expect from a modern Jeep Wrangler, but with a noticeable touch of refinement. The materials used to finish the interior are a huge improvement over the older models, giving it a much more upscale feel.
The main thing that stands out in the new Wrangler is the huge touchscreen, which makes the entertainment and off-road systems feel really modern. Plus, if you’re like me and you like being able to feel buttons and controls, you’ll love all the switches and knobs they’ve still included. I love the level switch flip set up — it’s like sitting in a real command center, with everything at your fingertips.
On the inside of the tailgate, there’s a special plaque that’s like a little piece of American history. It’s basically a blueprint that tells a story, and it’s a great touch that makes the ’41 Edition really special. This small detail is a great example of how Jeep likes to hide clever little design elements in their vehicles, and it’s definitely something that sets them apart. The plaque is more than just a nice design feature, it’s also a way to connect with the past and appreciate the history of America.
The main picture shows a great diagram of the original military Willys MB, and how it was packed for war. But what really makes it special is the little soldier saluting in the corner. If you look really closely, you can see he’s standing on a small flat plate, which is a nice reminder of the old green plastic army toys that lots of us played with when we were kids.
This plaque is not just a pretty picture with an American flag and the shapes of Michigan and Ohio on it. It is a way of saying thank you to the people who served in the war and celebrates the fact that American factories built the Jeep. I love it.
I wanted to capture the Wrangler in its natural habitat, so I took some photos in a parking lot, hah. But that wasn’t enough. I had to get it dirty, just to, you know, test it out. I took it off-road in the woods of South Florida, and it handled like a dream. The 4xe powertrain isn’t just about saving fuel, it’s also great for crawling over rough terrain like roots and loose dirt. The instant electric torque, 33″ tires and Willys suspension made it feel effortless. And when I wanted to sneak up on some wildlife to get a great photo, the electric only mode was perfect – it was so quiet, I didn’t startle them at all.
Over the week I had this ’41, I went all over South Florida in style. The Willys was right at home everywhere — the mall, J.W. Corbett, the Police Hall of Fame, school car line, and everywhere in between. The ’41 Willys 4xe was fun, good looking and capable for all of it!
