Which Jeep Wrangler Roof Is Right for You?

Choosing a top requires balancing convenience and cost.

Ronan Glon | 

Sep 23, 2025 | 3 min read

Jeep

Jeep offers the Wrangler in a dizzying number of configurations. Buyers can choose between two- and four-door bodies, three powertrains (including the venerable V6 and a plug-in hybrid), more than a dozen trim levels, various limited-edition models, and four different roof tops.

Deciding on the right top is important, as it plays a role in determining what the Wrangler is like to live with on a daily basis.

The Jeep Wrangler Comes Standard With a Soft Top

Every non-electrified Wrangler comes standard with a cloth soft top called Sunrider. It's only offered in black, and users can either manually fold it open as in a regular convertible or remove it entirely. You don't need the help of a second person to open or close the soft top, but it's not a quick, easy task. Folding the top requires first removing the quarter windows and the rear window.

The window panels can be stored in the trunk, so you can open and close the top on a whim. The soft top is a convenient, budget-friendly option. However, it tends to let more cold air and road noise into the cabin than the hard top does, and it makes the Wrangler relatively easy to break into.

Jeep

The Three-Piece Freedom Top Has a Built-In Sunroof

An optional black, three-piece hard top upgrade called a Freedom Top costs about $1,800 across the range, and it features a pair of removable panels located directly above the front passengers. These panels are light enough to be removed by one person and compact enough to fit in the trunk, so you can let some sun into the cabin without having to take the entire top off. Storage bags are included as well.

The optional hard top is better insulated than the standard soft top, which makes for a warmer ride in the winter and a quieter ride year-round. It's also more durable, and it can help keep your valuables safe. However, removing the entire top requires two people or a hoist, and it takes up a lot of space once it's off.

Note that some trims, including the Sahara, are available with a body-colored three-piece hard top priced at about $2,000. The change is purely cosmetic but color aside, this top is identical to the Freedom Top.

Jeep

Buyers Can Order the Jeep Wrangler With Two Tops

Jeep offers an option package called Dual Top Group on some four-door trim levels. Priced at around $2,500, it includes the body-colored three-piece hard top described above and a premium Sunrider soft top designed to be quieter and easier to fold than the top on the standard equipment list.

The Sky One-Touch Power Top Splits the Difference

While the Wrangler and its predecessors have historically been available with either a soft top or a hard top, the current model is the first to offer a third option. Jeep calls it Sky One-Touch and charges about $4,000 for it, though it's only available on some four-door trim levels. It features a large, power-sliding cloth roof panel.

The roof pillars and the rear window remain fixed, so the Sky One-Touch roof is more of a giant sunroof than a soft top or a hard top. The Sky One-Touch top doesn't make the Wrangler quieter or better insulated than the other two top options. Its main advantage is that you can let light into the cabin at the push of a button.

Ronan Glon

Ronan Glon is an American journalist and automotive historian based in France. He enjoys working on old cars and spending time outdoors seeking out his next project car.