2024 EJS Jeep Concepts: Build Breakdowns and Driving Impressions

The 2024 Easter Jeep Safari (aka EJS), now in its 58th iteration, isn’t complete without the annual Jeep concept vehicles. Each year, the iconic 4×4 brand debuts numerous vehicles showcasing the latest trends, coolest mods, and wildest customizations for the wheeling world to see.

If you’re in Moab, you can see them at the Walker Drugstore parking lot during the event. However, a select few get to drive these concepts before they go on display — this year, I was one of them.

For EJS 2024, Jeep brought four fresh concepts (more like 3.5), which was not as many as in prior years (2023, 2022, 2021). This year, Jeep also brought out a few past concepts for all to see.

Let’s dive into what these Jeep concepts are all about, including what they’re like to drive off-road.

2024 Jeep Low Down Concept

Big Tires, Big Horsepower, and Lots of Personality

With a big engine, huge tires, and an even larger persona, Low Down is the incarnation of a street-legal racing Wrangler. It is a fitting way to celebrate the Wrangler 392’s last model year.

Under the hood — complete with a clear viewing window — is the 392’s 6.4L, 475-horsepower engine. It rides on massive 42-inch BFGoodrich Krawler T/A tires mounted on 20-inch RBP beadlock wheels covered by vented carbon-fiber fenders. Dana 60 axles front and rear (with WARN Premium hubs up front) house 4:10 gears. Shortened bumpers aid in approach and departure angles. 

Low Down isn’t lifted; it rides on stock suspension at a stock height. Chris Piscitelli, Senior Manager for Jeep Design, stated it “took some really creative clearance work” to get the 42s to fit with the stock suspension. “You have to have a hacksaw and a sense of humor,” Piscitelli said. The no-lift-look also keeps the Jeep’s center of gravity down when it’s out on the trails.

Inside, the infotainment system was deleted and a 392 graphic has been conspicuously added. The custom front and rear seats have racy cloth inserts.

The translucent red top adds flavor, although it makes you feel like a burger under a heat lamp when inside. The whole thing wears Poison Apple Red paint, and I love the look.

Driving the 2024 Jeep Low Down Concept

Start Low Down up, and the 392 growls to life. This rig keeps the production 392’s electric muffler baffles and, when they’re open, Low Down sounds downright mean with its gnarly V-8 growl. Unsurprisingly — even with 42s — this thing scoots.

And, while I didn’t get to mash the throttle (much), I could feel gobs of grunt. In low range, Low Down easily crawled up and over anything on our prescribed driving course. It felt like it could scale a wall.

However, the non-lifted suspension paired with massive tires rode stiffly over bumps. Those tires also took significant effort to steer. But hey, this thing isn’t made to ride like a cloud — it’s made to climb over them.

There’s no denying Low Down’s cool factor. Its aggressive, minimal racecar-like look paired with its wonderfully angry exhaust note ensures plenty of turned heads. It’s an absolutely awesome creation honoring the outgoing Wrangler 392. If only I could’ve flogged it a bit harder!

2024 Jeep Willys’ Dispatcher Concept

PHEV Retro Rig

Retro isn’t always done right, but Jeep seems to always know how to do it well. Heck, it created the SUV segment!

Complete with 16×7 steel-style aluminum alloy wheels wrapped in vintage-style 36-inch Superlug tires, the Dispatcher 4xe PHEV looks old, but its hybrid drivetrain is anything but.

Fun fact: The original Willys Dispatcher was a 2WD delivery vehicle!

Wearing a very vintage Element 115 Green hue, the Dispatcher had the Willys logo embossed on the hood for even more wayback flair. Up front is a WARN M8274-S winch; this is appropriate, as it’s been in production since 1974.

The interior showcases distressed leather upholstery with low-back front seats and houndstooth accents throughout.

In the back is a black “fuel can” that’s actually a hidden cocktail set (very clever). The rig also has a Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) air compressor and fold-down table on the tailgate — ideal for happy hour back at camp.

The 2.0L four-cylinder turbo engine and hybrid drivetrain makes 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. Dana 50 Advantech axles front and rear help to keep the power in check. The suspension features a JPP 2-inch lift and Bilstein remote reservoir shocks.

Driving the 2024 Jeep Willys’ Dispatcher Concept

Driving the dispatcher was a pleasure. It felt extremely well-sorted on the varied terrain. It was confident on climbs, descents, and over some of the rougher course sections.

Compared to Low Down, the Dispatcher rode like a luxury SUV. If I had to choose one 2024 Jeep Concept Wrangler to daily drive, it’d be this one. However, I might need a more enclosed top.

The Gumby figure on the dash couldn’t have been more appropriate, either. 

2024 Jeep High Top Concept

Putting JPP on Full Display

“The purpose behind this build was to take one of our most capable vehicles and make it better all-around through the use of our Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts,” said Matt Hillburn, Design Manager for Mopar. Essentially, someone could build this exact Gladiator without fabricating scads of one-off parts.

Wearing a 1970s Mopar Ginger Snap metallic finish with retro two-tone graphics, the Jeep High Top build is a good-looking Gladiator with a big, mean stance.

The 18×9 KMC beadlock wheels were shod with 40-inch BFGoodrich KO3 All-Terrain tires bolted to Dana 60 axles and WARN Premium Hubs up front. Inside the axles were 5:38 gears. The AccuAir suspension means an adjustable ride height of up to 6 inches.

When lifted all the way up, the Rock Slide Engineering rock sliders/electric running boards helped you get into and out of this beast.

Up front is a Warn Zeon winch in a modified American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) bumper. In the bed is a Decked cargo system with dual sliding drawers for all your trail equipment.

Inside the High Top concept are tan-and-black leather seat covers that are shaded by a JPP sun bonnet.

Driving the 2024 Jeep High Top Concept

High Top is clearly very capable off-road, but it was also surprisingly civilized to drive. Its ability to be raised and lowered meant you could keep the rig’s center of gravity low when you wanted, but you could raise it up when needed. The adjustable shocks did an admirable job of damping the bumps, and its long wheelbase and 40-inch rubber provided plenty of grip on the slickrock climbs.

It could be argued that High Top is the least exciting of this year’s concepts because it would be the easiest to replicate. There wasn’t a big V-8 (it had the stock 3.6L V-6). It didn’t sound like a race car. But it was built to show what a consumer could do to their Gladiator JT, so in that way, it succeeds. While it looked great, and performed wonderfully, it wasn’t as interesting as the other concepts for me.  

2024 Jeep Vacationeer Concept

Reskinned & Ready for Overland Adventures

I mentioned Jeep brought 3.5 concepts this year. That’s because the Vacationeer is a reskin of the 2023 Wagoneer Overland concept from last year’s EJS.

It retains the same TYRI three-light setup on the roof — though the housings were changed from black to white — the same front-mounted LED lights, and the hard-sided carbon-fiber Redtail Skyloft camper on the roof (don’t call this $20,000 Skyloft a “tent”). As was shown last year, the rear sunroof was removed so you can access the Skyloft from inside the vehicle.

Now wearing a “Spearminted” pearlized green hue and shelf-paper woodgrain side graphic stripe (with 3D texture), the Vacationeer is a capable family overlander. White Method 701 wheels are wrapped in 35-inch BFGoodrich KM3 Mud-Terrain tires and provide 1.5 inches of lift.

The wheel wells were opened up slightly, and fender extensions were added for tire coverage. Armor consists of two skid plates, and a hidden WARN winch is there for recovery.

Inside, the custom plaid upholstery was created by fashion designer Kiel James Patrick. This pattern has a host of little Jeep vehicles climbing around on the stripes for a bit of whimsy. The interior was also accessorized with vintage luggage and an aloe vera plant in the cupholder.

Driving the 2024 Jeep Vacationeer Concept

With the rear seats removed, the luggage taken out, and the Skyloft stowed, I hit the trail.

Despite the stock suspension (which can also be raised and lowered via a switch in the cabin), this Grand Wagoneer was quite capable, especially for its large size. It traversed the trail with confidence, all while its massaging seats kneaded my lower back — I can’t say I’ve had that experience before.

Exterior sight lines aren’t super off-road thanks to a narrow windscreen, low seating position, and long hood. But the vehicle proved its Jeep-ness crawling over the landscape with ease.

With 510 horsepower from the twin-turbo Hurricane engine, it wasn’t lacking grunt either. While most Grand Wagoneers are likely to be in Moab’s hotel parking lots versus its trails, the big rig has legitimate off-pavement chops. With the added lift and traction, the Vacationeer concept was truly ready for adventure, even if it was just restyled from 2023.

Past EJS Concepts: Still Fun

Jeep also brought a host of older concepts.

This included 2009’s V-8-powered Lower 40, which was equipped with a 5.7L HEMI V-8, a five-speed manual transmission, and big wheels and tires. It was a total blast to drive and sounded amazing — I don’t even know if it had mufflers.

There was also Shortcut, which debuted in 2016. Based on the previous Wrangler JK, but shortened 14 inches to CJ-5 proportions, it was simply wonderful. With a short wheelbase, no doors, and an open rear bed, it immediately put a grin on my face.

There was also 2018’s super-sexy orange Sandstorm, which looked ready to race in the desert.

2024 Easter Jeep Safari Concepts Drive

The annual Jeep concepts are there to show people what can be done with these vehicles to increase their capability, add more personality, and up the fun factor. And, despite the pared-down 2024 lineup, the concepts continue to do just that. While it was evident there may be some cost-cutting at Jeep in the concepts department, they’re still an integral and interesting part of EJS.