An air intake is also known as the cheapest way of gaining a little extra horsepower from your engine. Although it is not inexpensive, you can’t find another part that will help you.
It takes in cold air from the surroundings and provides it to the engine for combustion. The dense air has more oxygen, which enables the engine to burn the fuel completely.
This article focuses on the best cold air intake for Jeep Wrangler and guarantees an overall improvement in performance. Without any further ado, let’s get straight into it!
Table of Contents
5 Top Rated Jeep Wrangler Cold Air Intakes Comparisons
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | EDITOR'S RATING | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
TOP PICK  | 9.7 | CHECK ON AMAZON | |
BEST BUDGET  | 9.5 | CHECK ON AMAZON | |
 | 9.1 | CHECK ON AMAZON | |
 | 8.8 | CHECK ON AMAZON | |
 | 8.6 | CHECK ON AMAZON |
1. K&N High-Performance Cold Air Intake Kit
Let me give you a bit of a background about K&N. This brand makes high-quality intakes for various cars and Jeeps.
Their products have been featured on almost all of my lists. They always earn the first or the second spot. It looks like history is repeating itself once again in this article.
The 77-1566KP Cold Air Intake Kit is an intake that fits all Jeep Wranglers and Jeep Wrangler JKs released between 2012 and 2018. It has a decent compatibility range.
Now, let’s see how it performs!
Well, thanks to the 50% more airflow possible with this product, your engine won’t ever have to worry about having issues of underperforming just because it couldn’t get enough air.
The product not only provides exceptionally greater airflow. It also provides the engine with dense air, which guarantees a boost in horsepower.
Not only that, but you are also getting improved acceleration and throttle response, which the racers will love among your readers.
A performance upgrade is incomplete without a loud growl. Thanks to the greater airflow and improved horsepower, you are getting an improved sound too.
The loud and aggressive sound paired with the performance boost allows you to feel and hear the new upgrade.
Let’s talk about maintenance!
I am sure that some readers look for performance upgrades that don’t cost a lot to maintain.
Then how do 100000 miles sound to you?
This product needs servicing every 100000 miles. Even after that period, you don’t need to replace the filter. It can be rewashed and reused. This makes it extra convenient to own.
If you follow K&N products, then one of their excellent offerings that you must be aware of is a million miles/10-year warranty.
This warranty is so long that it will probably outlast your ownership of the Jeep.
They were more than content with what they got.
- 50% better airflow
- Ten years/million-mile warranty
- It needs cleaning every 100000 miles
- Loud and aggressive sound
- None
There must have been a mishap during shipping which caused the small dent for the buyer.
The product was fully functional, meaning that you can buy this product with complete peace of mind, knowing that it is the excellent one available on the market.
2. Rough Country Cold Air Intake
If you have a 2012 to 2018 Jeep Wrangler JK and did not like the previous product, you should check out this Rough Country Cold Air Intake.
With this product, the brand promises improved horsepower and throttle response.
Let’s see what makes this possible!
With the stock intake, its filter faces the engine compartment. This restricts airflow.
Well, this Rough Country intake changes that direction so the proper cool air can enter the engine. This ensures a boost in horsepower.
Now, some of you may be asking, why cooler air?
Well, the volume of oxygen in cooler or denser air is significantly more than in normal air. And oxygen is the key part of the combustion process.
More oxygen means better combustion. You apply this science to an intake, and you get results. The large, cylindrical design of the tubing alone greatly boosts the airflow.
Although the brand has not mentioned it, the number is better than the stock intake. The filter included in this one is a ‘premium’ one, as Rough Country calls it.
To be honest, I would consider any reusable filter a premium filter. You don’t have to buy a new one as soon as the previous one is worn out.
That is a huge plus. But what makes the Rough Country filter different from the rest is that it has a snap-on design. This makes it extra convenient to own.
The brand also claims that this intake can be installed in under two hours. This means that it is easy to install.
So, within two hours, you will be ready to experience an improved driving experience, which even you didn’t know was possible with your Jeep.
There is a product which you can’t drive your Jeep without if you choose to remove it from your vehicle. And if you were thinking about a warranty, this product has a lifetime one.
This offering trumps even K&N. This means that you won’t ever have to worry about manufacturing defects. If there is one, then you can get a free-of-cost replacement.
This is unacceptable, and the company should improve its shipping standards. If it happened once, it definitely could happen again.
- Easy to install
- Improved airflow
- Premium reusable filter
- Large cylindrical tubing
- Missing hardware
Rough Country has made an excellent product; there is no doubt about that. Even with the rare shipping issue, it is still far better than the competition.
3. Banks 41837-D Air Intake System
If you are one to take a risk and steer off course, then I have got just the thing for you.
This Banks 41837-D Air Intake System is yet another one designed for the 2012 to 2018 models of the Jeep Wrangler.
This product is advertised as one to provide you an 8 HP and 11 lbs. torque gain compared to the stock intake.
You might think that the gain mentioned above value is too small to be worth it. That’s where you are wrong.
Even a 5 HP increase translates to a hugely better driving experience. You can expect better acceleration and improved horsepower with a product like this.
This might be an attractive offering for some readers who use their Wrangler for racing and towing.
Designed to replace the preinstalled panel filter in the engine, the large conical filter is guaranteed to increase the airflow.
The opening on this one is straight-up incomparable with the stock one. It doesn’t even have that 90-degree angle which seriously cutout down on the airflow.
The engine will get air at full power, allowing it to combust fuel with full efficiency.
Overall, the large inlet, the sealed frame, and the large tube diameter combine to give you that 8 HP increase which the brand advertises.
If you have tried or heard any other intake, you may have noticed its mighty sound.
But that sound is almost always accompanied by an engine drone. It is annoying and does not help in making the car sound more powerful.
Well, thanks to the specially tuned Helmholtz resonator, you are guaranteed to have a zero-engine drone.
This is seriously impressive! All you can expect is a great boost in sound, which you and the people around you will surely love.
Some of you might not like this. But you will get the hang of it pretty soon, and it won’t hurt the ears that much.
- 8 HP and 11 lbs. Torque increase
- Large filter to improve airflow
- The large diameter of the tubing
- Improved sound
- The sound may be too loud for some
If the sound is not too much for you, then there is no doubt that you will surely love this intake.
When you think about it, this product does not even have a real drawback. This makes it a risk-free buy for you.
4. K&N High-Performance Cold Air Intake
Now, some of you may be wondering that three products have passed by, and still, none is compatible with older models of the Jeep Wrangler. But as they say, patience always pays off.
Arriving in fourth place is yet Another Product from the Brand K&N. This one has been designed for the 1997 to 2006 models of the Jeep Wrangler and the Wrangler TJ.
You will be impressed by what it offers. This product also claims to provide you with 50% better airflow.
This means that you can expect improvement in all regards compared to the stock intake, which is restrictive and does not let the engine work at its full potential.
Well, you won’t have to worry about that anymore.
The 50% better airflow automatically boosts performance and will allow your vehicle to have better acceleration and throttle response.
If you have noticed a delay in your Wrangler after stepping on the pedal, well, that won’t happen again with this bad boy installed under your hood.
The racers among your readers will surely love this. Moreover, this intake system is perhaps one of the easiest ones to install on this list.
Thanks to its bolt-on design, you can expect to get it up and running within an hour. This is the fastest installation time out of the bunch.
As expected, K&N still provides its 10-year/million-mile warranty with this product. I know it is not as good as the lifetime one by Rough Country.
But talking realistically, it is almost completely impossible for any sort of manufacturing defect to show up after two years of usage.
But still, it is great to have peace of mind that you can get a replacement if there are any issues.
One user complained that the intake took in hot air, while another complained about more dust entering the engine as when compared to the stock one.
This is completely unacceptable and must be looked into by K&N.
- 50% better airflow
- Improved acceleration and throttle response
- Easy to install
- 10-year/million-mile warranty
- Unreliable
As I stated above, this unreliability can be blamed only upon poor quality control. Some buyers were satisfied, and some were extremely disappointed with it.
This should not be the case, as the previous K&N intake received nothing short of all positive ratings.
5. Spectre Performance Air Intake Kit
Spectre Performance is a brand that has been appearing in my articles more frequently than ever. Their products have continued to impress me.
But the brand has tried to save some time and effort by copy-pasting K&N’s descriptions everywhere. This makes the product a bit hard to trust. That is why I am here!
I will explain every unique feature of this Spectre Performance Air Intake Kit. The brand claims that its products have been designed to increase horsepower and torque.
Well, that is true for all intakes out there. But Spectre continues to outshine the competition except for the ones on this list.
According to their listing, their products can provide 50% better airflow, which means improved performance.
The product comes with a low restriction air filter that aims to stop all sorts of debris from completely entering the engine.
This debris is very harmful to the engine and can affect performance and affect its lifespan severely. It does a very effective job in that regard.
Let’s talk durability!
This intake system is made from solid aluminum. It has been polished to ensure a sleek and stylish look.
You may be asking, why aluminum?
Well, it is very durable and can resist heat. But its heat resistance is nothing in front of the scorching engine temperatures.
Well, that’s where the heat shield steps in. This black, powder-coated shield protects the intake from the scorching engine temperatures.
It is also very effective at dissipating heat, meaning that you won’t have to worry about the intake failing or breaking down on you.
To make installation easy, the brand has included all hardware in the box. You get all the necessary boots, clamps, and nuts required for installation.
Plus, it has a bolt-on installation means that the fit will be of OEM level.
Some of them stated that the rubber backing is of extremely poor quality and will rip off slowly. Another user stated that the filter broke after two weeks only.
This is completely unacceptable and must be looked into by the brand immediately to ensure that this problem will not occur again.
- Easy to install
- 50% better airflow
- High airflow filter
- Low-quality filter
Spectre Performance must look into these issues and improve the filter quality so more users won’t have to go through the same problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What Does A Cold Air Intake Do For A Jeep Wrangler?
Now, I know that some of you guys must be people who don’t know what an intake is or what it does for your Jeep Wrangler.
Let me explain!
A cold air intake replaces the stock one to provide better airflow to the engine.
The higher oxygen supply means a better combustion process, meaning you can squeeze out a few extra HP from your Wrangler.
Q2. Is A Cold Air Intake Worth It On A Jeep Wrangler?
The short answer is yes, it is worth it. The long answer is a bit complicated. It depends on your reason for buying an intake.
Although it will give you decent improvements in horsepower and torque, there won’t be a night and day difference.
As for the sound, the increase is worth it. If you want one solely for the increase in sound, then yes, an intake is worth it.
The overall answer is that an intake is worth it, depending on what you want out of it.
Q3. Is Installing A Cold Air Intake On My Wrangler Difficult?
Yes and no. If you are an absolute beginner, then yes, you will find the process a bit difficult and tiresome.
But comparing this to the fact that it is one of the easiest meaningful upgrades for your vehicle means that it is worth it.
The install will take a maximum of two hours and a minimum of an hour, no matter your experience level.
Conclusion
There you have it, my take on the best cold air intake for Jeep Wrangler.
Every single one of these products is designed to get you better than stock performance.
Let me tell you one thing, the competition on this list came extremely close.
Brands like K&N and Rough Country fought head-on to claim the title of the ultimate product for the Jeep Wrangler.
But it is still clear which company is the winner here. K&N managed to snatch up two places on this highly picky list. Its products are great and will surely be loved by you.
Plus, the 10-year/million-mile warranty is something that most manufacturers cannot beat. So, it is my recommended brand for you guys.
I am Tahir Azam, and I have been writing amazing articles for TaxiHack for as long as I can remember. I know everything that is to know when it comes to automobiles and is always on top of industry news and developments. While I am not an expert by any means, I pride myself on knowing the ins and outs of many different problems and, of course, their solutions. The articles on our website are some of the best and well-researched content that you will find, and I spend countless hours making sure this remains to be true. This is why I ask you to take your time out and read some of my articles, especially if you find a topic that resonates with you or is something you are looking into. This way, you will find the perfect mix of information and tips on your desired topic. Learn more about Tahir.
