Jeep Wrangler Rubicon review: hardcore off-roader upgraded for 2024
This hard-as-nails four-wheel-drive has an incredibly loyal following but that may be tested by a big change to its character.
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The new Jeep Wrangler’s had its wings clipped, its old-school V6 engine making way for a more fuel-efficient four-cylinder.
The change has made this four-wheel-drive icon a better car.
For 2024, all Wranglers sport a 200kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. It may be down on power versus the retiring V6, but there’s more torque, better acceleration and improved economy.
It drags this American legend – a direct descendant of the World War II Jeep – into our more enlightened age. A raft of tech, safety and interior improvements also help.
Its heritage-listed seven-slot grille’s now wider and darker, while you can even pick pink from a new colour palette.
But don’t storm the Capitol just yet, as the Wrangler’s core principles haven’t been messed with.
I’m driving the hardcore Rubicon, staring at the sky through its windscreen as we effortlessly crawl up a seemingly near-vertical muddy hill. It’s comically competent.
These range-topping Rubicons – the hairy-chested Wranglers – make up half of all sales. They come with four doors ($90,450) or two ($83,950). The latter, with a shorter wheelbase, looks cooler but has seriously limited rear seat and boot space.
Muscled looks aside, Rubicons are the Wranglers that authentic, serious off-roaders must pick. There’s an on-demand 4WD system, front and rear locking differentials, an electronically disconnecting front sway bar, 255mm of ground clearance, 32-inch off-road tyres and a fully floating rear axle.
If that’s all foreign to you, Wranglers also come in more on-road specific trims. A Sport S is $75,950 ($5500 cheaper than the old Night Eagle) and Overland $84,950 (down $2000 from before).
These “lesser” Wranglers can’t match big brother Rubicon for go-anywhere adventuring and make less sense overall – as a road car the Wrangler is an acquired taste.
It’s massive, for starters. You sit incredibly high and the square bonnet dominates your view.
The Rubicon’s all-terrain tyres are noisy, and their knobbly nature means they don’t enjoy a corner, especially a wet one.
It’s a body-on-frame 4WD so direction changes need to be smooth rather than sudden, and our on-road test drive had the stability control working overtime.
Yet there’s a competent charm to the drive.
The body roll’s not terrible, it cruises comfortably, the brakes bite confidently and the more svelte engine – 20kg lighter than the V6 – improves cornering response.
The four-cylinder’s a cracker. It reaches 100km/h in a surprisingly rapid 7.4 seconds, while the 8-speed auto slickly shuffles cogs.
The 2.0-litre is less gruff than the old V6 and if you shift the gearstick to manual control you can eradicate much of the otherwise lazy response.
We tackled a slippy clay-based off-road course with dramatic gradients, and it’s here the Wrangler Rubicon makes ultimate sense.
Its hill-decent control can be precisely controlled at 0.5km/h intervals, a front camera gives a superb forward view even while you’re pointing skywards, and it proved unflustered by any rugged challenge we tackled.
But Jeep asks almost $100k to drive away one of these hardcore four-doors. The value proposition has improved, as the Wrangler now has power heated Nappa leather seats, a slick 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, locking cabin compartments and a softer, more premium looking dash finish.
A point of difference is the easy-to-remove roof panelling, which can be clipped off and in the boot in two minutes.
For ultimate open-air adventuring, $6450 buys a canvas power top that can open and close at speed to have rear passengers sunbathing too.
Grumbles include the roomy rear seats not able to recline, elements such as the driver’s footwell and some controls feeling very left-hand-drive specific and the Wrangler’s internal rollover protection skeleton affecting load space, although the 900-litre boot’s a whopper.
Towing capacity’s not class-leading at 2495kg (and 1497kg for the two-door), the warranty’s below par at five years/100,000km and safety’s still a question mark.
Side curtain airbags are an excellent addition, but a three-star ANCAP safety rating is retained.
A Wrangler will always be a vehicle of compromises.
It will never be the easiest SUV to live with, but chunky good looks, unstoppable off-road ability and heritage sometimes conquers all.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
PRICE: From about $98,000 drive-away
WARRANTY/SERVICE: Five years/100,000 km, $1995 for five years/60,000km
SAFETY: Six airbags, auto emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, rear camera, front and rear sensors, rear-seat reminder alert
ENGINE: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol, 200kW and 400Nm
THIRST: 9.9L/100km
SPARE: Full-size
LUGGAGE: 900 litres
VERDICT
Three and a half stars
Four-cylinder turbo makes it a better, more economical drive while the off-
road ability has been retained.
Originally published as Jeep Wrangler Rubicon review: hardcore off-roader upgraded for 2024
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