When it comes to off-road adventure, few brands come close to the storied reputation of Jeep. For several decades, the Jeep Wrangler has been the standard bearer of rugged off-road exploration.
That tradition continues with the new Wrangler Rubicon. Launched today, the flagship model in the Wrangler line bears a distinct new look and more improvements.
A new look
The new Wrangler Rubicon’s most evident change is its new blacked-out grille. This helps distinguish it from the previous model even from a distance. The updated look is also functional, providing more airflow to the engine and cooling systems. It retains the recognizable circular daytime running lamps as well fender-mounted position lamps. Behind are the trademark hourglass-shaped taillights.
Improvements have been made to the interior as well. The driver gets two analog dials with a large customizable digital display in between them. This display can be configured to show trip details, navigation, vehicle details, and even the current drive mode and driving wheels.
The center features a large 12.3-inch touchscreen linked to a premium sound system with subwoofer. It offers new features like wireless Apple CarPlay, Google Android Auto, GPS Navigation, and customizable user profiles. Getting it into gear is quite the delight as it has a beefy gear selector stick. The same can be said for the 4WD selector. Right in front of them, on the center console is the dedicated differential lock switch, as well as off-road driving modes. There are also four auxiliary switches available for adding accessories.
Capable power
Powering it is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivering 272-Ps and 400-Nm of torque. Fitted with the Selec-Trac Full Time 4WD System and Dana axles, the Rubicon features a 4WD auto mode, but also has a 2WD mode for daily driving. There’s also 4WD High and Low for more challenging terrain. Front, center and rear differentials can be locked for optimum traction.
Comfort
The Rubicon may look like a rugged beast, but it’s actually quite prepared to pamper. Passengers get comfy leather seats, soft-touch materials line the dash and door panels, is there are multiple USB ports for connectivity and charging. There are also front and rear cameras with guide lines to aid the driver in tight spaces. The ride is also quite soft, capable of muting most bumps on the road.
Flexibility
Easily the Rubicon’s most renowned party trick is its ability to fold the windshield, remove the top, and even remove the doors. That still holds true in this model, which includes a three-piece roof. The rear cargo area is quite spacious, and can accommodate quite a lot of equipment.
Safety
Even with all those features, the Rubicon also ticks all the boxes when it comes to safety. It is equipped with advanced multistage front airbags, side airbags, and curtain airbags. Additional safety features include Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop, Selec-Speed Control, and many more.
The new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is now available in two-door (P5,590,000) and four-door (P5,780,000) versions at at all authorized Jeep dealers.