Why the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon shouldn't be overlooked as your new 4WD | Opinion

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is one of those vehicles that occupies a niche within a niche – similar to the Suzuki Jimny and Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series. It's a hardcore off-road vehicle with very few concessions to comfort, safety and common sense.

Sure, the Rubicon is very ordinary to drive around town and is on the wrong side of impractical, but there's no getting past the fact that it is bloody good off-road!

I'm about to tell you why you shouldn't ignore this 4WD.

Read on.

Read More About Jeep Wrangler

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2019: off-road review Jeep Wrangler 2020 review: Rubicon diesel tow test No more V6, no hybrid for Jeep's icon: 2024 Jeep Wrangler details confirmed for Australian launch, but how much more expensive will it be?

Why you should buy a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

Face the facts: no one buys a Rubicon to drive on the road – that's not what it's built for – but though it's no sports car in terms of ride and handling, it's nowhere near as diabolical as you might presume.

If you like to drive and you like to feel 100 percent dialled-in to driving, then you'll appreciate the Rubicon's raw appeal. This is a vehicle that demands the driver's absolute attention all the time, so much so that it has to be micromanaged – more about this in the 'Why you shouldn't buy a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon' section, below.

Its planted stance on sealed surfaces gives the Rubicon a definite composure and its soon-to-be-discontinued 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine (producing 209kW and 347Nm) is a gutsy unit, punching the four-door off-roader along at a fair clip, all while the eight-speed auto delivers controlled shifts.

As for off-road performance, the Rubicon is supremely capable. (image: Brendan Batty)

The Rubicon is a 'windows-down, feel every bump in the road/track' kind of visceral experience, even on the black top.

As for off-road performance, the Rubicon is supremely capable: a genuine 4WD with a dual-range transfer case, a ladder chassis, solid axles, well-established 4WD heritage and its boosted by driver-assist tech.

This Jeep is immediately more at home taking on low-speed 4WDing than it is negotiating suburban traffic, shopping centre car parks or city streets.

The Rubicon is 4882mm long (with a 3008mm wheelbase), 1894mm wide, 1848mm high. It has a listed kerb weight of 1992kg.

This is a purpose-built off-roader with a wide wheel track and low centre of gravity, so it feels solid on track no matter how rough the terrain becomes.

If you like to drive and you like to feel 100 percent dialled-in to driving, then you’ll appreciate the Rubicon’s raw appeal. (image: Brendan Batty)

Case in point: on a gravel route to my 4WD test track, there are numerous harsh corrugations but the Rubicon – with a coil spring at each corner – soaks them up.

That aforementioned light steering has a nice weight to it during low-range 4WDing, giving the driver a great sense of sustained control through even severe terrain.

Off-road, the V6 engine comes into its own, delivering smooth even torque, but never over-working. Considered driving is necessary as is slow and steady throttle, but that's easily achieved in the Rubicon.

It's refreshing that switching to 4WD High or 4WD Low range is still done via a short shifter stick to the left of the auto shifter rather than via a button or dial.

Low-range gearing is damn good and the Rubicon has a well-calibrated off-road traction control system that seamlessly launches into action when required, and wasted wheel-spin is kept to a minimum.

This is a purpose-built off-roader with a wide wheel track and low centre of gravity. (image: Brendan Batty)

The Rubicon has approach, departure and breakover angles of 36.5, 31.9 and 21.2 degrees respectively.

This Jeep has 252mm of listed running clearance and a standard wading depth of 760mm, but it's never troubled when climbing steep rock steps, traversing deep ruts or driving through mud holes.

With live axles at the front and rear, the Rubicon has plenty of wheel travel to keep moving and under control through off-grid country.

The Rubicon has listed towing capacities of 750kg (unbraked) and 2495kg (braked).

Another thing: the Rubicon looks the part. This is the designated no-compromise off-roader in the Wrangler line-up so it has a very distinctive appearance – chunky, blocky and mission-ready with mud terrain tyres to boot (BFGoodrich 255/75R17) – while managing to balance the best of the model's traditional character with (slightly) contemporary styling.

Why you shouldn't buy a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

The main reason the Rubicon is so damn appealing is also the main reason some people should probably avoid it: this is a vehicle that demands the driver's complete focus all the time because this is a punch-in-the-guts visceral driving experience.

It's downright wonky to drive on sealed surfaces – seemingly moving around of its own volition – but that's part of the fun, no matter how disconcerting it may be initially.

But because it needs to be constantly micro-managed – steering has a lightness about it that can be more than a bit off-putting – the Rubicon can swiftly exhaust the driver if they're taking on long periods at the helm.

The main reason the Rubicon is so damn appealing is also the main reason some people should probably avoid it. (image: Brendan Batty)

Also, a 12.44m turning circle means this 4WD can at times feel like a mini-bus to steer around town and even in the bush, and puts pressure on the driver to nail a quick turnaround if stuck trying a tricky manoeuvre on a busy city street.

Also, because it's so blocky, with its straight-up-and-down cabin and big wing mirrors, the Rubicon is noisy on sealed surfaces for driver and passengers.

Another negative mark for the Rubicon: a three-star ANCAP safety rating applies to all Wrangler variants built from November 2019 when upgrades were introduced. So, while it does have a suite of driver-assist tech, it does not pass muster in terms of what has become the standard for vehicle safety in Australia.

What I reckon

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is purpose built for off-road action and makes few, if any, concessions to anything else (including comfort and safety) – and you have to give Jeep credit for sticking with that approach.

If you find yourself shaking your head in disappointment at the Rubicon's unpredictable on-road manners, lack of refinement and three-star ANCAP safety rating, then you're missing the point entirely.

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is purpose built for off-road action and makes few, if any, concessions to anything else. (image: Brendan Batty)

The Rubicon is, like the Jimny and the 70 Series, meant to be driven off-road because that's what it's designed for and that's where it performs best.

It mightn't make sense as a daily driver, but it's a shedload of fun on the dirt.