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Driven: 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Image by Jeep.

Driven: 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Can a light update with some new in-car tech push the Wrangler closer to its more luxurious rivals, or is it still an unapologetic 4x4?

   



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2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

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The Jeep range may be growing, what with the arrival of new Grand Cherokee and Avenger models, but it hasn't quite forgotten its roots. The Wrangler remains its icon, and the tough mudder has been updated for 2024 with some minor mechanical tweaks, a slimmed-down line-up and some subtle interior and exterior updates. But is it still as appealing as it was before?

Test Car Specifications

Model: 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4dr Rubicon 2.0 GME
Price: Wrangler from £61,125 (£64,210 as tested)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol
Transmission: eight-speed automatic, selectable all-wheel drive
Power: 272hp
Torque: 400Nm
Emissions: 269g/km
Economy: 23.7mpg
0-62mph: 7.6 seconds
Top speed: 99mph
Boot space: 533 litres

Styling

Perhaps the biggest change to the Wrangler line-up for 2024 is the removal of the three-door car, which leaves you with the five-door model that's called a four-door for reasons unknown. Anyway, it's that or nothing these days, though you do get to choose between the basic Sahara and the more rugged Rubicon tested here. Both maintain the classic Wrangler image, which is more or less unchanged, but now they have their antennae integrated into the front windscreen and there are some new alloy wheel designs.

There's more differentiation between the models, too, with the Rubicon getting lots of black exterior trim, massive off-road tyres and Rubicon decals, as well as slightly smaller alloy wheels and a grey finish on the grille. In the Sahara, meanwhile, there are more conventional tyres on 18-inch rims, while there are body-coloured garnishes and no decals in sight. Some might say 'boring', some might say 'less childish'.

Interior

Just as the Jeep’s exterior design has only really changed in the details, the Wrangler’s cabin is largely unchanged, too. The prime difference is the new, wider touchscreen infotainment system, which uses Jeep’s latest tech and is a bit slicker and more user-friendly than before, although Jeep has resisted the temptation to put a big digital instrument display in there for reasons unknown.

As before, then, the cabin is a bit of a button-fest, with loads of switches for all the off-road functions and some useful features, all of which are chunky enough to be used while wearing gloves. The touchscreen, then, is the only major change, and it’s an improvement on the old system, but it still isn’t anything like as clever as Land Rover’s latest system. It doesn’t look as fancy, either, but it works. You might need some of those special touchscreen gloves to use it when it’s really cold, though, rather than the mittens with which you could use the Wrangler’s other switches.

With all this going on, it’s easy to forget that though this is a serious 4x4, it’s also a very expensive car, and those who spend almost £70,000 might be a bit disappointed with some of the fit and finish. It isn’t bad – a lot of it is very rugged and solid – but it doesn’t scream premium in any way, and those coming here for the image, rather than the functionality, might be better served with a current-generation Defender. Take, for example, the roof. Where a Defender’s is lined with nice fabric, the Wrangler’s has latches and polystyrene soundproofing so you can remove it for off-road shenanigans. The attitude is very different.

Practicality

In many ways, the Wrangler is a very practical thing, and in some other ways, it isn't very practical at all. Let's start with the bad stuff, which includes sheer size and a slight lack of manoeuvrability, as well as a tailgate that swings out, rather than up, so you can't always open it in tight spaces. Then there's the roof, which is quite cool, but it isn't exactly quick to raise or lower. In fact, though there's a neat bag for the front panels in the boot, there's no space for the rest of it, so you have to leave it behind and hope it doesn't rain.

That said, the Wrangler's sheer size means it's quite big, so there's space for four people to sit fairly comfortably, and the boot space is huge. And the flexibility of being able to remove the roof is nice on warm, sunny days. It's just a pain to get your screwdriver out to do it, and the roll cage makes quite a lot of noise at motorway speeds. But then so does everything else in the Wrangler.

Performance

Once upon a time, Jeep used to fit Wranglers with really stupid engines. Big straight sixes and other thirsty, inefficient and loud motors. But then things got a bit more sensible and we found four-cylinder diesels installed in the front, producing ample grunt without burning ungodly amounts of fuel in a short space of time. They were perfect for Europe, and now they've been discontinued as diesel remains an unfashionable choice.

As a result, Wrangler buyers are left with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces an ample 272hp, but burns unleaded like it's going out of fashion. Officially, you'll get 23.7mpg, and that's just the official figure. Admittedly, performance is still pretty perky and the engine performs acceptably off-road, but the decision to go petrol-only is a bold one, especially as the engine isn't that much more refined than the diesel, particularly when it's pushed. At least your local petrol station owner will be happy.

Ride & Handling

Because the Wrangler isn't really designed for roads, particularly in Rubicon form, it's not for us to judge it especially harshly. Yes, the steering is numb, the car moves around on both its springs and those tread blocks, and there's often a sense of mild panic that's brought on by fast corners. This is not a road car by any measure, and even on the motorway it feels noisy, vague and a bit blocky. And despite the long-travel suspension and the big tyres, it doesn't really ride that well.

But if you take it off-road, it'll change your opinion completely. Across any terrain, it's more or less unstoppable, and few cars will prove this capable and customisable for the sort of off-roading you want to do. For example, the Rubicon comes with a redundant set of switches into which you can wire things like light bars and other off-road additions, essentially inviting customers to set this thing up for overlanding. We like that approach, but it's more akin to the Ineos Grenadier than a Range Rover, and that should tell customers something about whether the Wrangler will be the car for them.

Value

Wrangler prices have shot up in the past five years or so, and the basic Sahara model now comes in at £61,125. Go for this Rubicon version, with its chunky tyres, stickers and extra off-road gubbins, and you'll spend another £2,000 on top of that. And that's before you make merry with the options list. Jeep fully expects customers to spend thousands more on aftermarket kit for their off-road shenanigans.

But if you leave it standard, you get plenty for your money. There's all the rufty-tufty mechanical stuff, plus climate control, heated front seats, keyless start and the 12.3-inch touchscreen, not to mention the three-piece modular hard-top and the parking camera. Parking sensors are also fitted at the front and rear, while there's an Alpine audio system in the cabin.

Verdict

Even with the 2.0-litre petrol engine under the bonnet, the Wrangler remains an unstoppable 4x4 and a fun, interesting mode of transport. But don’t confuse that sense of joie de vivre for refinement or involvement, though. This is not a road car, and as long as you accept it for what it really is – a weekend green-laning toy – you’re going to absolutely love it. If what you really want is a luxury SUV with a rugged image, however, you’re going to have to look elsewhere.



James Fossdyke - 30 Dec 2024



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2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Image by Jeep.2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Image by Jeep.2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Image by Jeep.2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Image by Jeep.2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Image by Jeep.

2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Image by Jeep.2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Image by Jeep.2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Image by Jeep.2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Image by Jeep.2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Image by Jeep.








 

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