Jeep India has announced prices for the hardcore Wrangler Rubicon – priced at Rs 68.94 lakh (ex-showroom, pan-India), the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon costs about Rs 5 lakh more than its standard counterpart. Deliveries will only commence from March 15.
The American brand claims the Wrangler Rubicon is its most capable SUV ever, which is underlined by its powertrain, upgraded running gear and, of course, Rubicon badges and stickers. Powering the Wrangler Rubicon is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that makes 268hp and 400Nm of peak torque – all of which is transferred to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox and Jeep’s RockTrac 4x4 all-wheel-drive (AWD) system.
The coveted 'Trail Rated' badge on the fenders (seen on the Jeep Compass Trailhawk) is well-earned – the Rubicon features a two-speed transfer case with a 4:1 '4LO' low-range gear ratio, full-time torque management, electronic locking differentials at the front and rear axles and an electronically operated sway bar that enhances articulation and travel.
Ground clearance is up by 2mm (to 217mm) and approach, breakover and departure angles (43.9, 22.6, 37) are an improvement over standard Wrangler’s by 2.1-degrees, 1.6-degrees and 0.9-degrees, respective.
Besides the Rubicon stickers, this new off-roader does not differentiate itself from the standard model by much. It comes in the same five colours – Firecracker Red, Billet Silver, Black, Bright White, and Granite Crystal – though the 17-inch gloss-black alloy wheels shod in 255/75R 17 Mud Terrain tyres do mark it as a separate model. Like the standard Wrangler, the Rubicon comes with a fold-down windshield, a removable hard roof, and doors that can be dismantled and refitted.
Safety kit is shared between the Wrangler Unlimited and the Rubicon. Four airbags, front and rear parking sensors, a rear camera, electronic stability control (ESC), trailer sway control (TSC), an anti-lock braking system (ABS), hill-start assist (HSA), hill descent control (HDC), electronic roll mitigation (ERM) and a tyre pressure monitoring system are all standard fitment on both models.
Creature comforts that are shared between the two include the 8.4-inch infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and navigation, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and go, an engine start-stop system, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering with controls for a variety of functions, and a 9-speaker Alpine sound system that comes with an all-weather sub-woofer and 552W amplifier.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
