2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JL 3.6L V6 8AT AWD (285 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Jeep introduced the fourth generation of the Wrangler lineup in 2018, continuing the successful story of this American nameplate, and for the off-road hard-core fans, it also produced the three-door Rubicon version as well.

Ever since the introduction of the Rubicon lineup in 2003, off-road fans were thrilled. The nimble, short SUV could climb over the most difficult trails and rocks other vehicles wouldn’t even dare to approach without some serious modifications. But the Rubicon didn’t need any of those. It came fitted right from the factory with all the goodies an off-road fan would install in their cars. It was a vehicle delivered with special tires, locking diffs, and impressive suspension travel. In addition, it came with a full factory warranty. The G-Class from Mercedes-Benz could also get some of its features, but not all of them, despite being much more expensive than the short and light Wrangler Rubicon. So, in 2017, when Jeep unveiled the fourth generation of this SUV, it also revealed the hard-core off-road version, which was available with a three- or five-door bodywork. As usual, it was a body-on-frame construction, but it was improved over its predecessor.

At first sight, the JL generation of the Wrangler’s front fascia looked identical to the one placed on the previous JK model. And yet, the automaker installed new headlights that featured inner-mounted daytime running lights. Between them, the automaker placed a wider seven-slat grille, where the outward section was shaped around the headlamps. The turn signal lamps had migrated on the front side of the wheel arches and were rectangular, while the round blinkers underneath the headlights were removed. A fat front bumper protected the entire front fascia and sported a pair of fog lamps mounted on the sides.

From its profile, the JL showed a shape similar to the rest of the Wrangler range, regardless of the generation. However, its flip-down windshield was tilted rearward even more than before, while the A-pillars were more rounded to enhance aerodynamics. A set of metallic skid tubes were found between the front and rear wheel arches to protect the bodywork. Like any other Jeep Wrangler, the Rubicon came with removable doors, and the automaker even offered a set of half doors for the vehicle. To make the SUV lighter, Jeep made the doors from aluminum. Customers could get the car with a matching-color removable hard top, while in the back, a set of vertical taillights flanked the side-hinged door where the full-size spare wheel was mounted.

Jeep understood that the Rubicon was often driven in cities and even for the daily commute, so it made a much friendlier cabin than before. It equipped the SUV with modern amenities such as air conditioning and a touchscreen infotainment system. Fronting the driver was a brand-new instrument cluster that housed large dials for the speedometer and tachometer, plus two gauges for the fuel level and the coolant temperature. With seating for four, the Wrangler Rubicon could also perform daily tasks such as school runs and grocery shopping, even though the bench seat in the back was difficult to access due to the tall steps and narrow doors.

Under the hood, the automaker installed the already famous Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 engine from Chrysler’s parts bins and paired it with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Power went to the rear or all four wheels, depending on the driving conditions. The drivers could shift between 2WD and 4WD-High while driving, but they had to stop if they wanted to engage the 4.0:1 low-range gear of the transfer box.