Results
Test Structure
Category : Ranked Highest
Ride & Drive (50% of total points)
Urban/Highway Jeep Wrangler
High-Speed Dirt & Gravel Ram Power Wagon
Sand & Mud Jeep Wrangler
Rockcrawling Jeep Wrangler
Hillclimbing Ram Power Wagon
Overall Jeep Wrangler
Empirical (25% of total points)
Torque/Weight Ratio Jeep Wrangler
1⁄4-mile Acceleration Jeep Wrangler
60-0 Braking Jeep Wrangler
Load-Carrying Capacity Ram Power Wagon
Fuel Economy Jeep Wrangler
Price As Tested Jeep Wrangler
Overall Jeep Wrangler
Mechanical (10% of total points)
Engine’s Avail. Power Jeep Wrangler
Transmission Jeep Wrangler
Transfer Case Jeep Wrangler
Steering Jeep Wrangler
Brakes Jeep Wrangler
Suspension Jeep Wrangler
Overall Jeep Wrangler
4-wheeling Attributes (5% of total points)
Clearance Jeep Wrangler
Protection Jeep Wrangler
Recovery Ram Power Wagon
Overall Jeep Wrangler
Interior (5% of total points)
Ergonomics Ram Power Wagon
Appearance, Fit & Finish Ram Power Wagon
Perceived Noise Level (NVH) Power Wagon
Overall Ram Power Wagon
Exterior (5% of total points)
Body Styling Jeep Wrangler
Cargo Ram Power Wagon
Fit & Finish Ram Power Wagon
Overall Ram Power Wagon
Previous 4x4 of the year winners
2011 Land Rover LR4 HSE
2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor (5.4L V-8)
2009 Suzuki Equator Crew Cab RMZ-4
2008 Toyota Land Cruiser
2007 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JK
2006 Dodge Ram 1500 TRX4
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee (IFS)
2004 Volkswagen Touareg V-8
2003 Lexus GX 470
2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee (4.7 HO V-8)
2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee (5-speed auto transmission)
2000 Toyota Tundra
1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee (4.7 V-8 Limited)
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee (5.9 V-8 Limited)
1997 Jeep Wrangler Sport TJ
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee (w/ center diff lock)
1995 Dodge Ram (2500 V-10 longbed Club Cab)
1994 Dodge Ram (1500 V-8 shortbed regular cab)
1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1992 Chevrolet Blazer (fullsize)
1991 Dodge Dakota
1990 Nissan Pathfinder (4-door)
1989 Toyota pickup
1988 Jeep Cherokee (4.0 engine)
1987 Nissan Pathfinder (2-door)
1986 Ford Ranger
1985 Isuzu Trooper II
1984 Jeep Cherokee (2.8 engine)
1983 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer
King of the Mountain Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
The Power Wagon is a hard truck to beat, but the Rubicon did just that. Before you start your hate-mail campaign let us remind you that our test is not to find the most well-rounded vehicle of the year, the best commuter or hauler of the year, or the nicest ride of the year. We’re looking for the 4x4 of the year, and when it comes to dirt the Jeep is, well, dirtier.
We’ll start by saying only one vehicle got stuck in our week of wheeling, and it wasn’t Dozer yellow. Yes, the Dodge—er, Ram—has a winch, but we never needed a winch with the Jeep. The Power Wagon got stuck in the sand, but sand is a small segment of the USA. Every state, however, has mud, and in the mud the big V-8 didn’t impress the way the spicy V-6 did. Light is might, and true mud tires don’t hurt either. Rock fields are owned by the Jeep, and though the Ram will run down the Jeep in the high speed desert tracks, just turn toward the dunes and the frisky little 4-by will scamper away.
Is the Rubicon louder on the highway and bouncier on rutted roads, and does it require three feet to drive with the manual transmission? Yes, but to some that is better. “More connected to the vehicle” was one Judge’s comment. “More fun,” said another.
If four-wheeling is your pastime, your hobby, and your escape, the Rubicon is your winner. The Power Wagon is the more well-rounded vehicle, but the Jeep is still king of the mountain. It is still the sports car of the rocks. It still lives to be dirty. But this leaves us wondering: What could they do for the Rubicon’s 10th anniversary next year? Could it get even better?