Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
The other half of the people reading this expected the Wrangler to win it all this year. If there were fewer luxury SUVs in the test, or we didn't drive on paved roads, there's no doubt the Wrangler would have done much better than the scoring shows. But since our test evaluates all aspects of a 4x4 the Wrangler sank in the ranking. It's no surprise that when it came to crawling around off-road no other 4x4 came close to the Jeep. Have you ever tried to follow a TJ in a Super Duty? It's no contest. The Rubicon had the rockcrawling portion of the test in the bag. There weren't many times that our judges even needed to use both lockers thanks to all the suspension travel and low gearing of the five-speed and NVG 241J transfer case. But it sure was nice to have them! Our judges learned to appreciate that even when the rear differential is unlocked it is still a very good limited slip. Since we hardly ever lifted a rear tire we always had plenty of traction.
For some unknown reason the '03 Rubicon is sprung much firmer than any other Wrangler we've driven. Combined with the short wheelbase it gave us great maneuverability on the technical trails, but it became a pain in the butt (literally) on the fast gravel roads. Fortunately we loved the new seats and they isolated the judges from some of the jarring ride. Judges also gave high marks to the 4.0L engine's low-end torque, but there wasn't always enough top end to keep up with the rest of the convoy on the highway. Without question the Goodyear MT/R tires were the best off-road tires in the test, but they also contributed to the Wrangler's poor braking distances and overall road noise. Speaking of noise, it was hard to go from driving the Lexus GX 470 and listening to the radio to hopping into the Wrangler and listening to the tires wearing without deducting some points. Add in a soft top that only made the Jeep louder and you'll understand why this is the last vehicle that the judges would have wanted to take cross-country.
General
Manufacturer: Jeep
Model: Wrangler Rubicon
Base Price: $24,385
Price as Tested: $26,840
Options as Tested: Floor mats, rearview mirror (with auto dim, lamps, compass, and thermometer) air conditioning, speed control, AM/FM radio with CD changer control, 7-speaker stereo with subwoofer, soft top
Engine
Type: OHV inline-six
Displacement (liters/cubic inches): 4.0/242
Bore & Stroke (inches): 3.88x3.41
Compression Ratio: 8.8:1
Induction Type: Sequential, multiport fuel injection
Fuel Required (octane)/Capacity (gallons): 87/19
SAE Peak Horsepower: 190 @ 4,600 rpm
SAE Peak Torque (lb-ft): 235 @ 3,200 rpm
Transmission
Type: 5-speed manual overdrive
Model: NVG 3550
Ratios: First: 4.04:1; Second: 2.33:1; Third: 1.38:1; Fourth: 1.00:1; Fifth: 0.78; Reverse: 3.57:1
Transfer Case
Type: 2-speed, part-time
Model: NVG 241J
Low-Range Ratio: 4.0:1
Axles
Front Type: Dana 44 with selectable locker
Rear Type: Dana 44 with limited slip/selectable locker
Hubs: N/A
Ratio: 4.10:1
Suspension
Front: Live axle, 4-link with track bar and coil springs
Rear: Live axle, 4-link with track bar and coil springs
Steering
Type: Power-recirculating ball
Turns Lock-to-Lock/Ratio: 3.5/15.2:1
Turning Radius (feet): 36.7
Wheels
Size (inches): 16x8
Material: Cast-aluminum
Tires
Size: LT245/75R16
Brand: Goodyear Wrangler MT/R
Brake System
Front: 11-inch discs
Rear: 11.2-inch discs
Weight (pounds)
Curb Weight: 3,715
Advertised GVWR: 4,450
Mileage
EPA Estimate (city/hwy. mpg): 16/19
As Tested (mpg): 10.14
Acceleration
Standing ¼-mile (seconds @ mph): 18.47 @ 74.30
Braking
60-0 mph (feet): 176.28
Dimensions (inches)
Wheelbase: 93
Overall Length: 158.25
Overall Width: 75.875
Overall Height: 72.5
Front/Rear Track: 59.5/60
Front/Rear Overhang: 28/37
Minimum Front Ground Clearance: 9.25
Likes
*4 to 1 transfer case
*Front and rear lockers
*Great suspension flex
Dislikes
*Not enough engine
*Lots of road noise
*Rough ride
Bottom Line
This Jeep was not made for pavement