[Ripcord09]

2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

What you'll like:

• A timeless design with loads of character
• One of the best offroaders on the planet
• Good build quality and abuse-friendly nature
• Highly customisable. You can go crazy with modifications
• Punchy 268-BHP 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine is refined and smooth
• 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox is competent and does the job well on / off-road
• Loads of off-road tech (locking differentials, sway bar disconnect, full-float rear axle, etc.)
• Features list includes ADAS tech, front camera, new 12.3-inch touchscreen, 9-speaker Alpine sound system, heated steering wheel & front seats, 12-way powered front seats, and more

What you won't:

• Lack of engine options. No diesel engine on offer, nor a larger petrol (available internationally)
• Firm, busy ride in the city. Bumpy on bad roads
• Backseat isn't comfortable over long distances. Also, best for 2 adults and not 3
• A 1-star Euro-NCAP safety rating is a dealbreaker for most buyers
• On-road dynamics are poor, more so with the stock MT tyres (Jeep should've given AT tyres). Best to stick to safe speeds
• Driver footwell is cramped and will get uncomfortable over long drives
• Missing features like auto wipers, auto folding mirrors, a dead pedal, a 360-degree camera and ventilated seats

Review Link

The Wrangler Unlimited at Rs 67.65 lakh, ex-showroom, and Rubicon at Rs 71.65 lakh, ex-showroom, are placed in quite an odd price bracket in India. Choosing an alternative, especially to the Rubicon will be quite tricky and you will have to make a few sacrifices.

Soft-roader Alternatives

For a similar price as the Rubicon, you’ll be forced to choose a couple of soft-roaders from European and Japanese brands. Here are price and performance comparisons:



Although you can find better performance in some of the SUVs listed above compared to the Rubicon, they simply aren’t as capable of taking it for hardcore off-road sessions. Mud and ruts are something these alternatives can handle. Anything more and then you will be better off in the Jeep Wrangler.

Off-roader Alternatives

If you are hell-bent on looking for a capable alternative to the Rubicon, the choices are between affordable Indian offroaders or the expensive Defender. Here is a breakdown of the price and performance of hardcore off-roader alternatives to the Wrangler Rubicon:



The above off-roaders are capable machines and can almost take any challenge that the terrain throws at them.

So, the question remains - Would you buy a Jeep Wrangler in 2024? If not, then which car would you buy instead?

[Omkar]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[GTO]

Really has no direct competition. I loved driving the recent update - unmatched character, enough pep, terrific capability and something "different". Change the tyres to AT and it'll be sweet on the road, as well as off it (don't know why Jeep gives it MT rubber).

Importantly, I would definitely buy it over some of its tamer, smaller competition.

Voted Yes. Looks hot as it comes from the factory and as you would guess, I'd modify it further in the initial 3 months itself. But like other offroaders, it is not everyone's cup of tea. Most people would be better served in one of the more user-friendly crossovers.

As for me, I've always loved "Jeeps" and have owned one since 27 years. It's a very my-kind-of-car.

[Turbanator]

It's a good buy, sort of unique at a price point but my single most reason for not buying or asking others to do a check is the tiny footwell space. It's pointed in our review as well. I don't think there is a workaround so anyone with a strong built or a foot size of over 11 should spend sometime in the car before buying one.

Also, with eminent launch of 100% lookalike 4 door Thar, it will be fairly common on the roads. I will probably avoid this.

[vattyboy]

No.

I will buy a Fortuner 4x4 AT (48 lakhs)

+

A fast sedan like Verna or Virtus 1.5 turbo ( 20 lakhs)

[Cresterk]

No.

It's better than the Thar in every way.

But it is not 50-60L better than the thar in any way.

[Sk8r]

Not that I can, but if I can - I rather would not. I'll tell you why

- Mahindar has upped their game so much so that the Thar and the upcoming Thar Armada are an equal match in terms of engine, comfort, snob value & overall capability.

- If Thar had interiors like Gurkha but looked as it does today, I would not have picked this over the Wrangler. This, most likely is the deal breaker.

- At least in India, thanks to Mahindra - Wrangler is neither here nor there. Just wishing, Mahindra launch a hyper off roader and create a niche for itself like a Bronco or a Wrangler.

One more point, Jeep does expect people to Thar over their products and hence the battle against the "Grill" in US

[Shreyans_Jain]

Noted no.

The Grand Cherokee is now within touching distance of the Wrangler after discounts. That makes a lot more sense, the space, comfort and performance of an urban SUV along with serious off road chops unmatched by the German soft roaders.

[buzzy_boy]

Voted no.


I love the vehicle to bits. It is my dream to buy the Wrangler. However, I wouldn't sink that much money into a product from a company with a questionable future.

For me to buy the Wrangler, Jeep has to offer a 10 year services guarantee in my tier-2 hometown. This isn't going to happen, and hence my "No" vote.

[Asoon]

No, at that price point I would pick

a 2 Series + Thar
Or an octavia + fortuner (with a little stretch)
or a pre onwned 3 series + Thar

[adityaNview]

Would vote NO.

There are just too many cons associated with it. Going by the cons, there is no safety.. no driving pleasure (bumpy ride, space constraints at footwell).. it is uncomfortable.. it doesn’t offer any modern day features..

Apart from looks, which are also subjective, there is nothing going for it.

Unless you are someone with extremely hard core off road needs, it just doesn’t make sense.

[Latheesh]

Yes, if I have 70L spare cash which I don't know of.
Spotted one last week and was really happy to show it to my wife and son!

[sgmuser]

Bumpy and busy ride, requires constant steering wheel correction on highways plus poor safety rating is not something one will relate to a 65+ lakhs car. Add the FE of 2 liter Turbo petrol. Otherwise JL is an unique offering with loads of character and styling. No wonder this doesn't sell that much here. In the Middle East this thing has few months of waiting period. There it only does come with a v6. Rubicon sells more. India has very little offroadable tracks compared to US and ME. Most of the areas are reserved forests and not for public. Further it is going to be painfully costly to fix if something is broken. So, not many would want to do these in a JL when Thar is available almost one 4th of the price.

JL Rubicon costs just 40+ lakhs there in ME depending on the configuration and even less in US. Sport is dirt cheap just around 30 lakhs. For Rubicon, we pay close to 90k USD here. This makes this car a luxury vehicle not a simple offroader. If one wants to have a this as a luxury there are so many shortcomings like rear seating comfort, ride quality, lack of comfy features and tech like proper ADAS etc when compared to German brands in this price bracket. Jeep isn't a luxury brand here especially compared to BMW or MB or LR. Jeep isn't that reliable as well but JL/JK are easily fixable but in India we have to go to the Jeep workshop for each and every thing. That's the perception here I believe people have. In many ways JL product positioning is off the mark. LR does this luxury offroader thing a bit better but that's for another day. This will only live as a niche product like other Jeeps like GC.

[self_driven]

Originally Posted by Cresterk

It's better than the Thar in every way.

But it is not 50-60L better than the thar in any way.

You summed it up perfectly!

As things stand today, the 50-70 lakh segment is quite uninteresting with limited number of options. Rather than putting money on an overpriced or underwhelming car, it is better to increase the budget to about 1 crore OR settle with 2 cars from a lower price segment, 30-35 lakh for example, where most of the action is.

Jeep Wrangler is special, but 70 lakh is a lot of money to pay for that extra snob value it offers over a tastefully done Thar. It can however be a good option for those who want to keep things low-profile. To this day, the Wrangler can easily pass off as a Thar to unsuspecting eyes. Going forward, Mahindra's 5-door version of the Thar will only make things worse for Jeep. The day is not far when the Wrangler will be seen as a rich man's Thar and nothing else.

[Altocumulus]

While I really want to, I won't buy one. It will end up being a mall crawler and hence it doesn't make sense. Not the most comfortable on the highways and I won't have the guts to take a 65L+ car offroad.

I did give it a thought when buying The 3, but with already a Thar at home it didn't make sense.