14th July 2024, 11:05
| #1 |
| BHPian  | 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Review What I like
Parked at the dealership waiting for delivery  Here we go again... It has been a long hiatus away from the forum however I’m glad to be back. Most of us (at least the BHPians) often buy vehicles that tug at our heartstrings; more often than not, these are emotional and not rational decisions. Some of you may know that I bought a Gypsy King back in 2016 (and I’m glad that I got one brand new as the vehicle went out of production sometime in 2018). Gypsy remains one vehicle that is closest to my heart (yes, I love it more than the German twins) for it reminds me what it was like to drive back in the day when I taught myself how to drive on a CJ-3B (yes, I’m a self-taught driver); the pure mechanical, visceral feel of solid axles (front & back), body on frame with a low range transfer case that could climb up a tree if enough traction was available. Gypsy is actually a much more refined experience (relatively speaking) but retains the same driving characteristics albeit a tighter steering and more powerful engine than the CJ 3B. So the story starts with my endeavour to get an SUV for my wife (she currently drives a Hyundai Santa Fe V6 which is getting old and giving us grief). The only vehicle under consideration was a Lexus RX350 (the older generation) and she was fine with getting a 2-year-old car as she does not like the looks of the current generation and the fact that it now comes with a 4-cylinder engine. We went to a Lexus dealership test drove 2021 with about 40K on the clock and liked it very much. Just one day after that when I was downtown for a meeting, I saw a brand spanking new Wrangler parked right next to my 330i; I looked at it and that stayed with me after I came back home. These pictures were taken on my way home   In the last 18 years, I had never considered a Wrangler as I found it to be too rough around the edges; now the Jeep purists might say that it’s a part of the package/appeal however it somehow did not work for me. Back in 2018 I did test-drive a JK at a local dealership but came away unimpressed; the noise levels at the highway speeds were atrocious and the overall feel of the vehicle somehow did not speak to me so that was that. In the last 6 years, I have acquired two Germans and so my need for speed has been quenched to quite an extent. I do go out hiking/camping at least 3-4 times a year however have never ventured off the beaten path owing to the kind of cars I drive. Given the fact that I live one hour's drive away from the Rocky Mountains with one of the best scenic landscapes and I would like to do some sort of off-the-pavement driving (would refrain from calling it the oft-abused term “off-roading”) to get to that elusive/scenic mountain perch, I felt it was about time to get a 4X4, no not an AWD cross over but a proper SUV. So, what were my options:
Even if the Lan Cruiser & the 4-Runner were available, there is very high probability that I would have gone for the Wrangler for it spoke to me parked right there on the lot and that my friends is what a vehicle needs to do (at least for me & I'm sure for many of you out there) and then only it is a worthwhile vehicle that will give you some semblance of satisfaction and pride of ownership.  Now comes the question of which variant: There are 18 models (2 & 4 door) available with three engines and two transmission options including a few PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid) models however I was very clear that it is going to be a Hard Top Rubicon with the V-6 and 8 speed automatic ZF transmission. With winter temperatures dipping down to -35°C, the soft top or the Sky One-Touch Power Top was never an option so that was settled. Going back to the search for an SUV for my wife, I negotiated that we would replace her vehicle next year. Finally, earlier in July I started my search for the right dealership to talk to and zeroed down on one. Visited the place test-drove the Wrangler, and instantly fell in love. Closed the deal within a couple of days and the delivery date was set for July 8th. My daughter dropped me off at the store and brought the Wrangler home by evening. July is also my birthday month so let’s say I gave myself a very expensive present. With 5 cars we have run out of parking space with 2 in the garage and 2 on the driveway so now my daughter’s car has to be parked on the street and she is not very happy about it however I’m planning to sell off the 330i and the Santa Fe so parking situation should soon improve.  Let’s talk about the kit. As mentioned earlier this one is a Rubicon with the 3.6 ltr. V-6 that puts out 285BHP and 260 Ft lb (353 NM) of torque. It has an 8-speed ZF transmission which is butter smooth. Exclusive to Rubicon is the famous Rock Track (NV241OR) transfer case (Low Range 4.0:1) and a 4.10:1 Final Drive Ratio that translates into a 77.24:1 mind-boggling crawl ratio. Standard fitment on the Rubicon includes Front & rear locking differentials and electronically disconnecting sway bar. On Day 3, about 70 clicks from home in the countryside   In addition, the vehicle comes with Safety & Convenience package that includes: Safety package:
Convenience package:
  Stellantis has made some major changes to the Wrangler for the MY 2024. So, what’s new on the Outside:
Now coming to my particular vehicle: Design & Styling I believe that one of the strongest “pulls” of the Jeep Wrangler is that the design and silhouette stand out. You cannot mistake a Jeep Wrangler for any other vehicle for there’s nothing like this on the road. In spite of all the minor design changes that Jeep designers have carried out in the last 38 years (Wrangler started out in 1986) the design language has remained more or less the same. They realize that any radical change to the exterior appearance will alienate the Jeep customer and then it will be one more SUV and that thankfully remains the case with the 2024 minor tweaks that Jeep has done to the styling. The slab-sided nature of the side profile has not been messed around with and remains unmistakably Jeep.  The stance is imposing with a steeply raked windshield and the 275/70R17 BFG KO2s seem massive, especially on the tailgate. The fenders are 40 inches off the ground conveying its serious intention to venture into tough terrain. The fake (unfortunately) vents on the bulging hood tell you that the chops to undertake a serious endeavor. The door hinges are exposed and may not be up to the liking of some potential buyers but still speak to its military heritage. In my opinion, this vehicle is as squarish as they come and there somehow lies its appeal. While almost every SUV on the block is becoming bulbous in its desire for that elusive aerodynamic drag coefficient, the Jeep Wrangler says it gives two hoots for that. An unmistakable Jeep it is. Engine, Transmission & Performance There are four powertrain options; the 2 ltr. Turbo with 260BHP, PHEV 2 ltr. turbo with a combined output of 375BHP, 3.6ltr V6 with 285BHP & the 6.4 ltr. Hemi V8 with 475BHP. Regarding transmission, there’s the 6-speed manual and the fabulous, butter-smooth 8-speed ZF transmission.   I decided to opt for the 3.6 Pentastar V6 with the 8-speed automatic transmission. As far as the performance goes, one of the American auto magazines has clocked 7.7 seconds for 0 to 100kmph for this engine/transmission combination. The 2 ltr. Turbo is supposed to be faster and was clocked at 6.5 seconds. I have neither the intention nor the willingness to go anywhere near these numbers for acceleration as this is a 2.3-ton slab-sided 4X4 with the aerodynamics of a brick. The ride quality of the Wrangler has vastly improved over the earlier generation JK however there’s no getting away from the fact that it is a body-on-frame platform with solid axles front and back. I must say however that the Wrangler’s ability to ride roughshod over smaller imperfections, and potholes is great. I also found the braking to be very good for such a heavy vehicle. End of the day it is a body on frame platform with solid axles and any large pothole, or expansion joint disturbs the composure of the car. Font driver's side & rear passenger side suspension set up   One thing that stood out for me was the ability of the vehicle to stay flat even when taking sharp turns; there’s an exit from my neighborhood to an intercity highway; it’s a hairpin and I took it at almost 75kmph (not advisable) and was shocked to find that the Wrangler stayed flat without any pitching or rolling; that was tremendous and explains the girth of the front sway bar. Transfer case & other tools of the trade Now let’s talk about the serious stuff.  The fabled Rock-Track transfer case  As is widely known, the Wrangler Rubicon comes with:
Interesting bit: The front drive shaft utilizes a Universal joint at the pinion but a Constant Velocity joint at the transfer case end. The rear drive shaft (propeller shaft) utilizes a CV joint both at the pinion and the transfer case end. Front drive shaft (notice the massive Front Lower Control Arm)  Rear drive shaft  The general layout of the underbody  *Picture - courtesy JL Wrangler Forum Axles, Suspension, Steering & general layout Steering is a Recirculating Ball setup which is supposed to withstand more abuse than a Rack and Pinion setup.
Fully floating Axle layout  Picture courtesy - Motortend Front Suspension
Rear Suspension
General Layout
Transmission cooler lines and oil sump well above the axle tubes  Last edited by Vikram Arya : 21st July 2024 at 09:32. |
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18th July 2024, 06:00
| #2 |
| BHPian | Re: My 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Standard kit on my vehicle
Build Quality, Exteriors, Fit & Finish I can safely say that build quality has definitively improved in the last six years when I drove the JK, and the introduction of the Ford Bronco has a lot to do with that. Panel gaps are uniform and shut lines are tight. Have driven quite a few cars in the last 40 years and especially in the last 18 years out here; must say things have improved quite a lot. Stallnatis has gone all out to reduce the weight of the Wrangler, The Hood, the doors, and even the tailgates (Al, Mg alloy) are all aluminum. The roof is plastic but the vehicle still comes in at 2.3 tons (Rubicon) and the underlying robust mechanicals are a major contributor (see pictures). All the interior & exterior lights are LEDs and that includes turn signals as well.    The axles are Dana (M210 out front & M220 in the rear), the axle tubes are 2.75 in diameter & the axle end forgings are humungous coming in at close to 14 inches. The drag link, the sway bar & the tie rods are almost 1.5-inch diameter solid steel and all of that contributes to weight. Wheels & tires Rubicon comes standard with 275/70R17 BFG KO2 from the factory and these are seriously big. The alloy wheel design is new for MY 2024 & I very much like those.  Ground Clearance & Water Wading capability With a massive 275 mm ground clearance and 864 mm water wading capability, Wrangler can tackle most if not all the challenges.  Safety For the MY 2024 Jeep has made some major improvements to the safety suite. Now the Wrangler comes standard with 6 airbags including the side curtain airbags, ABS, Traction Control, ESP, Full Speed Forward Collision Warning plus Brake Assist comes standard. An electronic immobilizer with a Panic Alarm and a security system are also included. I also opted for the additional safety package that added:
Cabin Design Quality & Cargo Capacity  Let’s make it very clear in the beginning that for such a large vehicle Wrangler is not very spacious inside however that is on account of its basic design and to a very large extent the front fenders that are external to the main body and the roll cage that goes around on the inside (Wrangler does not have a metal roof that is structurally integrated with the main monocoque but a plastic roof).   As soon as you get in the cabin, a commanding view which is head and shoulder above pretty much everyone else barring the class 8 trucks greets you. You’re sitting barely two feet from the windshield and facing a narrow squared-off dashboard with big/chunky controls (the idea is that even if you’re wearing gloves in the winter, you should be able to use the switches without taking the gloves off).  * The steering cover is an aftermarket accessory   Attachment 2630112       Plastic quality is very good, and controls are laid out very logically and are intuitive, everything is where it is supposed to be. Stepping from my 535i into Wrangler was a seamless transition. Seats are quite firm, and upright with manual control (height, lumbar support). I really liked the gray fabric with Rubicon in red woven into those.   The rear seats are good but are a bit too upright and rear passengers may not be comfortable on a long road trip. Fortunately, I drive alone 99% of the time so that is something that I’m not overly concerned with. However, folks who are considering Wrangler as a family hauler must take a long test drive along with their family before making a decision.   As the doors are removable, there is no storage space there. You can keep two bottles in the central console with a space for keeping two bottles for the rear passengers. The power window switches are located on the front panel below the AC vents, and you quickly get used to that location. Rear passengers also get their own set of power window switches on the central pillar behind the front seats.  The trunk capacity is 900 liters with all seats up which is adequate, the space increases to 2,050 litres if you fold flat the rear seats. I’m an avid camper so now’s the time to buy a 12-volt fridge with a 1,000-watt battery pack along will all my camping gear and disappear for a few days. Infotainment & other convenience features For the MY 2024, all the variants of the Wrangler come equipped with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen that has great functionality built in. I went with the 8-speaker system that sounds adequate with good definition though I found the base a bit lacking I would have loved to get the Alpine set up, unfortunately, the dealer did not have a single Rubicon on his lot with the technology package. The system has a wireless Android Auto & Apple Car Play. The connection with the phone is seamless, as soon as I enter the vehicle and switch on the infotainment, it automatically connects with my phone, and I have access to all the useful apps such as Google Maps & Spotify on the home screen.  The vehicle has a two-zone climate control system with vents for the rear passengers, front heated seats, and a heated steering wheel. There are two USB ports in the front (one type A & type C each), an auxiliary port, one type A in the central glove box, and four USB ports (two type C ports & two type A) for the rear passengers. There are two 12-volt ports; one on the front panel, and one in the trunk (very handy for connecting the fridge). There is also a 120-volt (150-watt) connector that can be used to charge laptops, drones, and such as long as the draw is below 150 watts.  The central arms console is a two-tiered setup with adequate space and a small LED light (very thoughtful.) There are four overhead LED lights built into the soundbar located between the front & the back row, two for the front passengers and two for the folks in the rear. There is one LED light each in the footwell on both the driver & passenger side and an LED light in the trunk mounted on the roll cage. The sensors to lock & unlock the doors are built only into the two front doors. Real-Life Fuel Economy Although EPA rates it at 6.6 kmpl in the city and 8.2kmpl on the highway, I’ve already exceeded that number. With a mix of 70% highway & 30% city driving I got close to 7.1kmpl for the first 350kms and all of that with air conditioning on 100 percent of the time. Truth be told I’m treating it with kid gloves as I would like to complete the first 1,000 kms with ease though I have already touched 110kmph on several occasions as that’s the speed limit on the highway. After I reached the half tank again, I filled her up and the figure was 7.7kmpl with 100% city driving and with air conditioning on 100% of the time, now this was totally unexpected, and I was pleasantly surprised. I’m hoping to hit the 8.2kmpl mark for highway use by the time the first 1,000 km are up. Today, a few hours earlier, I got the gas filled again and noted that the Jeep has done 343 km consuming 41.9 ltrs of 87 octane which translates to 8.2 kmpl. I must mention that 100-odd km out of which was covered on a peripheral highway called Stony Trail at a steady clip of 100kmph. I must say, I'm thoroughly impressed and I have not hit the 1,000km mark (as I write this post the odometer reads 963 km). I'm expecting 7 to 7.5kmpl in the city and 8 to 8.5kmpl on the highway. I will update this information in the future. For calculations, I use tankful to tankful method (stop refueling at the auto cut), although I must mention that the Wrangler’s fuel economy gauge is almost spot on in terms of accuracy. I would like to share some tips about safety & improving fuel economy that I practice:
Warranty coverage
Jeep Wave program All 2024 Jeep Wranglers are automatically enrolled in the “Jeep Wave” program that offers:
Future plans I’m planning to get a Ceramic coating and PPF done on the Jeep and then it will go in for some anti-rust treatment for the underbody. This is very important as the municipality uses a mix of sand, grit, and salt on the roads six months in the winter to improve traction and that takes a heavy toll on the vehicles (I can already see folks groaning but I will do my research before I opt to go in for this treatment on the Jeep). As mentioned earlier I have also ordered accessories (only functional) from US and I will be driving to a US border post in the near future to collect those. Nope, I don’t want to change much on the Jeep as I like to keep my vehicles stock. This will be the subject of a future post in the coming weeks/months. General driving impression and the overall experience so far As of finalizing this post, I have driven the Jeep for about 900 km and I have loved it. While driving the Wrangler I have started to pay much more attention to my surroundings as I gently feather the throttle. This is true both in the city & out in the countryside. I’m not in a hurry to reach anywhere and seldom exceed the speed limit; in fact, a couple of times found myself driving below the speed limit. The commanding view from the driver’s seat is fabulous and places you head and shoulder above most of the other vehicles on the road. On slower speeds (below 100kmph) the steering is okay however at highway speeds, I found myself continuously correcting the steering to keep it in a straight line; found it a bit bothersome however quickly got the hang of it. In the city I suddenly found myself being given way even by the city bus drivers which is quite surprising. The ride quality is much better than what I had anticipated. The in-cabin noise even at 110kmph (highway speed limit) is very reasonable and lower than the 330i (I believe the softer tire compound has something to do with that as tire noise with its ultra-high performance summer RFTs at highway speeds in the 330i is a bit high). The infotainment setup is quite good with the system seamlessly connecting with my phone as soon as I switch on the system. The audio quality is quite good for what is a basic 8-speaker system; I have ordered a pair of kicker speakers to replace the dash speakers which should improve the quality quite a lot as per existing owners with the same setup. I have also ordered quite a bit of accessories for the jeep and those will be delivered in the next couple of weeks. So why did I buy the Wrangler? Hmm....let me think: it snows here quite a lot in the winter with temperatures dipping down to -35C and a couple of feet of snow in 24 hours, conditions can become treacherous in the winter. Okay back in 2008 I used to drive a Honda Civic and deal with these same conditions without a problem most of the time so, that’s a slippery slope. I wanted to own a Jeep because:
That dirt road about 80 clicks from this city is beckoning and I have to go….  * Yes, that small spec is my Jeep  Will update these pages soon… drive safe brothers! Last edited by Vikram Arya : 21st July 2024 at 09:28. |
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21st July 2024, 19:13
| #3 |
| Team-BHP Support  | |
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22nd July 2024, 10:56
| #4 |
| Senior - BHPian  | |
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