A review of Jeep's trail version Wrangler from a non-Jeep enthusiast standpoint
If you are a fan of Jeeps, there is little doubt that by now you have read a lot of reviews on the 2007 Wrangler Rubicon. Most of these give you all of the technical aspects of the Jeep while confirming the reviewer's experience, much of which is based off of them being a Jeep enthusiast to start with. But what if you aren't a Jeep owner, or even a seasoned off-roader?
I'll be the first to admit I have never really been a Jeep enthusiast. This had little to do with the vehicle itself and more to do with the fact that I have always been a truck guy to the core of my soul. When presented with the opportunity to drive the 2007 Jeep Rubicon for a week, my thoughts were, "sure, I'll give it a try".
Initially I wasn't greatly excited, but as every day went by I became more and more impressed with the Rubicon. You have to remember that as a truck guy, I am more accustomed to fairly roomy interiors and ergonomics along with generally plenty of power at the throttle, usually a comfortable ride, a commanding view of the road and of course, a bed in which to put stuff when the situation arises. So this Jeep was a totally new experience.
Personally I like the looks of the Jeep Rubicon, with its bulged fenders and more precisely, the sharp lined three-piece modular removable roof. Jeep purists might not care for the roof design, but coming from the non-purist camp, I found the roof look and function to be a positive influence and the panels were easy to remove to configure whatever open air feeling you wanted to experience. Under the roof is a factory roll bar which does a good job of hiding itself when the roof is on.
The interior is pleasing. Again, I'm more accustomed to spacious interior landscapes that afford plenty of comfort room along with dash and console features that are easy to use, but stylish at the same time. The Rubicon gauge panel is very pleasing to look at while being stylish and modern. The center console which morphs from the dash to the floor mounted shifter make the interior seem larger and more like a mid-size SUV. Every feature was within reasonable reach of the driver. The front buckets were very comfortable even on long drives while having enough bolster to them to give the driver a secure feeling. One thing I thought was rather innovative was the fact that Jeep included power door locks and windows, the window controls mounted in the upper console part of the dash which I personally feel is a great place for those controls. It is easier to reach for the console switches which can be done without taking your eyes off the road. But even with the power features in the doors, in true Jeep fashion, the doors are still removable. An easy-access connector allows the operator to simply disconnect the power features and remove the doors with ease.
One thing that makes this Jeep unique, at least from my perspective, is that it features a traditional straight-axle suspension while utilizing smooth riding coil springs which made the Rubicon very comfortable to drive both on and off road. The suspension includes some trick novelty items that are sure to bring praise of the Jeep purists. Along with the Dana 30/35 axles, an electronic-disconnecting front stabilizer bar - Active Sway Bar System (ASBS) the Rubicon also features electric axle lockers and a two-speed transfer case. There is no getting out of the vehicle to disconnect anything or make any adjustments before traversing onto the trails. It's all right there with the push of a button. The Rubicon comes with 32-inch 255/75-17 BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires which serve to perform well for daily driving while also doing what they were designed to do during those off road excursions or during any foul weather.
There were a lot of things I really enjoyed about the Jeep Rubicon, but one of them that weren't on my list of greats was the overall lack of power. Now keep in mind, I'm used to V8 power, something the Jeep obviously doesn't have. The 3.8 V6 is said to be the same engine found in minivans, but in the Jeep application, the engine produces 205 horsepower at 5,200 rpm, and 240 lbs./ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm. I didn't particularly find the power ranges to be all that impressive, but they weren't to be found totally lacking either. The torque range of the powertrain seemed to be good for the vehicle weight and drivetrain ratios, especially when off roading. The balance felt just right in that regard.
A few other notables worth mentioning was while the rear cargo area was quite roomy; enough space for most daily items one would want to put behind the rear bench seat, the location of the spare tire required the opening of the rear gate in order to open the rear window. Not a deal killer by any means and it didn't take long to get used to it. But it was, in reality, one step too many in the loading process.
I want to reiterate that my impressions of the Jeep Rubicon are coming from someone with very little Jeep experience. Which leads me to the point I am seeking to make with this review. I wouldn't want to be giving an impression of the Rubicon to people who already own Jeeps or have been Jeep enthusiasts for a long time. My impressions come from the person who might actually be interested in purchasing a Jeep Rubicon as their first Jeep product. That is precisely what the marketing folks at Jeep would like to do; entice new Jeep owners.
Would I become a Jeep owner after my experience? To be honest, I would. Overall I really liked my experience with the Jeep Rubicon. It had a nice blend of ergonomic features I've become accustomed to with late model trucks, gave the impression of solid handling and control at any speed, and overall was just fun to drive. Although fuel mileage wasn't what I would expect (we averaged 17-18 mpg), the Jeep Rubicon is what I would consider a great vehicle that captures important segments of various markets. Though I would never sell my trucks, I would own a 2007 Jeep Rubicon and be quite happy with my decision.
