2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon: Pros and Cons

2017 Jeep Wrangler front by Andy Bornhop ・ Photo by Andy Bornhop

As a classic symbol of America since World War 2, the Jeep Wrangler has to be one of the most recognizable vehicles in the world. But have you ever driven one? We hadn’t in quite a while, so Autobytel recently spent a week in one: a 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock 4X4.

That’s quite a long name for what turned out to be quite a good vehicle, one that served us well in getting to the spectator areas for the recent Pahrump Nugget 250 off-road race in Nevada. All told, we spent a week in this 4-door Hypergreen machine, which gave us plenty of opportunity to learn the pros and cons of living with the 2017 Jeep Wrangler, which we’ll share here.

Pro: It's a Serious Off-Roader

All Wranglers are built in Toledo, Ohio, on a stout, fully boxed ladder frame with beefy 5-link axles. That’s to be expected of the Rubicon, the toughest and most capable off-roader Jeep makes. Those axles are proven Dana 44s, and the Rock-Track transfer case boasts go-anywhere 4:1 low-range gearing. What’s more, the Rubicon rides on rugged LT255/75R-17 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain tires, and, in addition to remote locking front and rear differentials, it has a front anti-rollbar that can be disconnected via a switch on the dash. While locking the diffs and disconnecting the front sway bar (for easier axle articulation) aren’t necessary for casual overland off-roading, their presence shows just how serious Jeep is about making sure the Rubicon can go anywhere its owner wants—even if it’s over a field of boulders at a snail’s pace.

Photo by Andy Bornhop

Con: It's Expensive

Although an entry-level 4-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport can be had for $27,895, our Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock 4X4 has a base price of $37,445. With all options added, though, that climbs to $46,330. That’s approaching the price of a Ford Raptor, another vehicle that’s ready for off-roading straight from the factory.  

The most expensive option on our Day Glo Wrangler is the Rubicon Hard Rock Edition 24J package. For $4800, you get 17-in polished black wheels, steel bumpers, rock rails, red front and rear tow hooks, a 9-speaker Alpine stereo (with a big subwoofer in the cargo floor), a black fabric Sunrider top, heated seats, a power dome hood, and Jeep’s Uconnect infotainment system. The 5-speed automatic transmission is a $1400 option, and the 40GB hard drive, replete with a 6.5-in. touchscreen offering satellite navigation and radio, plus a USB port, adds $1195 to the bottom line.

Photo by Andy Bornhop

Pro: It's a Great Everyday Vehicle

You’d think that with its beefy suspension and impressive off-road abilities, the 2017 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon would be uncomfortable and cantankerous about town. Not so. With its heated leather seats, generous interior volume and refined driveline, Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon is a remarkably good everyday machine, easy to see out of and possessing firm but well damped suspension and accurate steering. Yes, on windy days the fabric top occasionally can slap the roof structure at highway speeds, but this Jeep is more refined and quieter than expected, with its V6 engine well isolated from the 5-seat cabin. More significant: The Rubicon’s aggressively treaded BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires didn’t roar like we expected they would on the highway.

Photo by Andy Bornhop

Con: It's Thirsty

According to the EPA, the 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4X4 is rated at 16 mpg city/20 mpg highway/18 mpg combined. Not great; not even good, actually. Two things to remember: 1) This tall Jeep is about as aerodynamic as a brick, and 2) the 285-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 is propelling a vehicle that weighs about 4300 lb.

For the record, in Autobytel’s week with this 2017 Jeep (with 3.73:1 gearing), it returned 16.8 mpg, about what we expected given our mix of city, highway, and dirt road driving. We hear the new 2018 Wrangler, coming next year, will be available with a fuel-efficient diesel and an 8-speed automatic. Can’t happen soon enough!

Photo by Andy Bornhop

Pro: It's Classless

One thing I really like about Jeep Wranglers: They’re classless. By this, I don’t mean they lack class; rather, I mean you see people from all walks of life driving them—rich or poor, young or old, female or male, blue-collar or white—and they all seem to delight in being able to go anywhere they want, at any time, often with the top down. They know that Wranglers are great at getting to trailheads, or searching for Native American petroglyphs along, say, the Mojave Trail. It’s the first American SUV, after all, and even if you use the Jeep Wrangler primarily for the urban jungle, there’s nothing wrong with owning a vehicle that can go off-road with supreme confidence and composure any time you want. Also, people in Jeeps tend to wave to other Jeeps. That’s cool.

Photo by Andy Bornhop

Con: The Pentastar V6

The Wrangler’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6—longitudinally mounted in front, just aft of the front wheels—puts out 285 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque in smooth fashion, but as an engine it’s just kind of there. Given its unimpressive fuel efficiency, we might expect this 60-degree aluminum-block engine to produce more power. Given its underwhelming punch, we might expect this 24-valver to be much more efficient. Neither, however, is the case. While the 3.6 feels fine in everyday duty, enabling the Wrangler to climb grades such as the Cajon Pass on Interstate 15 with ease at highway speeds, we long for more character under the hood. We suspect the upcoming diesel, with its added torque and efficiency, will solve this.

Photo by Andy Bornhop

Pro: Excellent Build Quality

Because it’s so clearly an assemblage of parts designed to be tough enough for real off-roading, the Jeep Wrangler could be forgiven if had an occasional squeak or rattle. No mercy is needed here, however; our Day Glo Wrangler felt tight as anvil, with no strange noises. The four doors shut with a reassuring thunk, as does the tailgate. Even the tailgate-mounted spare tire was rattle-free on the desert roads we used. And inside, the Wrangler’s leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel felt reassuringly shake-free on the rough roads, and the various switches all had a high quality feel to their action.

Photo by Andy Bornhop

Con: That Day Glo Paint

If any vehicle can pull off Day Glo paint, it’s the Jeep Wrangler, as packed with personality as it is. I, however, like to Tread Lightly, in the dirt and visually, so the bold Hypergreen paint on this new Jeep wouldn’t be my first choice. Although our bright green/yelllow Rubicon got noticed all the time on our trip—how could it not in that bright hue?—I’d rather have my 2017 Jeep Wrangler in one of these other available colors: black, silver, red, granite, white, and another called rhino that looks like a dark gray. Taste is subjective, of course, but I’m the one writing this story.

Photo by Andy Bornhop

Pro: Excellent Versatility

With all the off-road abilities of a classic Jeep Wrangler, plus the versatility and handy nature of a boxy 5-seat SUV, the Unlimited Rubicon is in a class by itself. The fabric Sunrider top is a high quality but rather complicated affair, and cargo room in back is good. The usable volume expands dramatically when the rear seats are folded forward, a simple process aided by headrests that automatically flop out of the way. What’s more, there’s excellent connectivity inside this Jeep, where you’ll find the Uconnect infotainment system, Bluetooth, and USB ports, plus a handy vehicle information center between the analog tachometer and speedometer.

Painted metal that can be seen in a few places inside this Jeep reminds us that we’re in a purposeful workhorse, but the top-of-the-line stereo, an Alpine unit with speakers integrated into the plastic cover of the tubular (and padded) overhead roof structure, sounds great, rivaling that of many other SUVs. The Unlimited Rubicon really is a go-anywhere, do-anything machine, with minimal compromise, the most noticeable being a healthy step up to get in the vehicle. If you live in a rural area with real weather and can have only one vehicle, the Jeep Wrangler is an excellent choice.

Photo by Andy Bornhop

All Things Considered

I admit it; I’ve been won over by the 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. It’s a well built, all-purpose machine with incredible off-road abilities, and it has that unrivaled 75-year pedigree. It’s appealingly elemental, yet it has just about everything you need. And please understand this: Taking a Jeep off-road is akin to driving a Porsche on a race track—you don’t have to worry about it one bit because you know it was designed there, and it’s totally at home in that tough environment.

Although I wish the 2017 Wrangler got better fuel economy, here’s the model I’d get: a 4-door Rubicon in rhino gray, equipped with the 5-speed automatic and all the equipment found on this Autobytel test vehicle. One exception: I’d swap the fabric Sunrider top for the Freedom Top. While I like the Sunrider and being able to take the top down anywhere I want, the hardtop is more secure, and its roof panels can be removed to create the open-air feel so vital to the proper enjoyment of a Jeep.

Photo by Andy Bornhop