autoX Awards 2024: Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Performance, Quality and Value for Money Ranked

autoX Awards 2024: If there’s one thing that stands out about the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, it is that it’s a pretty formidable-looking machine. The Rubicon version, in particular, comes with features and aids designed to ensure that it tackles every terrain with ease, effortlessly conquering even the most challenging environments. Unfortunately, a Formula 1 race track is not one of those terrains, but we will come to that later.

At first glance, it’s easy to confuse the Rubicon with the very similar-looking Thar – blame Mahindra’s design team for that. But make no mistake, the Wrangler Rubicon is a massive and purposeful-looking machine – a beast in its own right. It’s big, butch, and makes no attempt to hide its intended purpose – taking you to places where even roads cease to exist. This sense of utility also extends to the interior, which is spacious and designed to withstand harsh treatments – it’s even capable of being pressure washed to take care of the mess of muddy boots and outdoor adventure.

Now, coming back to the track, well…let me put it this way – the track is a total antithesis to what the Wrangler was designed for. With its big MT tyres and tall ride height, it was always going to struggle on the track, and as expected, it turned out to be the slowest car of the lot on the track. That said, despite the loud noise of the MT tyres, the Wrangler ranks very high on the desirability quotient, scoring 17 points out of a maximum of 20. Every day during our jury rounds, our team members would look for the Wrangler’s keys to take it home in the evening. Of course, I kept them secure in my pocket to ensure that no one else drove it home!

Also Read: 2024 Jeep Wrangler First Drive Review: Mountain Goat

At just under ₹72 lakh (ex-showroom), the Rubicon offers good value for money, particularly considering its overall quality levels. To be honest, I think that such a capable machine at this price point has become a rarity in the Indian market. Well, it might not be a winner this year, but, as evidenced by our team members’ constant hunt for its keys, the Wrangler Rubicon is undeniably a highly desirable car.

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