    2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Click image to enlarge |
The biggest surprise on my way out to the trails was the differences in handling between the Rubicon and the Sahara I had driven a couple months prior. When navigating the same roads in the Sahara, steering feel was incredibly vague and disconnected, and the thing just rolled around worse than a canoe caught out in a typhoon. The closest parallel I could relate it to was my childhood experience of driving a then 25 year old tractor. The Rubicon on the other hand, even with its chubby 17-inch off-road tires simply handled the highway stretch quite a bit better. I’m still a bit baffled by the difference knowing the suspension setup is mostly identical, although given the heavy Dana 44 axles and optional tow package this most likely came down to different spring rates. As much as the Rubicon’s handling was improved, neither model of Wrangler could ever claim to have good on-road manners. It’s more like the Rubicon is better on the road than the Sahara much in the way that a raccoon makes a better family pet than a skunk. If you’re shopping for a good tough-looking commuter that you may take out into the bush a couple times a year I would be quick to steer you away from either option and into something like an FJ Cruiser or even a quad-cab short box Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. As far as the engine goes, Jeep’s well respected 3.6L Pentastar V6 is more than up to the task of keeping things moving, putting out 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque pretty much right off the line. It’s not one of those “Wow, feel that power, listen to that engine!” kind of mills by any stretch, but it gets the job done with ease.
When I finally made it to the dark side of Squamish where my off road trek began, it was time to flick all the electronic goodies on and see where I wound up. Sway bar disconnected, 4LO selected, and differential locks on, my foot went down and I was off and climbing. Sadly there would be no muddy terrain this time around, as an incredibly dry and sunny summer has lead to local trails being full of dust and fire warnings. Much like the Sahara, the Rubicon inspires quite a bit of confidence in the rough stuff. There is nary a squeak or rattle to be heard in from inside the Jeep, which is a real treat after doing some off-roading in the new 4Runner where every piece of trim tried to play an off key symphony. On a couple of steep inclines on loose gravel I could definitely tell that all four wheels were clawing away to keep me moving, but aside from this the entire drive was a bit of a cakewalk. After hearing the ranting from my lifted 90s Pathfinder-driving colleague about this section of trail I was expecting something a bit more challenging, but instead I had little to do but just watch for deep ruts and keep moving forward. I’ll admit some of the loose bits may have been a challenge for the Sahara with its less rugged tires, but this was the Rubicon, and there was no stopping it. After all, between the 4:1 low range, and the heavy-duty Dana 44 front and rear axles, this thing was designed to do so much more than my skill level can even keep up with (for now). I’ve been saying for a while now that there is a reason why every Wrangler add shows a Jeep clawing through mud and crossing rivers rather than cruising the smooth pavement. These things are meant to be all-terrain vehicles and not the poser-owned parking-lot princesses that we see so many of.
