We’ve known about the 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary edition for a while now. You’ve likely already read an article or two about it. But did you know that it almost never came to be? The Jeep engineers working on the Wrangler in the early 2000s were true enthusiasts, in-touch members of the off-road community. They realized that Wrangler owners were making modifications to their Jeeps to enhance capabilities and performance in line with how they liked to drive. When the engineers proposed the idea of a factory-enhanced Wrangler to Jeep, they were denied. Upper management thought the idea would not generate enough interest from the general consumer—or revenue. Determined, the engineers used their personal Wranglers, time, and money to develop the first Rubicon concepts. The engineers then went back and presented actual vehicles. Jeep management became convinced to give the idea a chance, but they still considered it to be a niche vehicle and limited production to 3,000 units for 2003. They quickly sold out, proving that the team had created something that the general consumer wanted. Twenty years later, Jeep has sold more than 700,000 Rubicons. and they account for 25 percent of the brand’s sales.
A few days before masses of people descended upon Moab, Utah, for Easter Jeep Week, I had the opportunity to spend time with the Jeep team and to drive three versions of the 20th Anniversary Rubicon. The lineup includes a 4xe, a 392, and an AEV outfitted version of both. They are all undoubtedly impressive to drive, but after talking with several members of the Jeep team, a notable takeaway is Jeep’s dedication to the consumer community. The 20th Anniversary Rubicons are not just an evolution in vehicle capability, they are a celebration of the brand’s heritage and the development team’s enthusiasm to always push forward in creating a better 4WD vehicle.
The 20th Anniversary Rubicon is celebrated with unique vehicle badging and the incorporation of red accents, carried over from the 10th Anniversary Edition, into the seats, seat belts, and dashboard. On the more functional side, the 4xe and 392 versions come standard with a new spring and shock package; enhanced approach, breakover, and departure angles; and a minimum of 11.6 inches of ground clearance and 34.5 inches of water-fording depth. These measurements will differ accordingly as the 4xe comes standard with a 33-inch tire, and the 392 has a 35-inch tire. Both models come with BFG KO2 All-Terrain, beadlock-ready tires, and are also equipped with four under-body skid plates, HD rock rails, and steel front bumpers with a newly designed triple-hoop brush guard to help protect the 20th Anniversary’s unique version of Jeep’s 7-slot front grille. They also feature Gorilla Glass windshields that have seen a 7-degree change in rake to help deflect rocks and road debris. If you want more numbers, note that the 392 produces 470 horsepower and 470 foot-pounds of torque, a 4.5 0-60 time, and a 13-second quarter mile. The 4xe has 370 horsepower, 470 foot-pounds of torque, 21 miles of electric-only range, and a 49 MPGe (miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent).
The AEV version takes everything to the next level, providing what is said to be the new record-holding benchmark for approach angle, breakover angle, departure angle, ground clearance, and water-fording depth on the market. It employs a custom-tuned Bilstein suspension which adds another half inch of ground clearance to the aforementioned standard 20th Anniversary 4xe and 392 models, and it comes standard with 37-inch tires, so that’s yet another inch of height added to the ground clearance. This partnership between Jeep and AEV has created an incredibly capable Wrangler. Here are some of the measurements:
14.2 inches of ground clearance
37.1 inches of water fording
50-degree approach angle
33-degree breakover angle
43-degree departure angle
The driving experience of all three versions of the 20th Anniversary Rubicon is forgiving and confidence-inspiring. I spent a full day driving and observing a dozen or so others driving these Wranglers. We explored sandy two-tracks, Moab slick rock, dunes, desert washes, puckering side angles, and overcame the 35-degree stepped inclines of Wipeout Hill. The overall comfort is noticeable in everything from seating and cockpit ergonomics to suspension compression and rebound. There were never any moments of the vehicles struggling, and when combined with appropriate throttle control and maybe some left-foot braking, these Wranglers provided point-and-go driving. The most noticeable differences between models had to do with power delivery and tire size.
The 4xe in electric mode has a very immediate and linear power band, and the quietness adds to the enjoyment of being outdoors. You can hear the tires gripping or slipping, and in many ways, the low noise helps the driver feel more in tune with the vehicle. The 392, on the other hand, is a roaring beast that makes you smile and giggle with the slightest touch of the accelerator. It’s not obnoxiously loud, rather the tuned exhaust provides a nice reminder that you have so much power available, and when driving in technical terrain, I think that is a nice cue to be gentle and use finesse more than throttle. When driving the AEV version of the 4xe, the most noticeable differences, where we were driving, were the additional leverage gained from the 37-inch tires, the additional ground clearance, and the suspension felt a little softer.
Additionally, the 392 model of the 20th Anniversary Rubicon comes equipped with a full tool kit and an air compressor. The tool kit includes open-ended wrenches, sockets, and impact sockets, and even has tape, wire ties, and baling wire. It’s the closest kit I’ve seen to one that I would put together for myself. The air compressor is cleverly stashed into the rear swing-out door on the side of the locking mechanism where the door is thicker, It includes an air gauge and a split air hose to fill two tires at once. The compressor can be set for a target pressure where it will automatically shut off, so no more constant monitoring while airing up. Let’s hope that little gem becomes a stand-alone product available from Mopar that we can fit into older JLs.
Selecting between models will really come down to personal preference and perhaps budget. All three of the models I drove are really enjoyable, and each offers a slightly different experience.
