35 SHORT STACK

THE WRANGLER IS THE QUINTESSENTIAL JEEP MODEL AND THE SHORT WHEELBASE RUBICON REPRESENTS ITS PUREST FORM. WE JUMPED BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE LATEST ITERATION OF THIS ICON TO REMIND US HOW GOOD IT IS

- MATT RAUDONIKIS

We've always said that the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is the most off-road capable 4x4 vehicle that you can get off the showroom floor and the addition of a new turbocharged petrol engine hasn't changed our opinion.

Our recent time in a short wheelbase 2025 Rubicon gave us the chance to tackle some tracks we wouldn't usually attempt in bone-stock press vehicles but the Jeep reminded us that it's still the off-road champion.

Triple locking diffs, a disconnecting sway bar and factory fitted BFG muddies are all you could really ask any vehicle manufacturer for, but only one company delivers the Godfather of the recreational 4x4 - Jeep! The Wrangler always has been and remains the one new vehicle that stays true to the off-road ethos and gives users what they want in a vehicle to take them anywhere, while having fun all the way.

Add in a removable roof, fold-down windscreen and cool retro styling and the Jeep Wrangler is the ultimate off-road fun truck. Yes, Jeep could give us the bigger tyres as fitted to this model in the USA instead of the puny 255/75R17s that come on Aussiedelivered Rubicons, and we're sure there's something it could do about the near$85K price tag, but aside from these gripes the iconic Jeep remains a favourite.

NEW GEAR

THE latest updates to the Wrangler Rubicon saw the end of the Pentastar V6 engine and in its place sits a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol mill that outperforms the old V6 in every way.