Likes:
- Robust Off-Road Capability
- Styling, Interior/Exterior
- Powerful 3.6L V6 Engine
Dislikes:
- Highway Ride Comfort
- Fuel Economy
- Price
When you are given the keys to a 2015 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, there is really only one thought that goes through your head: “Where can we get dirty?”
The Most Fun You Can Have Off-Roading
Our answer to the get dirty question came in the form of a 300+ acre family farm located just inside the Wyoming/Nebraska border. The now prairie-grass covered farm hasn’t been farmed in years and is an off-roaders dream with plenty of dirt roads, hills and a deep, muddy marshy area. It is buffeted by a county canal that feeds water to nearby farms during the summer and is crisscrossed by dirt roads. During the winter, the canal is empty and an adventurous off-roader could be forgiven for having a lot of fun descending onto the riverbed to tackle the rocks and sandy terrain.
For our off-road day of fun, we eschewed the canal since we were winch-less and decided to keep the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon on the dry prairie grass. But we didn’t eschew having a great time.
In order to understand a Jeep Wrangler, one simply needs to travel across the countryside like we did. Hitting ruts, powering up hills and driving over various terrain, while being cautious to not damage the environment, gives a real sense of freedom that over vehicles simply can’t match. With our 6-speed manual Wrangler and a 3.6L V6 engine producing 285 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, we enjoyed the old-school manual feel of driving the small, yet extremely powerful SUV. SUV may actually be the wrong word for this vehicle. This isn’t a Soccer Mom’s vehicle. This is an off-road legend.
Our test model had it all with a “Freedom Top” three-piece hard top, rock rails, steel front/rear bumper, 17-inch wheels and a myriad of 4WD systems along with locking front/rear axle differentials. We tried desperately to get the Wrangler stuck (albeit skipping the canal bed) to no avail. With its powerful engine, small vehicle footprint and off-road capability, it is nearly impossible.
While cruising over the prairie grass and climbing up and down hills brought us a lot of joy, we can’t say the same for our day-to-day and highway driving. In all fairness, the 2015 Jeep Wrangler wasn’t built for cruising 80 mph down the interstate nor providing a comfortable, quiet ride back and forth to the office. It was built to get dirty.
In truth, it is well equipped for off-road duty that we swear the Jeep Wrangler sighed when we turned off on the dirt road to get to the family farm. After 30 miles of pavement, the Wrangler had had enough.
This isn’t to say you couldn’t make a commuter out of a Jeep Wrangler. It really comes down to personal preference. We found it rides rough on pavement especially at high speeds due to its gearing and off-road wheels. Also, the EPA-rated 17/21/18 MPG city/highway/combined does leave a lot to be desired for a commuter vehicle.
All in all, we got the 2015 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon dirty. And that is exactly what the Jeep should always be about – getting dirty.
Rugged, Iconic Exterior
It is hard to talk about the exterior of the 2015 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon without brining up its iconic looks. Jeep vehicles have been around since the mid-1940s and while the Wrangler isn’t a direct descendant of the World War II Willys MB or Willys civilian Jeeps, it shares much of the styling.
Our test model was the two-door variety and while the four-door model’s popularity is growing, the smaller wheelbase of the two-door is still a big selling point.
All around the front, sides and rear, the “what makes a Jeep, a Jeep” is clearly visible. This was especially the case with our Rubicon and its steel front and rear bumpers, and vented hood. It looks tough, has cool Rubicon badging, and has tow hooks in the front and rear. While it is still considered “stock”, this Jeep Wrangler looks more than ready to tackle the infamous Rubicon trail it is named after.
Utilitarian Interior
On the inside, the sentiment,“its a Jeep,” rings true with its hard to the touch materials, large knobs and straightforward dash layout. Common creature comforts found in other SUVs are few and far in between, yet our Wrangle did have heated front seats, the critic’s favorite Uconnect system and power heated mirrors, door locks and windows.
The entire interior had silver accents and the seats featured more of the accent stitching. While the seats were far from luxurious, they fit the styling of the rugged 2015 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.
Overall, the interior is far from plush and that fits the Jeep perfectly. It is great for short trips to commute in, errands and, of course, getting dirty.
Perfect SUV For the Right Buyer
Overall, the 2015 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon lived up to its name and our expectations. It may not have the great fuel economy and comfortable ride that most SUVs have these days, but who cares. About the only real negative we found, besides the highway ride comfort and fuel economy, is the price at $39,255. However, the Jeep Wrangler is a one-of-a-kind, iconic vehicle meant for pure driving enjoyment. Anything less would be un-Jeep like.
2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock 4×4 Specs:
- Engine: 3.6L 24-valve VVT V6
- Power: 285 hp @ 6400 rpm
- Torque: 260 lb.-ft. @ 4800 rpm
- Transmission: 6-speed manual
- Estimated EPA fuel economy (mpg): 16 city / 21 hwy
- Options:
- Customer Preferred Package 23J $4,500
- Price as tested: $39,255
See 2015 Jeep Wrangler for sale on eBay.
