The 2012 Rubicon is the Jeep for Denver recreation enthusiasts and is pretty much unstoppable in off-road situations, thanks to its specialized suspension. It gets special 17-inch wheels, 32-inch Mud Terrain tires, heavy-duty axles and transfer case, electronic front and rear locking differentials, a disconnecting front sway bar, and rock rails to round out the package.
The only reason to get the Rubicon package is to take it off-road and have some serious fun in the mountains. We tackled one trail in Colorado’s high country that looked impossible for a vehicle straight from the manufacturer.
But with the pressing of two buttons, to disconnect the splined front swaybar, and another to lock both front and rear differentials, the only thing left was to slip the gearbox into Low Range and we were ready. This gives a final drive rear-axle ratio of 4.10 in the offroad-oriented Rubicon.
For added protection against boulders and tree stumps, three skid plates protect the fuel tank, transfer case and oil pans. Ground clearance is 10.1 inches at the rear axle and 10.5 inches at the front.
At idle in Low Range, the Rubicon powered over obstacles that would stop most vehicles; even though torque peaks up at 4800 rpm, it pulled like a tractor. A new lower first gear in the new five-speed automatic gives the Jeep more capability, with a lower overall crawl ratio. Our Cosmos Blue Rubicon scarcely broke a sweat over a rocky trail near Idaho Springs that would turn back all but the ruggedest and hardest-climbing of vehicles.
On I-70 at 70 mph, the two-door Wrangler Rubicon can be a bit squirrelly. The driver needs to make small adjustments to the steering wheel and not big ones like most vehicles. But if you point the Wrangler in a straight line, it stays that way.
Click here and well give a full report on the two-door 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.
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