This week I’ve been behind the wheel of the 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Final Edition, a beast of a Jeep that is not only fast, but like all Jeeps, it is super-capable off the road. You had better take a hard look at this one, it is the last V8 Jeep you’ll ever see. The big V8 Hemi is already gone or shortly will be in Dodges, Chryslers, Rams, and after this Final Edition, Jeeps. I personally find it quite sad that they are all going way, but I get it… Stellantis has to up its game on fuel economy to meet Federal fuel economy standards.
Exterior
The Rubicon grabs a lot of attention from people, especially in this Hydro Blue Pearl paint with a matching roof. The hood has a large functional hood scoop with a large black decal and 392 emblems on the sides.
There are LED lights in front and rear, the new 7-bar grill that was redesigned last year, tow hooks in the front and rear, the usual Trail Rated badge of honor, the big full-sized spare on the rear tailgate, rock sliders that do no good as running board, and of course, you have 17” Beadlock wheels and 35” B.F. Goodrich tires on the ground. Overall, just a sharp-looking SUV from every angle.
Performance
Under the hood, you’ll find a 6.4-liter naturally-aspirated V8 and for the last time, it’s got a Hemi. The beast-of-an-engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic that has shift paddles on the steering wheel. Together they put out 470-horses and an amazing 478-pound feet of torque. You’ll hit 60-miles per hour from a dead stop in just 3.5 seconds. The 392 designation is a throwback to 392-cubic inches, the designation for engine sizes before we switched to the metric system and I have to say, I liked cubic inches much more, but I’m an old school muscle guy, admittedly.
Interior
The 2024 Rubicon 392 Final Edition has very nice bolstered leather seating with stitching and the Rubicon 392 logo embossed on the front seats. There is also stitching across the dash and throughout the door panels. From behind the multi-function steering wheel, there is a 7” configurable driver info center in the middle of the colorful digital gauges.
Center dash is the new 12.3” Uconnect 5 system which operates the Alpine sound system, navigation, apps, climate, Bluetooth, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto, voice activation, and vehicle settings. There is also a Wi-Fi hotspot that will run 8 devices at one time. The system works great and is very intuitive. The big screen also provides a backup camera and a front facing camera for climbing those big hills.
This screen also operates the off-road page, which will tell you your pitch and roll degrees when you are off the pavement. You can also always know your altitude, which for some reason, I find very interesting. In flat Texas, at my home, the altitude is 402-feet. See how interesting that is?
Below the screen is your automatic temperate-controlled air, hill descent control, the power window switches, USB-C and USB-A ports with a power outlet. Also, there is the magical button to turn on or off one of the best exhaust systems I’ve ever heard. It is amazing. A red bar allows you to lock and unlock the Tru-Lok front and rear axles. You can also disconnect the front sway bar if you really get into rough terrain.
The center console has the gear shifter with Jeep Rubicon 392 on top, your 4-wheel drive stick shifter (again, old school and I love it versus a button), a couple of cup holders, and a two-tier arm rest with storage.
Moving to the back seat, it has very good head and legroom. Back seat occupants have air vents, two pairs of USB-A and USB-C ports, and a 110-volt outlet for charging your mobile devices.
Utility
The cargo area is massive, and the back seats fold down for even more. There is a built-in air compressor on the inside of the tailgate, but you had better really want one, it will set you back $1,995.
Next to it is a really cool 392 Final Edition plaque. You’ll also find limited storage underneath the load floor, and a large bag to hold the quarter windows that can be removed.
It has the Sky one-touch power top which is $3,995. My tester has the color-matched hardtop, but the Sky top is a large canvas center that slides back at the push of a button. When operated, the entire roof exposes the sky for front and back passengers, and it operates in about 20 seconds.
This would be a must-have option to get the feeling of convertible without having to take the top off. It also has the factory installed Warn Winch on the front, part of the 27J Customer Preferred Package.
Mounted to the steel front bumper, the factory-installed Warn winch with an 8,000-pound capacity can help you handle unexpected moments on the trail. Use your mighty winch to help pull other vehicles to safety and help avoid getting stuck in the mud yourself.
Standard Equipment and Options
The 27J package runs $8,450 but has a lot of cool features: You get Nappa leather seating, 392 Final Edition badging inside, a really nifty fold out table on the inside of the tailgate, the 392 suspension system, the 17” wheels, a Jeep tool kit to take off the roof and the doors (I really don’t recommend doing that, but that is just me), the winch, and all-weather floor mats. The only other extra item is $595 for the Pearl paint.
Notable standard features are: Skid plates, park-assist, blind spot warning, remote start, a trailer hitch and wiring harness, power seats with power lumbar for both front seats, heated front seats, fender flares, and the tow hooks. Also standard equipment, I love the built-in roll bar and it has speakers built into it. There is also a huge subwoofer in the rear section. Overall, the Alpine sound system is terrific.
What is fun about Jeeps is you can make them so different. Take the top off (again, I wouldn’t), take the doors off, fold the windshield back and enjoy all the fresh air you could want, or simply push a button to open the Sky one-touch top.
MPG and What You'll Pay
If you want a Final Edition version, it will cost you. Total MSRP on this Wrangler Rubicon as equipped is $108,475.
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Fuel economy is not good as expected, but that shouldn’t be a factor. It is supposed to do 13 in town and 16 on the highway, or so they say. I suppose it may do that if you drive it the way you are supposed to, but if you enjoy the exhaust sound as much as I do, you won’t get that fuel economy.
Ride and Drive
The acceleration is insane, the transmission shifts hard and fast, and the exceptional Jeep 4-wheel system keeps the big tires planted to the ground. Stomp on it and the front end rises like a fast boat under heavy throttle. The big Jeep squats in the rear and it just flies. The exhaust system is just an added bonus.
For many years, I told listeners to my radio show that the Wrangler was not for everyone and that for me, it wasn’t a good daily driver, but you should experience it for yourself. Seasoned Jeep owners know they are relatively loud inside, you’ll get some wind noise (especially if you take the top off once), Jeeps tend to “road walk” some on the highway, and those big tires will tell you that they are there, especially at higher speeds. The good news is you can turn up the Alpine stereo and make sure the exhaust is open, and the majority of the noise is drowned out
One word of caution: This model sits up about 2” higher than the normal Rubicon for better ground clearance. This makes getting in and out more difficult, especially without running boards. If you are six-feet tall or less, you’ll be really glad it has grab handles to help you in.
Verdict
Jeeps have come a long way since inception during World War II, and this 2024 Rubicon 392 is by far the most enjoyable one I have ever driven.
To view larger photos see the slideshow below on CarPro.com.
- What I Liked Most: The insane acceleration and off-road capability.
- What I would change: Deployable running boards would be a tremendous asset if you don’t tear them off when off-roading.
- MSRP: Base Price $91,555/Total MSRP $108,475 with transportation.
- Fuel Economy: 13 city/16 highway/14 overall.
- Odometer reading when tested: 5,600 miles.
- Weight: 5,098 pounds/GVWR 6,100.
- Spare tire: Full-sized matching tire and wheel.
- Length-Width-Height: 188.4” long/73.8” wide/73.6” high.
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 21.5 gallons with the filler on the driver’s side.
- Towing Capacity: 3,500 pounds.
- Official Color: Hydro Blue Pearlcoat.
- 2024 Wrangler 392 Final Edition in a few words: An amazing off-roader with insane power and acceleration, and a ton of cool features. Oh, and that exhaust! This could be a future collectible.
- Warranty: 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper, 5-year/60,000-mile power train warranty with roadside assistance.
- Final Assembly Location: Toledo, OH.
- Manufacturer's website: Jeep
