There are many vehicles on the road that have been around for a while, but outside of a few automotive manufacturers like a Porsche, a Mercedes-Benz, a Ferrari and possibly a Land Rover – everyone can spot a Jeep. 

Literally and figuratively, a Jeep stands out among the crowd. It symbolizes patriotism and respect as its history dates back to World War II. The original Jeep known as the Willys-Overland MB was commissioned for the U.S. military in 1941 as a compact and light utility vehicle that could provide recon and be transported by plane or via river. 

Keeping with Jeep’s history of rugged off-road capabilities, they created the Wrangler Rubicon in 2003. The Rubicon was the ultimate off-road truck with all the bells and whistles. Ten years, later the Wrangler Rubicon still holds strong as the most preferred off-road vehicle and to commemorate its decade of dominance, Jeep has created a 10th anniversary special edition Wrangler Rubicon. 

Initial Glance

The 10th anniversary Jeep Wrangler Rubicon I received came in a cool and sharp Anvil Clear Coat that is exclusive only to this special edition. Its legendary round headlights and vertical-slat grill stayed consistent reminding me of war time videos from years gone by. As you look beyond the grille, a dual-intake Power Dome hood rests above the engine. It not only aids in the cooling of the engine, but provides the special edition Wrangler Rubicon with a menacing look.  

If the front of the Wrangler doesn’t intimidate you, the special edition 17-inch aluminum wheels might. They come standard with 32-inch tall BF Goodrich KM2 Mud-Terrain tires that battle large rocks and rugged terrain with ease. 

Rounding out the exterior are black all-steel front and rear bumpers that have removable end caps and come with red tow hooks, two in the front and one in the rear. They assist in obstacle climbs and combined with the rock rails on the sides of the vehicle they provide damage protection while off-roading. 

A Look Inside

When you enter the Jeep after a large step-up and push you’re greeted by a special red leather trim. And if you weren’t sure that it was the 10th anniversary Wrangler Rubicon, there are badges on the outside front-passenger door, on the red leather seats and on the interior passenger grab handle. 

It’s a striking interior inside the cab and one you wouldn’t expect from a Jeep. You are provided with a half-inch higher headroom from the 2012 model and a leather steering wheel with audio and cruise control functions. 

To the left of the steering wheel you will find a few buttons that easily control the axle lock and sway bar functions, while the gauge cluster above the steering wheel can digitally display oil and tire pressures when needed.

For all of the exciting additions to the special edition version, the entertainment console I found to be lacking in creativity. It’s a basic 6.4-inch touchscreen square box with tab buttons surrounding it to select whether you want to use the phone, navigation, or audio. I like the organization of it and the fact that it has premium features like navigation, satellite radio and a reverse camera, but the big thick touch screen buttons scream out-dated. 

Under the Hood and On the Road

For the 10th anniversary edition, the Wrangler Rubicon comes in your choice of a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission matched to the 3.6-litre Pentastar VVT V-6 that produces 285 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. 

I was given the six-speed manual version and I must say it was smoother to drive than I thought it would be on the highway and on clear city roads, but a nightmare in stop-and-go traffic. Then again most manuals are horrible to drive in traffic, but most of the time the Wrangler gear shift wobbled around like a battered piñata. Now I need to hold back a bit, because it’s natural for a Jeep to be loud and have its gear shift shake – would it be a Jeep if it didn’t?

Unfortunately, I was unable to do any off-roading in my week, so my driving consisted of regular highway and city roads throughout Toronto. A bit of blame should fall on yours truly for not planning ahead on an off-road adventure. 

If I went through some trails, I would’ve experienced its electronic-locking front and rear Dana 44 axles. And when matched with the six-speed manual, the 4.10 axle ratio comes standard and has an impressive crawl ratio of 73.1:1. The 4.10 axle ratio would provide greater torque for pulling, but will lack in high top end speed. 

In Summary

I appreciated the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon for what it was – a hard-working, no-nonsense beast that could take on any adventure. For Jeep fans, this special edition is worth holding out for as it provides you all those extra additions that any Jeep fanatic wants and won’t have to add in themselves. 

Away from its rugged off-roading style, it was comfortable to drive in the city as long as you stay away from rush hour. So don’t think of it as just a heavy-duty trail seeker – it can deliver a smooth ride in real world conditions. My tester ended up being $46,985, but you can get it starting at $34,840 after a consumer cash discount online. Not a bad price considering that the regular FJ Cruiser starts at $33,440 and the cheapest Land Rover, the LR2 starts at $39,990.