There are some cars that try very hard to look adventurous. They get chunky bumpers, black cladding, fake skid plates and some outdoorsy marketing photos, then spend most of their life climbing shopping centre speed humps.
The 2026 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, tested here in its 4-door variant, is not one of those cars. It’s still a proper, boxy, upright, unapologetic off roader, built with the sort of mechanical honesty that feels rare in a world full of soft roaders, pretending to be mountain goats.
But it comes with a surprise – and it isn’t how good it is in the dirt – that’s a given. The bigger wow moment is just how genuinely comfortable it is as a daily driver. Not perfect. Not luxury SUV polished either. Simply comfy enough that you can use it all week.
And then you can enjoy it on the weekend, all while still feeling like you are driving something with an actual pulse. The Wrangler has one of those designs that barely needs explaining. It’s instantly recognisable and that’s part of the charm.
The round headlights, upright grille, flat panels, exposed hinges, boxy cabin and tailgate mounted spare wheel all combine to make it feel like a car that has refused to be watered down. In Rubicon trim (now the only option in Australia), it looks even tougher.
Equipment includes a steel front bumper, heavy duty rock sliders with step assist, 17-inch machined and painted black alloy wheels, 32-inch off road tyres, black fender flares, LED exterior lighting, a vented bonnet and the proper Rubicon bonnet decal.
Colour choices include Bright White, Black, Granite, ‘41, Firecracker Red, Hydro Blue, Mojito, Anvil, Reign, Goldilocks, Tuscadero, Earl and Joose, giving the Rubicon anything from the classic tough Jeep look to something a little louder and more playful.
The removable black three piece hardtop is a huge part of the Wrangler’s character. Pulling the front roof panels off transforms the whole experience. It doesn’t feel like a normal sunroof, because it is better than that.
It feels almost mechanical, where you physically take part in opening the car up. It gives the Wrangler a sense of occasion that most modern SUVs simply cannot match. It’s also one of the highlights of what makes this vehicle fun to drive around.
You still have the structure around you, still have the doors, still have the practicality, but suddenly the whole car feels more alive. You hear more, feel more and become more connected to the drive. It’s old school fun and that suits the Wrangler perfectly.
Inside, the Rubicon keeps that same mix of ruggedness and surprising comfort. It’s not trying to be a soft touch luxury lounge and honestly, it would feel strange if it did. The cabin feels upright, chunky and purposeful, but it’s very definitely livable enough for everyday use.
It’s here you’ll find Nappa leather trimmed bucket seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a leather wrapped shift knob, leather wrapped parking brake handle, LED ambient interior lighting and a hard top headliner.
In the 4-door, both front seats are 12-way power adjustable, which helps make the Wrangler feel far more usable. You are still aware this is a body-on-frame 4×4 with proper off-road bones, but it does not feel punishing.
It is also refreshingly simple in the way it presents itself. There are physical controls, proper switches and a layout that feels usable rather than overly precious. The programmable auxiliary switch bank is a nice touch too.
The 2026 Wrangler Rubicon brings a decent amount of tech, including a 12.3-inch Uconnect touchscreen with Bluetooth, AM/FM/DAB+ radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, and a 9-speaker Alpine audio system with a subwoofer.
A 7.0-inch multi-view driver information display sits in the centre of the instrument cluster. It’s in the off road technology where the Rubicon really starts to flex. Jeep gives it Rock Trac Active On Demand 4×4, a 2 speed transfer case, and Off Road+ mode.
There’s also Tru Lok front and rear locking differentials, an electronic front stabiliser bar disconnect, Selec Speed Control, a forward facing Trail Cam and skid plates for the fuel tank, transfer case and transmission.
Off road, the Wrangler Rubicon is exceptional. It is the kind of vehicle that makes rough terrain feel less dramatic than it should. The Rubicon gets a 4.0:1 low range ratio, 4.10 rear axle ratio, and a 77.2:1 crawl ratio.
The numbers tell you it’s serious, but the way it behaves in the dirt makes it even clearer. The Rubicon has 255mm running clearance and a 760mm wading depth. Approach angle is 43.9-degrees, breakover angle at 22.6-degrees and departure angle at 37-degrees.
Those figures matter, because they explain why the Jeep feels so natural when the road disappears. On road, it’s better than some people may expect. It’s still a Wrangler, but it’s comfortable, easy enough to live with and full of charm.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder petrol engine produces 200kW and 400Nm, paired with an eight speed automatic transmission. That gives it enough punch, without feeling lazy. Fuel consumption is a combined 10.2-litres/100km (claimed).
There’s an 81-litre fuel tank, which suits the car’s touring and adventure personality nicely even if it costs a pretty penny to fill. The 4-door Rubicon seats five, and measures 4882mm long, 1894mm wide and 1901mm tall, with a 3008mm wheelbase.
It has a braked towing capacity of 2495kg and a maximum tongue download of 250kg. A wash out interior with drain plugs, cargo area tie down loops, quick release full metal doors, a fold down windscreen and a tailgate mounted full size spare add capability.
Safety equipment includes forward collision warning plus, adaptive cruise control with stop, blind spot monitoring, rear cross path detection, rear parking sensors, rearview camera, forward facing Trail Cam, electronic stability control and traction control.
You also get hill start assist, trailer sway control, rear seat reminder alert and six airbags. It has a 5-year or 100,000km warranty and lifetime roadside assistance when servicing through Jeep. It costs $92,414 drive away in Bright White (as tested).
Other colours add just shy of $1500 to the price. Exceptionally capable off road, more comfortable as a daily driver than expected and still packed with the sort of character that most modern SUVs have slowly engineered out, it’s worth a look.
The removable roof panels aren’t a gimmick either, they genuinely change the way the car feels and give the Wrangler a sense of fun that’s hard to replicate. You can find out more on the Jeep Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership.
To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One. To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was provided by Jeep Australia for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to review this vehicle.
