2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 test drive review

Take a look at virtually any parking lot around town and you’ll quickly learn one thing about humans: We love boring, practical cars. For most people, cars are merely a means to an end — a necessary evil to get you from Point A to Point B. Also, they typically fall somewhere on the white, gray or beige spectrum of neutrals, thus helping you retain anonymity on the road.

So when something eye-catching, exciting and completely ridiculous comes along, your eyes are opened to a whole new world of driving possibilities. That’s how KSL Cars felt after a week of driving the 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392. 

Shop 2024 Jeep Wrangler models.

Price and value

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler comes in seven trims (as well as 4xe hybrid models) with an MSRP range of $35,895 for the Wrangler 4-Door Sport to $88,190 for the range-topping Rubicon 392. Some of the major differences among trim levels are noted below. Note: All pricing is for four-door, non-hybrid models.

• Sport: $35,895 See listings

Halogen headlamps 

17-inch black steel styled wheels

Push-button start

• Sport S: $39,990 See listings

17-inch aluminum wheels

Power heated mirrors

Sky One-Touch Power-Top available 

• Willys: $43,990 See listings

17-inch painted black wheels

Rear-locking differential 

Willys hood decal

• Sahara: $48,420 See listings

8-speed automatic transmission

18-inch machined/painted gray wheels

Full-speed forward collision warning

• Rubicon: $49,990 See listings

17-inch machined/painted black wheels

GPS Navigation available

Air filtering

• Rubicon X: $59,490 See listings

Automatic high-beam headlamp control

Uconnect 5 with navigation 

4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot with trial included 

• Rubicon 392: $88,190 See listings

6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine

Sport steering wheel with paddles

Performance anti-lock 4-wheel disc brakes

Our Rubicon 392 tester came with the optional Sky One-Touch Power-Top, a Warn winch and all-weather floor mats, bringing the grand total to $95,945 after destination fees. Sure, it’s possible to shave off $3,795 by removing the one-touch power-top — but since that was one of our favorite features, we’d recommend keeping it. Besides, if you’re already spending $90K, a few thousand more probably won’t hurt.

Sadly, even at the base price of $88K, the 392 will still be out of reach for many buyers on a budget. This is the kind of car you buy not out of necessity or practicality, but for pure fun. And if you make the most of those beefy, 35-inch tires and the burly V8 engine, you’ll likely get what you paid for. Shop 2024 Jeep Wrangler models. 

Performance 

One of the biggest surprises of the Rubicon 392 was how pleasant it was to drive around town in addition to off-road. You definitely feel the 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque with that V8 engine, but it wasn’t unwieldy. Of course, the highlight came when we took the 392 off-road and flexed its trail climbing muscles. This thing ate huge boulders and potholes for breakfast.

Engine and drivetrain

As soon as that 6.8-liter Hemi V8 engine roars up, you can’t help but smile because you know you’re in for an adventure. In the past, people complained about how loud that engine was, but Jeep found a way to mitigate this — or at least vastly improve it. A performance exhaust button on the center dash allows you to muffle the noise a tad when it’s switched off, which should help with those quiet, early morning getaways. 

The 8-speed automatic transmission smoothly shifted through all gears. If you prefer to control things manually, the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters made that easy. 

Fuel economy 

To no one’s surprise, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 is not the car you buy if you’re looking for excellent fuel economy. With an EPA-estimated 13 mpg in the city and 16 mpg on the highway, you won’t exactly be saving money on gas if this is your commuter car.

Acceleration and handling 

This is where things get nuts. The 392 is much faster than it has any right to be for an off-road oriented vehicle. Though we never timed it ourselves, Jeep claims that it can go from 0-60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. Cue that stupid grin on our faces!

Braking 

Jeep also equipped the Wrangler Rubicon 392 with a heavy-duty braking system to help you maintain control wherever you go. We can attest: They work well. Shop 2024 Jeep Wrangler models.

Interior comfort and convenience 

More refined than ever, the Wrangler Rubicon 392’s interior feels more luxurious than you might expect for an off-roader.

Seats 

The embroidered, leather-trimmed seats offered a surprisingly comfortable ride, particularly when we were bouncing around on a rough trail, thanks to premium bolsters. The front seats were heated, which came in handy when we took advantage of the one-touch power-top and let in the cool evening breeze. Even in the second row, there seemed to be room to spare for passengers.

Climate control 

The automatic temperature control kept everyone comfortable in the summer heat, though our favorite way to cool off was by opening the one-touch top. That was pure summer driving bliss.

Cargo space and cabin storage 

Cargo space and cabin storage was perfectly acceptable. With all seats in place, the cargo capacity is 27.7 cubic feet. Maximum cargo capacity is 67.4 cubic feet.

Infotainment system 

The Uconnect 5 with navigation system was easy enough to use and the 12.3-inch touch screen seemed responsive. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was also a welcome feature, and we enjoyed listening to our favorite summer tunes on the Alpine premium audio system. Shop 2024 Jeep Wrangler models.

Exterior appearance and functionality 

Were we to buy a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 (or any of the Wranglers in the lineup), we’d definitely choose our tester’s color: Earl Gray. The gray, greenish-blue hues were so easy on the eyes, we caught ourselves just staring at it multiple times. It’s unique enough to stand out, but not obnoxious. Looking at pictures, we weren’t sure how we’d feel about the red and black leather interior of the 392, but we quickly fell in love when we saw it in person. We also loved the sportier looking, redesigned grille.

Wheels 

The Wrangler Rubicon 392 comes standard with 35-inch all-terrain tires on 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, and we were extremely pleased with how well they held up on rough, off-road terrain. We were also pleasantly surprised at the lack of road noise when we were driving around town and on the freeway.

Lights and turn signals

When it comes to lighting, Jeep keeps things simple. Instead of a fancy, intricate system with sequential lighting, you get exactly what you need, nothing more. The automatic headlamps, LED fog lamps and LED tail lamps provided more than sufficient illumination on the road.

Front and rear windshield 

Thanks to the Wrangler’s signature boxy shape, visibility was pretty great all around. We didn’t feel totally reliant on the camera system to see around us.

Cameras and side mirrors 

On top of a standard rear camera, adrenaline junkies will be thrilled to know that the Rubicon 392 comes with an integrated off-road camera. Shop 2024 Jeep Wrangler models.

Safety 

Since this thing was born for high thrills, you can expect that it comes loaded with some generous safety features. These include:

• First and second row side-curtain airbags

• Forward collision warning

• Adaptive cruise control with stop and go

• Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-path detection

• Automatic high beam headlamps

• Rear backup camera

Awards and ratings 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 a four-star crash test rating. As of this writing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has not rated the 2024 model.

Final impression 

Rarely have we driven a car that brought so much pure, unadulterated joy as the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392. In the words of Jeep, it’s “[b]uilt for those who dream of unbound adventure.” We thoroughly enjoyed every second of it — on the road, off the road and even just staring at it in our driveway. 

It’s the kind of vehicle that just slaps a stupid grin on your face from the moment you hop behind the wheel. Unfortunately, from a practicality and affordability standpoint, it doesn’t make a lot of sense — but it’s got a solid place on our dream car wish list. If you believe cars should be fun and not just functional — and if it fits your budget, we strongly suggest taking one of these out for a spin. 

FAQs

Is the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 worth the price? 

There’s no denying that the 392 comes with a hefty price tag. At $90K, this car is anything but cheap. Essentially, you’re paying a premium for that 6.4-liter V8 engine, which puts out 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. If you like power and you’re an off-road enthusiast who’ll put those massive tires to good use, the 392 may very well be worth the extra cost.

How fast can the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 go?

The max speed calibration is set at 110 mph on the 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392.

How much can the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 tow?

The maximum towing capacity is 3,500 pounds. 

If you want to experience the thrill of driving a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 for yourself, check out the new and used listings on KSL Cars.

*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.