The Jeep Rubicon was the product of the shadows, with the engineers behind the model being dubbed “The Lunatic Fringe.” When The Rubicon made its debut in 2003, it proved to be a surprise hit for Jeep, and it has risen to be responsible for 25 percent of overall Wrangler sales. The 10th-anniversary model in 2013 turned up the heat on performance. Still, for the 20th anniversary, Jeep has managed to one-up itself with even more performance and off-road capability for buyers looking to possess the ultimate interpretation of the Rubicon, the 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary Edition.
4xe and Wrangler 392 Offer Two Distinct Flavors Of Rubicon Capability
Unlike the 10th anniversary model, the 20th Anniversary model focuses on the Wrangler 4xe and the Wrangler 392, with Jeep claiming that this arrangement allows buyers to have two distinct flavors of trail-ready performance. The exterior styling carries over the core essentials from the normal Jeep Wrangler, but 20th Anniversary models get a unique grille treatment, badging, and a model-exclusive graphics package. Other goodies include a Gorilla Glass windshield, steel rock sliders, and other off-road upgrades focused on making these models more capable on the trail. The interior has trademark red accents that identify this model as a Rubicon, all-weather floormats, and a set of integrated auxiliary switches for aftermarket equipment.
The bulk of the upgrades are found underneath the skin, with Jeep making an extensive array of performance and trail-focused upgrades. All Rubicon 4xe 20th Anniversary models get massive 33-inch BF-Goodrich All-Terrain K02 all-terrain tires, while the Wrangler 392’s included Xtreme Recon package ups the tire size to 35 inches. But Jeep is not the only one getting in the celebratory spirit; the folks at American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) are also getting in on the act too and have created a new “20th Anniversary Level II” package that adds 37-inch all-terrain tires mounted on 17-inch Saverge II wheels, A Warn sourced front winch, and other AEV add-ons. The 4xe version of the package even gets an upgraded axle ratio, with the Wrangler 392 already getting it fresh out of the factory. AEV and Jeep say that the upgrades help provide 14 extra inches of ground clearance, a max water fording depth of 37.1 inches, and approach, breakover, and departure angles of 50, 33, and 43 degrees, respectively.
When Can I Buy One?
Pre-ordering for the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary Edition will open up later this week, with prices starting at $71,380 for the 4xe while the beefier Wrangler 392 version gets a bumped-up base MSRP of $92,690. This pricing is a glimpse into how much the overall market has changed in the past 20 years and are a far cry from the $24,385 sticker that an all-new 2003 Rubicon had when it was available for sale in Jeep dealerships.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.