2026 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Changes, Price, Review – After much pleading, Jeep finally granted our request for a V8 Wrangler. Having just chirped the tires and accelerated to sixty miles per hour in less than five seconds while behind the wheel of a 2026 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon SUV is an incredibly strange sensation. There is no logic to any of this. Not to mention, it’s great. 2026 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Changes
2026 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior & Interior
The Wrangler 392 has off-road geometry that is somewhat better than a Rubicon, thanks to its 1-inch raise and 2-inch lift compared to the conventional Jeep Wrangler. Interestingly, the 392 has a lower ground clearance (10.3 inches) than the Rubicon (10.8 inches).
Along with a two-speed transfer case, a detachable sway bar, and front and rear locking differentials, the 392 comes standard. The Selec-Trac transfer case, standard on all Jeeps, allows the 392.1 crawl ratio and has a 2.72 low range and 3.73:1 final drive ratio in the Dana 44 axles. Although it is typical for Rubicons, the 77.2:1 ratio merely shows the torque spread across the axles prior to collision with the ground. I can rock crawl with the 392 quite well because my strength is 470 lb-ft.
Bronze highlights, mandatory badging, a larger steering wheel, and extremely cushioned seats are the only features that distinguish the 392 from a regular Rubicon at first glance. The 8.4-inch color touchscreen Uconnect infotainment system is also available inside, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. People at the Roadshow love Uconnect because of how easy it is to use. I always check Jeep’s website for off-roading stuff. Pitch and roll, power distribution, temperature, and GPS positions with altitude are all included in their data set.
The opulent Sky One-Touch power soft top is also available for me to test out. The top retracts in a staggering seventeen seconds, even though it’s promoted as being one-touch. What’s more, you’re required to maintain button press throughout. This improvement is great, even if the regular soft top is easy to use. A Jeep can do it with ease. Dismantling the top, windows, and doors is no ordinary task. In addition, if you intend to keep the 392 exposed to the intense heat for a long time, you must close the top. Seats made of black leather may get really hot.
2026 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Specs
Engine & Performance
The 1981 Jeep CJ’s 5.0-liter V8 engine, which had 125 horsepower, was last seen in the vehicle forty years ago. The 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine in the 2026 Wrangler Rubicon 392 generates an astonishing 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. Laughter will be flying out of your nose, your heart racing, and your nerves jangling as you go on this wild adventure. To be sure, this exciting bundle isn’t without its flaws.
The 392 goes into “wake-the-neighbors” mode the second I turn it on, so obviously there’s a serious problem. The V8 makes noises while idling in town, but the eight-speed automatic transmission is rather quiet. As I near a lengthy stretch of rural road, I engage the paddle shifters (on a Jeep!) and accelerate to the maximum possible speed. The 33-inch BF Goodrich KO2 tires receive power from the full-time four-wheel-drive system as my head swings back and the nose elevates. I get up to sixty miles per hour after about four and a half seconds. Holy cow.
Accelerating is terrifying. It is more challenging than anticipated to put the 392’s power to a halt due to the brakes being the same size as a conventional Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. If it meant I could install bigger brakes on the rear, I’d gladly go with bigger wheels here.
One thing I would want to see improved is the steering. Even at top performance, Jeep Wranglers lack specialization; with a lot of power, the 392-series gets pretty awkward. Given that the Wrangler is a 5,000-pound monster capable of going nearly anywhere, this is to be anticipated. Although it lacks the ability to carve bends, the 392 is capable of extremely fast straight-line speeds.
A Ford F-150 Raptor is more suited for tearing down desert whoops at 50 mph than a Wrangler 392. The 392’s whoops, in contrast to the Wrangler’s Fox shocks, have a hydraulic travel restriction of only 15 to 20 mph, so you’re limited to speeds in that range. The powers of shocks are readily surpassed. If I had to go shopping for one, I would start by getting an aftermarket long-travel kit that features piggyback reservoirs.
I use the Off-Road Plus button to set the traction control, throttle, and transmission to Sand whenever I approach some steep dunes. Additionally, I may engage four-wheel drive high and secure the rear differential in case it becomes required. There are whoops at the base of every dune, and I can’t overcome them fast enough. But as soon as I’m free of them, it’s full speed ahead, and the 392 climbs to the crest. Before I careen down the next dune, I can utilize the front-facing camera to see what’s beyond this one.
That is the whole essence of the 392’s appeal. Dune fields and other soft, scratchy slopes are usually too much for regular Rubicons to climb without first gaining a decent start on the descent. I can skillfully navigate the terrain in the Wrangler while waiting for it to be safe to do so thanks to the 392. The desert is the ideal terrain for this Jeep.
It would be no problem for me to traverse this desert if I could just locate a suitable stream; in fact, I am confident in my ability to conquer any peak in the 392 range.
The 392’s clever intake design allows it to eliminate 15 gallons of water at a rapid pace. No need to worry if the water level rises above the hood; crossing 32.5 inches of water is very safe. The engine still has an alternate air intake method in the event that snow or dirt blocks the hood scoop. The arrival of the monsoons is necessary before I can give this a go. 2026 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Changes
2026 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Release Date & Price
There will be a cost associated with all this extraordinary ability. There is a destination fee of $1,495 added to the base price of the most costly Wrangler, the 392. Compared to a standard Rubicon, this would cost $31,025 more. A whopping $78,545 was the sticker price for my test vehicle’s top-tier convertible top, trailer hitch, and forward-facing camera package. Holy cow.
Anyone interested in doing it on their own may get a crate 392 engine and all the required tools from Mopar for about $19,000. But most of us can’t afford it, and there’s also no manufacturer guarantee when you install the parts yourself.
I feel forced to bring up fuel economy nevertheless, even though I seriously doubt anyone is purchasing a V8-powered vehicle with efficiency in mind. After a week of testing, I found that the 392 got 13.3 mpg in the city, 17 mpg on the highway, and 14 mpg overall—which is different from what the EPA predicts. Additionally, did you know? It is irrelevant to me. Despite its many problems, astronomical price, and excessive fuel consumption, the 392 delivers unique, ridiculous pleasures. 2026 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Changes
Note: The details included in this blog post are derived from pre-release material that was accessible when the article was written. If you want the latest information, you should check official sources or call your nearest dealership.
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