2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Review

Updated on Apr 18, 2024

The Jeep Wrangler 392 is the ultimate expression of what Jeep will sell you from the factory. Thanks to its potent combination of the Wrangler Rubicon’s off-road prowess, impressive luxury features, and the addition of a massive 6.4-liter Hemi V8, it’s hard to beat the Jeep Wrangler 392.

The Jeep Wrangler 392 finally brings a V8 to the Wrangler, a factory option customers have wanted since the option ended with the CJ. The addition of a 6.4-liter Hemi under the hood of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon transforms the Wrangler from a mild-mannered off-roader to a genuine performance vehicle in all types of terrain. Although the V8 may grab headlines, it’s the combination of numerous improvements that makes the Wrangler 392 the ultimate Jeep Wrangler.

A Muscle Car Drive Train

The Jeep Wrangler 392 is the most powerful Jeep Wrangler ever boasting 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. This impressive thrust comes courtesy of Stellantis’s proven 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that has already proven itself in the Charger and Challenger Scat Packs. This powerful V8 was also found in the previous generation Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and Durango SRT.

The Hemi completely transforms the personality of the Jeep Wrangler and further adds to the sense of occasion when you get behind the wheel of your Jeep. Push the starter, and a loud roar erupts from the quad-tip exhaust. After the attention-grabbing start-up, the Hemi settles into a perfect muscle car lopping V8 idle that you wouldn’t expect the hear from a Jeep Wrangler.

The Hemi is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission borrowed from its Dodge muscle car cousins. This transmission offers quick shifts during spirited acceleration runs but remained buttery smooth during normal cruising and low-speed driving. The 8-speed makes the Hemi V8 easily accessible and adds to the fun of sprinting through the gears to hear the V8 roar.

It’s this drivetrain that makes the Wrangler 392 so special. With the demise of production V8s on the near horizon, the opportunity to drive this absurdly special vehicle makes it worth the starting price of $82,495. The Wrangler 392 offers a driving experience you simply cannot find anywhere else, and the flawless execution of the unique drivetrain ensures it will go down as an all-time great off-roader. The rumble and character of a big displacement V8 like the 6.4-liter Hemi under the hood of the 392 cannot be beaten by its turbocharged rivals.

Impressive Acceleration And Not Just For A Jeep

When it comes to Jeep Wranglers, acceleration times are usually irrelevant, but in the case of the Wrangler 392, they tell a fascinating story. The Wrangler 392’s powerful engine and quick-shifting transmission means this 5,098lb SUV can sprint from 0 to 60mph in only 4.2 seconds. That makes the Wrangler 392 quicker to 60mph than a Nissan Z and on par with a Mustang GT.

Thanks to its four-wheel drive system the 392 has no issue getting off the line, and the initial launch pushes you back in your seat. As speeds climb, the large tires and lack of aero slow down acceleration progress, but you’re not buying a Jeep for top-speed runs on the highway. The top speed of the Wrangler 392 is limited to 112mph due to tire limitations.

The Perfect Exhaust Setup

Besides performance, the best part of a V8 engine is the exhaust note, and the Wrangler 392 gives customers the best of both worlds. Thanks to the dynamic quad-tip exhaust you can choose between normal mode or performance mode. This means you can drive through your neighborhood without disturbing the peace, but then turn up the wick when the correct moment arrives.

In practice, this system works perfectly. Quiet mode is genuinely quiet, muffling the V8 so that people inside and outside the Wrangler 392 hardly know what lurks under the bulging hood scoop. This mode adds a layer of refinement to the 392 and makes wind noise the predominant sound during driving.

Switch to performance exhaust, and your wildest V8 fantasies come true. The Hemi V8 is allowed to sign its signature Pushrod V8 song, and everyone within a few miles will know when you unleash a full-bore acceleration run. The exhaust note dominates the sound inside the cabin and easily drowns out the wind noise Wranglers are known for.

The dynamic exhaust means you can spend time laughing at how great your V8 sounds when you want, but still have the ability to live a normal life when you have to. It’s an exhaust setup your whole neighborhood will love.

Top Of The Line Off-Road Features

The Wrangler 392 benefits from all of the industry-leading off-road features found in the normal Wrangler Rubicon, but adds a few unique touches to elevate the experience. For starters, all of the spring and damper rates have been changed to cope with the extra weight of the V8 engine. Jeep also strengthened the ladder frame of the 392 to handle the abuse of high-speed off-roading.

For 2024 the Wrangler 392 comes standard with front and rear steel bumpers and a front-mounted 8,000lb Warn winch. This winch is neatly integrated into the front bumper and is sure to help if you manage to get this super Jeep stuck while wheeling. The 392 also offers rock sliders and added under-body armor to protect your Jeep.

Locking front and rear differentials are standard along with an electronic sway bar disconnect which further adds to the Wrangler’s off-road capability. The Wrangler 392 also offers a unique off-road plus mode that’s optimized for high-speed off-roading. This special mode is unique to the 392 and allows for higher-speed driving with a locked rear differential, adjusts throttle sensitivity, changes traction control response, and changes transmission shift points in a quest for the best off-road performance possible.

When it comes to water fording capabilities, the Wrangler 392 stands above all other Jeeps in stock form thanks to the unique Hydro Dam hood scoop. This unique hood scoop design works to separate out both water and sand from the air intake system to make sure the Hemi gets all the air it needs without the danger of hydro locking. The Wrangler 392 can traverse water up to 33.6 inches deep at 5mph.

What’s New for 2024?

For 2024 Jeep introduced a mid-cycle refresh for all Jeep Wranglers that added some unique safety, performance, and comfort features. For starters, the Jeep Wrangler now comes standard with full-length side-curtain airbags that are optimized for off-road use. To complement the new airbags, Jeep also worked to improve the side impact structure to further improve safety.

To improve the comfort of the Wrangler, Jeep introduced new acoustic laminated glass for all of the side windows. Jeep also added more sound deadening for the carpets and foam warp around the windshield header to cut down on wind noise.

The most exciting comfort addition is the inclusion of power-adjustable front seats, a first for the Jeep Wrangler. The Jeep engineers worked to waterproof the entire power seat system to ensure they can get wet and keep working without any issues.

For Wrangler Rubicon models, Jeep introduced rear axle tech. The new Dana 44 rear axle features two bearings on the outside of the axle for a full float design. This allows for added axle strength and the ability to tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The Perfect Combination of Performance and Practicality

The Jeep Wrangler 392 is the ultimate Jeep. It retains all of the endearing features that make more pedestrian Jeeps beloved among enthusiasts while adding new levels of performance and capability. Sure, the Wrangler platform isn’t built for a luxurious ride or perfect on-road driving dynamics, but it makes up for this with rugged off-road capability and a unique driving experience. The addition of a V8 engine to the Jeep Wrangler takes what’s already great about Wranglers and makes it even better, its driving joy on four wheels.