THE JEEP Wrangler Rubicon has won the 2020 4X4 Of The Year award, beating six rivals to the coveted crown.
The award was revealed at the 2020 Australian Motoring Awards, held at the Showgrounds in Flemington, Melbourne.
After an exhaustive testing process – at the Melbourne 4x4 Training and Proving Ground in Werribee and then out past Healesville and Marysville in Victoria – the seven vehicles were compared against the proven 4X4 Australia judging criteria: value for money; breaking new ground; built tough; bushability; and doing the job.
Following lengthy – and often heated – debate, Jeep’s Wrangler Rubicon proved the best of the lot, but by a very slim margin.
JUDGES’ TOTAL SCORES
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon: 246
Suzuki Jimny: 244
Land Rover Discovery Sd6: 238
Nissan Navara N-Trek Warrior: 232
SsangYong Musso XLV: 225
Mitsubishi Triton: 224
Mercedes-Benz X350d: 211
It’s more than fitting that the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon climbs to the top level of the podium here and not just for what it does. It’s what the Rubicon represents in terms of 4x4 history and its impeccable bloodline back to where the 4x4 world as we know it today all begun.
Hats off to Jeep for sticking to the basic 4x4 design principles of a separate chassis and front and rear live-axle suspension when other 4x4 manufacturers have turned their back on this old-school approach, which is still the best way to build a serious 4x4.
For comprehensive 4X4 Of The Year coverage, pick up a copy of our February 2020 issue, in stores February 6.
COMMENTS