The 2022 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 is MotorTrend’s Four Wheeler SUV of the Year. If that sounds like a pretty impressive title, that’s because it is. Out of all of the Four Wheeler SUVs out there, winning this award means that the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has what it takes to be better than every other SUV. So what makes the Rubicon so great, and is it worth its hefty price tag?

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 is the Four Wheeler SUV of the Year

MotorTrend doesn’t take the Four Wheeler SUV of the Year award lightly. One of MotorTrend’s favorite things about the 2022 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 is its V8 engine that can put out 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission. This is probably pretty obvious to anyone who’s familiar with the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, as Jeep lovers have been hoping for a factory-made Wrangler with a V8 for years. Now that it’s a reality, it’s – well, it’s extraordinary.

MotorTrend especially likes that the Wrangler Rubicon’s V8 engine is a Hemi, a 6.4-liter beast that’s guaranteed to give the new Ford Bronco a run for its money. It’s great on the roads as well as off them, since it’s loaded with off-road features and has tons of options to make handling the trails even better. In addition, there’s an Xtreme Recon package, which makes off-roading easy and enjoyable.

The Rubicon interior is similar to other Jeep Wranglers

There are a whole lot of similarities between the 2022 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 and other Jeep Wranglers. It has a leather interior with bronze accents, though MotorTrend notes that the manually adjusted seats are a huge disappointment. Jeep recently instituted a Sky One-Touch top to counter Jeep customer complaints that the tops can be difficult to take off and put on, but MotorTrend wasn’t particularly impressed with its execution.

On a positive note, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 has a button on the dashboard that makes the Jeep SUV louder, in a good way. It has 35-inch tires, a sporty and rugged exterior, and a standard set of recovery hooks. Overall, the judges found the 2022 Rubicon to be a capable and attractive SUV that was both powerful and fast.

Is a Jeep Rubicon worth the extra money?

The 2022 Jeep Rubicon 392 price starts at $75,095. This is more than double the price of the Jeep Wrangler base price of $33,225. Still, if you’re one of those Jeep customers that have been hoping that Jeep will put out an SUV with a V8 engine, this may be your chance. Still, the manually-adjusted seats and difficult-to-use top may make you unwilling to spend nearly $80,000 on a Jeep Wrangler – even if it is a really nice Jeep Wrangler.

Overall, the MotorTrend judges were really impressed with the 2022 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392. It has a blend of ruggedness, speed, and power that you won’t find in other SUVs. Though it is pricey, it may be just what you’re looking for.