
The differences between the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and Sahara are: 1. Different configuration designs: The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is equipped with differential locks on both the front and rear axles; the Sahara only has a limited-slip differential on the rear axle. 2. Different four-wheel-drive systems: The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon features the RockTrac mechanical part-time four-wheel-drive system; the Sahara is equipped with the CommandTrac part-time four-wheel-drive system. 3. Different applications: The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon focuses on extreme off-road performance and is adapted for harsh off-road environments; the Sahara emphasizes the practicality and economy of daily off-road use. 4. Different tire sizes: The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon uses 17-inch wheel mud tires; the Sahara uses 18-inch wheel all-terrain tires.

Last time I accompanied a friend to pick out a Wrangler, the off-road veteran directly recommended the Rubicon. This model's part-time 4WD system comes with a 4x torque multiplier, and its chassis hides electronically disconnectable sway bars, allowing the tires to grip rocks fiercely during axle articulation. It comes standard with MT off-road tires and FOX shocks, easily conquering hellish terrains like the Rubicon Trail. The Sahara is more suitable for daily commuting, with its full-time 4WD providing better stability in rainy weather, and the body-color fender flares giving it a more refined look. It's also more fuel-efficient, but when facing steep slopes or muddy terrain, its electronic traction control can't match the Rubicon's mechanical locking differentials for decisive performance.

Our off-road convoy frequently traverses uninhabited areas, where the Wrangler Rubicon's Dana 44 axles are literal lifesavers. Engaging low-range gear with its 4.1 final drive ratio makes the wheels crawl like snails yet deliver Herculean torque—you rarely need to press the throttle past halfway during rock crawling. When we crossed a storm-washed riverbed last week, activating all three differential locks completely eliminated wheel spin. Sahara owners tagging along could only watch enviously; their transfer case lacks a torque multiplication mode, and the ATS all-terrain system simply gives up when encountering artillery shell craters. For city driving though, the Sahara is more comfortable—its featherlight steering can be whipped around with one hand, and the 18-inch highway tires glide over speed bumps with less jolt.

The off-road modification community all knows the Rubicon's innate advantages. Its transmission skid plate is as thick as armor, and the front and rear axles come with TRU-LOK differential lock hardware—just a software tune away from activation. My neighbor spent 80,000 modifying his Sahara just to match the Rubicon's factory performance. However, for commuters, choosing the Sahara is wiser: its active safety suite comes standard with adaptive cruise control, and the noise-reducing windshield makes highway driving much quieter. The mirrors also feature blind-spot monitoring, eliminating the need to crane your neck when changing lanes.


