John VonJeep
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https://www.autoblog.com/2023/04/19/2023-jeep-wrangler-rubicon-20th-anniversary-edition-first-drive/
When Jeep invited us to Moab to check this out, I was admittedly skeptical. What’s the story here? Seatbelts and decimal places? But the prospect of trying out the AEV package was too juicy to pass up. Fortunately, I was among the few who managed to shake it loose for some trail time in between stints in the standard 20th — which, let’s face it, amounts to little more than a sticker package. The AEV Level II, on the other hand, made the trip worthwhile, even more so than the stunning views.
…
Hungry for more, I hopped into the Level II and signaled to the spotters that I wanted to take the tougher route, which actually is just as easy as it looks — at first. After being lured in, you're presented with a nasty bit of offset slick rock (where our friend toppled over above) that requires delicate maneuvering. Easing the left-front corner up onto the ledge took some trial-and-error and some left-foot braking to keep things extra smooth, but the Level II never once got spooky. It’s easy mode, plain and simple — even without the 392’s 35-inch tires. But at this price, it sure as hell ought to be, right?
I spent the rest of the route swapping between standard 4xes and 392s, but as noted before, there’s really not much to talk about. While this package celebrates 20 years of Rubicon, the extra half-inch of ground clearance isn’t setting the world on fire. It gives Jeep either a slight edge over (or at least parity with) Bronco’s water fording and ground clearance figures, but its Raptor and Everglades models have something to say about both. The key takeaway here is that you don’t need an AEV Level II Wrangler to conquer Seven Mile Rim; a standard Rubicon will do just nicely. In fact, I’d put my money on the updated 2024 Willys keeping pace with its rear locker and 33s.
Let’s address the elephant in the room: Even setting aside the cost of the AEV Level II package, the Rubicon 20th Anniversary Editions are eye-wateringly expensive. The Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition was a $40,000 proposition in 2013, and many found that prohibitively expensive. This is a lot more Jeep, granted, but for effectively double the money. So, who is this thing for? In a word, whales — fans who will gladly throw money out the window just to be able to say they own the most-capable showroom model out there.
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