Off-roaders get off-the-shelf

MANILA, Philippines - It was out of the ordinary. From the top of his lungs, our off-road “drivemaster’ Beeboy Barges yelled me a vehement and banshee-shaming “STOOOOP!!” – and whether it was in the name of love; to collaborate and listen; or because it was Hammertime; I instantly stepped on the brakes and watched my Rubicon slide sideways to about only a few modest inches away from a robust tree trunk, which grew in the middle of the muddy, rutty hill that we were supposed to conquer in that off-road driving exercise. Instantly, I got an adrenaline rush.

On that occasion, my black stallion was a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, and we were running exercises amid the thickets of Tanay. We had actually set out from the CATS Motors headquarters in Edsa Greenhills that day, in a convoy of three Jeep vehicles: Two Rubicons and one Grand Cherokee. Following the lead car, we drove towards the direction of the Sierra Madre mountain range via Rizal, and there, established our off-road playground.

Beeboy had prepared us a series of special challenges that day — ranging from traversing dry, mega-ruts and uphill craters, to climbing extremely slippery, muddy slopes amidst some heavy foliage, to driving in sand, and even to river crossing! Each off-road challenge highlighted specific, clever features of the Rubicon and Grand Cherokee; and true enough, there was no better way to fully appreciate these features than via first-hand experience.

My personal favorite in this Tanay adventure had to be the 2.8L Turbo Diesel Jeep Wrangler Rubicon with five-speed automatic transmission: it was hip, and it was a monster! For whatever issues of lack of brawn and full control I may have subliminally been compensating for, the Rubicon delivered. Its generous approach and departure angles made no steep cliffs unpassable; and its hardcore off-road tools such as its electronic sway bar disconnect system permitted its live axles to articulate at obscene angles.

Oh, and in this particular context, I would have to veer away from the typical writer’s definition of articulation... and refer to it as: the ability of one vehicle component to twist off-axis from another component (or from the main frame), which basically translates to the tires moving up and down freely – and keeping them on the ground for greater traction and stability.

During my entire hands-on affair, the 200 HP Rubicon beast always pulled strongly and never felt out of breath. And with 460 Newton-meter’s of torque at a low 1,600 rpm, it climbed steep surfaces like a mountain goat, while protecting its bottomside with metal plates strategically placed underneath. But perhaps one of the Rubicon’s most-coveted off-road strengths is its front and rear electronic locking differentials – which is a system that basically detects a spinning (slipping) wheel, and brakes that wheel as necessary, to direct power to the wheel with greater traction. This made a world of difference when it came down to either getting stuck or moving forward in the mud – and was especially useful in the marshy parts of Tanay.

The highlight of this event however, had to our Sierra Madre river-crossing! And although the riverbed was extremely rocky, the Rubicon easily danced through the loose stones, dismissing any threat of stalling mid-stream. Meanwhile, the vehicle’s Rock-Trac transfer case did its magic in allowing itself to descend and ascend the inclined banks effortlessly, and delivered the 4:1 low-gear ratio that gave it the crawl speed to go over any large rocks or obstacles in its way.

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is clearly rugged, laid back, and er, playful. The roof and all doors can be dismantled like a toy, and the seats are not luxurious, but detachable... and completely washable! Clearly suitable for all your ‘off-road needs’.

Meanwhile, the 3.0L CRD (Common Rail Diesel) Grand Cherokee Limited is the swankier alternative. It is not as hardcore as the beastly Rubicon, but it is leagues ahead in offering a more comfortable ride and more responsive steering. It is a dashing road warrior, sporting a V6 Turbo diesel engine mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission, and is capable of churning out 241 HP at 4000rpm and 550 N-m of torque at 1800rpm. And yet it sings of delightful driver and passenger amenities: like dual-zone air-conditioning, sun visors, a 9-speaker multimedia system w/subwoofer; and niceties such as: premium leather-trimmed bucket seats, 8-way adjustable Power Seats for the driver and front passenger, and even a 4-way lumbar seat adjust.

But what makes the Grand Cherokee extra special is how it can moonlight between being an on-road, posh automobile and occasional off-road animal. It is no wonder it  has an inherent Quadra-Lift air suspension system that lets you choose from 5 different settings: Park, Aero, Normal Ride Height, Off-Road 1 and Off-Road 2. With the simple push of a button, the system can lift the vehicle 10.5cm of total lift span – providing some safe vertical allowance for prospective bulky obstacles.  Its maximum ground clearance is an exemplary 26.9cm, and its 4-corner air bladder springs are meant to soften every dump and dip you traverse on the ground.

Furthermore, the Grand Cherokee also has a fantastic Selec-Terrain system, that makes getting set for some off-road action, a complete no-brainer – providing a switch knob for 5 types of terrain settings:  Sand/Mud, Sport, Snow, Rock or Auto. It also shares some special handy features with the Rubicon – such as Hill-Start Assist and Hill Descent Control.

Thus, my verdict is this: the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited is a wonderful option for the driver who seeks the best of all worlds – finding that sweet spot in negotiating on-road drive performance with comfort and off-road capability; while the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is a solid off-roader, off the shelf – offering monstrous capability, even while it’s all in stock, and at a very charming price point of P3M! Do note: It is suitable for post-apocalyptic travel, and can be taken apart as desired. Best operated by girls with a yelling partner.