Zac Quinn 
The Jeep Wrangler is known to be a superb vehicle to take off-roading, but competition is ramping up in the market as more and more people aim to get outdoors to explore. As a result, the Jeep Wrangler can be seen dawning a Trail Rating badge, which signifies its off-road capability. As it turns out, the two-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon scored a ten on the Trail Rating scale, the highest a vehicle can achieve. Meanwhile, the five-door Wrangler Rubicon scored a nine. But Jeep brand CEO Christian Meunier wants to push the next-generation Wrangler to a 12.
Next-Generation Jeep Wrangler Trail Rating: Details
It’s unclear precisely what these numbers mean. Still, Jeep’s page regarding the badge states that “Every Trail Rated 4×4 has succeeded against a series of grueling tests in five categories: Traction, Water Fording, Maneuverability, Articulation, and Ground Clearance.” According to Autoblog, Jeep worked with the Nevada Automotive Testing Center (NATC) to establish the repeatable testing methodology and only began awarding models the accolade in 2003, the same year the Rubicon trim debuted.
It seems Meunier intends to make the Trail Rating of 12 available on both the ICE and BEV. Considering that we’ve seen some pretty spectacular features with the addition of electrification, including Tank Turns, Crab Walks, and Creeper Modes, it may be possible to achieve a 12 with the right technology. The 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Xtreme Recon is already pushing the threshold compared to a 2003 Wrangler Rubicon with 31-inch tires and a 66:1 crawl ratio. The 2023 Wrangler Xtreme Recon rides on 35s and has a crawl ratio of 100:1 which is a massive step up just from looking at the numbers.
Meunier also explained that the upcoming Jeep Recon EV, which appears to be a Renegade on steroids, will come in at around six on the Trail Rating scale, which should still give plenty of joy, but it’s no two-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. So only time will tell if the ambitions of the Jeep CEO will be realized or not.
