When you ask this question, jeepers will quote specs. Me, I have something different to say but remember, it's only an opinion! Almost everyone I see, buys a wrangler and modifies it to be a Rubicon or beyond. The Rubicon, straight from the factory will be an awesome driving machine. Another thing I noticed...on jeep runs....lesser Wrangler will fight the trail harder to get over obstacles where a Rubicon just walks over it.
Another thing I notice about offroaders, they may start out in any vehicle but when the money is right, they usually buy a jeep. Alot of people in my jeep club do that. In the NW, alot of Asians are loyal to Toyota.