2012 Jeep Wrangler Des Moines

For 2012, the Jeep Wrangler gets more modern power in the form of a 285-horsepower V6. A five-speed automatic is also now available, and every Wrangler is now four-wheel drive.  The 2012 Wrangler Unlimited four-door is totally civilized, thanks partly to the smoothness of the new engine. The Pentastar block was designed to have accessories bolted to it, to reduce vibration. This pays off with a smooth and silent interior.  The Wrangler Unlimited corners well.  There are the easy-to-reach USB connections and heated front seats.  Jeep also brings it new UConnect system. The voice-activated system will connect your phone via Bluetooth for hands-free phone operation and your music-playing device.  There are also convenient features such as the 115-volt outlet in the second row.  Jeep also added lockable storage.  The suspension, while created for all of that crazy wheel articulation off-road, provides a smooth ride on the highway and county roads.

Exterior features of the '12 Jeep Wrangler

Round headlamps, 7-slot grille, wheel flares, removable doors, bolt-on fenders, fold-down windshield. Meanwhile, the Wrangler Unlimited is the only four-door 4x4 convertible on the market.  The soft top slides and folds horizontally on the roof, leaving the occupants further protected by door and window frames, although there's already a rollbar.  The body-colored hardtop is new to the Rubicon in 2012. The soft top remains the sportiest in appearance.  If you can't decide to get the hard top or soft top, the dual top option allows buyers to get both.  Pretty new colors for 2012 are Dozer Yellow (nice blend of Corvette Yellow and Porsche Mustard, and a favorite for pilots in search planes), Deep Molten Red, and Crush Orange (another search party favorite). Our Rubicon was Cosmos Blue, like French Racing Blue, a color that almost brings grace to the ol' Jeep. Standard colors are available for those who want to blend into the environment, whether suburban or bucolic.

Driving Impressions of the '12 Jeep Wrangler

The Unlimited Sahara, resplendent in rich brown with dark leather, is almost astonishingly smooth and quiet, totally civilized, thanks hugely to the new engine. The 5-speed automatic is well-behaved, and doesn't hunt for gears; it uses the gear it's in.  A Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon can tow 3500 pounds.  The Unlimited corners well, and head sway on weaving roads is light.

Model Lineup

The 2012 Jeep Wrangler comes in two-door and Wrangler Unlimited four-door versions, each in three trim levels: Sport, Sahara and Rubicon. They all use the award-winning Chrysler 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, making 285 horsepower. All Wranglers come standard with 4x4 and 6-speed manual transmission, with 5-speed automatic available.

The Freedom Top, a three-piece modular hard top, is available for all models. The Wrangler Sport is available in right-hand drive for rural mail carriers. We don't find ourselves saying that in many reviews.

Wrangler Sport comes with cloth upholstery, six-speaker sound system, power steering, removable doors, roll-up windows, fold-down windshield, soft top, black fender flares, halogen headlamps, foglamps, swing-back mirrors, tow hooks, part-time 2-speed Command-Trac transfer case, Enhanced Dana 30 front axle, Heavy Duty Dana 44 rear axle, skid plates, and Goodyear Wrangler P225/75/R16 tires on steel wheels. No air conditioning, power windows, cruise control, 115-volt power outlet, or side steps.

Wrangler Sahara adds air conditioning, keyless entry, power windows and door locks, 115-volt power outlet, Infinity speakers with 368-watt amplifier, body-color hard top, body color fender flares, tubular side steps, heated power mirrors, Bridgestone Dueler P255/70/R18 tires on painted aluminum wheels.

Wrangler Rubicon is equipped for off-road. It has most of the standard Sahara comfort and convenience things (though power windows and keyless entry become optional), while adding rock rails, Tru-Lok front and rear electronic differential locking, electronic front axle locking, Heavy Duty Dana 44 front axle, 4.10 axle ratio, Rock-Trac 2-speed transfer case with 4:01 low range, and BF Goodrich Mud Terrain LT255/75/R17 tires on painted aluminum wheels.

The four-door Wrangler Unlimited Sport is equipped like the two-door Sport, only better. Removable doors, roll-up windows, black fender flares, halogen headlamps, foglamps, soft top, air conditioning, 60/40 split rear bench, 600 amp battery.

Wrangler Unlimited Sahara adds body color fender flares, power heated mirrors, tubular side steps, remote keyless entry, power windows and door locks, Sirius radio, upgraded sound system, cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 115-volt outlet, and 18-inch painted aluminum wheels.

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon comes with the same extra off-road equipment as the two-door Rubicon, plus all the power equipment of the Sahara.

Conclusions

With a terrific new powertrain, the Wrangler has fully arrived. It's win-win with improvements to comfort, handing, power, smoothness and fuel economy, while no loss to mind-blowing off-roadability with the Rubicon. Wrangler Unlimited, the world's only four-door 4x4 convertible, delivers a smooth ride and secure handling. Soft top or hard top, nice new colors. The Unlimited is recomended for families; off-road capability is nearly the same. Singles and couples might want to go for the traditional two-door, however.  If you would like to learn more about the Jeep Wrangler, go to the  official website of the 2012 Jeep Wrangler.

Some information for this review was obtained through newcartestsdrive.com