2012 Jeep Wrangler

The 2012 Wrangler is offered in three main trims - Sport, Sahara, and Rubicon and as standard, they all come with 2 doors. Starting at $22,045, the features on offer are quite basic. The Unlimited 4 door variants cost around 3 grand more than the 2 door variants but increase the seating capacity by up to 5 people. 

As standard, the SUV comes with a soft top, cruise control, 16-inch steel wheels, and misses out on the single-zone climate control which the Unlimited 4 door inherits. The top-of-the-line Rubicon starts at $29,995 and is more of a hardcore off-roader with electronically controlled front and rear differential, and tuned suspensions. There is a separate right-hand-drive Sport trim which comes with 4 doors only and 5-speed automatic transmission as standard, costing you a dearly $29,435.

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If Jeep Wrangler is what you crave for then the base trim would not satisfy you and choosing the Sahara would be a great choice with the 4 door variant as it will eliminate the soft top and will add an extra seating capacity. Apart from these, the leather steering wheel, 7-speaker Infinity premium audio system, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a lot more. 

The 2012 Wrangler gets powered by a single powertrain throughout the trims and is a fresh new 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V6 which is capable of pumping 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of maximum torque. You get a 5-speed manual transmission and an all-wheel drivetrain as standard. This engine is more refined and produces around 40 percent more power and about 10 percent more torque than the engine it replaces. 

The engine accelerates quite quickly with a happy 60 miles an hour in just 6.7 seconds and does a standing quarter-mile in under 15.3 seconds which is pretty fast considering it is an SUV. These numbers come in handy when you take the Wrangler off the tarmac and make the growling engine show its power where it belongs.

The Jeep Wrangler has the most powerful engine in the segment with not just raw power but in acceleration too. However, the top-end power is not as sufficient as the Subaru Outback and FJ Cruiser are fast in the quarter-mile timings despite packing underpowered engines. Nissan produces similar power to the other Japanese rivals but offers a sluggish acceleration in real life. 

Not a gas guzzler, but the higher engine power produced by the 2012 Wrangler and coupled with the 4-wheel drive system, it is something that will set you back but you cannot help. The EPA rates the same with 16 MPG in the city, 21 MPG on the highways, and as low as 18 MPG as combined. Although Jeep has equipped the Wrangler with a big 22.5-gallon gas tank the range is the highest with 360 miles in the city and 472.5 miles on the highway.

Subaru does a good job in making the Outback return a few more miles than the competition but the range suffers due to it packing a smaller gas tank. The Wrangler, Nissan Xterra, and the FJ Cruiser are somewhat similar in delivering average fuel economy but the Wrangler has an edge in the overall driving range. 

The interior of the 2012 Wrangler gives a bittersweet feeling and is biased towards off-roading capabilities. The outgoing model year of the Wrangler gets significant interior design changes in 2011 to make it look modern like the redesigned dashboard which now looks like it is in the 21st century. The cabin comfort is not adequate with firm cushioning and upright sitting posture. The cabin gets really noisy and is accompanied by a lot of jerkiness which is not at all appropriate for highway riding. The seats come cloth-covered as standard and do not have the option of upgrading them to leather ones which is a bummer. 

 In terms of cabin space, the Unlimited variants are the best and are always suggested for better practicality and roominess. The elongated wheelbase helps the rear row to move backward and that helps increase the rear legroom. Overall, both the front and rear rows have enough room. The seating capacity is maxed out at 5 people and the cabin can accommodate taller individuals without much of an issue. The cargo capacity is impressive too. At 46.4 cubic feet of space behind the rear row, makes it the most practical SUV in the segment and can easily accommodate your luggage along with a full-size spare tire.

All four SUVs are spacious and have similar front row dimensions. Considering both the front and rear, the Outback and the Wrangler have more balanced dimensions with a lot of rear legroom on offer, unlike the Xterra and Toyota FJ Cruiser. However, the cargo space of all these cars is not available. Now, let’s have a look at the standout interior features of the Jeep Wrangler:

• Single zone climate control
• Leather steering wheel with tilt and telescopic adjustability
• Leather and chrome-trimmed shift knob
• Cruise control
• Dual vanity mirrors
• Power steering

How intuitive is the 2012 Jeep Wrangler’s infotainment unit?

The infotainment system on offer in the 2012 Jeep Wrangler is pretty straightforward being an off-roader. As standard, the features are down to just a 6-speaker audio system, auxiliary audio input, CD player, etc. On the higher trims, there is an Infinity premium sound system and satellite radio feature. 

Jeep has provided an option to upgrade the infotainment system with Connectivity Package and that includes a lot of features like Bluetooth connectivity, an upgraded trip computer, an iPod interface, and the option to opt for a touchscreen display to monitor real-time navigation services. Standout infotainment features include:

• 6-speaker Infinity audio system
• CD player
• Touchscreen interface with navigation services (Optional)
• iPod interface (Optional)
• Bluetooth connectivity (Optional)
• Digital music storage 

With the iconic Willys Jeep design language, the 2012 Wrangler thrived in all perspectives when it comes to build quality and exterior appearance. The front has circular halogen headlights and indicators with the signature seven-slot grille and the wheel arch extending to the front which gives the SUV a muscular attire. The rear has the jerry can-style tail lights with a spare wheel and a rear bumper.

 The boxy appearance does not contribute to the drag coefficient. The dimensions are quite on par with the competition with a long 116-inch wheelbase, a rather short 173.4-inch length. The ground clearance is impressive too at 8.7 inches and is ideal for hardcore off-roading. The Wrangler weighs 4,075 pounds and is slightly lighter than the competition. 

The Outback is the lightest and longest in the segment while the FJ Cruiser is wider, has the highest ground clearance. The Wrangler on the other hand has the longest wheelbase in the competition. The Xterra has the lowest ground clearance in the segment which results in less off-road capabilities. Some other standout features you can find in the Jeep Wrangler are:

• Heated and powered mirrors
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Rear defrost (Optional)
• Convertible hardtop (Optional)

Jeep has not compromised on build quality and made the Wrangler tough to last with time. But there are a few major concerns with the 2012 Wrangler for which it does not perform impressively in the crash tests. The NHTSA has not crash-tested the 2012 Wrangler but the IIHS did and has rated “Good” in the frontal crash prevention but “Marginal” for the side crash results. Standout safety features:

• 4-wheel ABS with traction control
• Emergency braking assist
• Post-collision safety system
• Electronic brakeforce distribution
• Tire pressure monitor

With a powerful V6 engine on offer and a much better off-roading personality than the competition, the 2012 Jeep Wrangler is a great buy for the enthusiast crowd who has off-roading as their main priority. If you want an SUV in this segment that could be a good road-going option then the Outback would be a good choice but if you are a hardcore off-roading lover, there is no better option than the Jeep Wrangler.