This ’12 Wrangler is actually the culmination of a two-part refresh that began with the 2011 model. Last year, the cabin was rid of plastics as unyielding as the boulders we’re crawling over.
It might not have reached a Bentley level of poshness, but the interior now favors dash wipes over garden hoses. Along with new heated mirrors and seats and added sound deadening, the Wrangler’s polish continues outside when optioned with the body-colored hardtop. In sum, it is a convincing enticement to customers holding reservations about living day to day with a Wrangler.
But even as the ’11 Jeep gained amenities, it remained handicapped by its dismal powertrain, which included a four-speed slushbox and a wheezy 202-hp, 3.8-liter V-6. The 2012 Wrangler rectifies this via Chrysler’s new but already ubiquitous Pentastar V-6.
Having made its debut in the Wrangler’s affluent cousin, the Grand Cherokee, the 3.6-liter that’s now the sole engine option for Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited models gets a faintly different tune here, producing 285 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque at 4800 rpm. That’s a loss of five horsepower to the GC in favor of more midrange torque.
Alterations for the Wrangler application include a different intake system contributing to that torque, a revised oil pan to prevent starvation at steep angles, and the relocation of the alternator to the top of the block in the interest of water fording. The engine can be paired with an optional five-speed automatic transmission, identical to the GC’s unit, but comes standard with Chrysler’s first offering of a Pentastar/six-speed-manual combo. The manual box is a carry-over—albeit with a new clutch, clutch damper, and flywheel—and maintains its excellent crawl ratio.
Specifications
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear/4-wheel-drive, 4- or 5-passenger, 3- or 5-door convertible
BASE PRICE: $22,845–$34,370
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 220 cu in, 3605 cc
Power: 285 hp @ 6400 rpm
Torque: 260 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed manual, 5-speed automatic with manual shifting mode
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 95.4–116.0 in
Length: 152.8–173.4 in
Width: 73.7–73.9 in Height: 70.8–70.9 in
Curb weight (C/D est): 3800–4350 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 8.0–8.6 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 16.4–17.0 sec
Top speed: 98 mph
FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST):
EPA city/highway driving: 16–17/20–21 mpg
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