The 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon is a truly
unique vehicle. As such it’s not for everyone, but people that understand and
love Jeeps are crazy about the Wrangler. The 2012 Wrangler Unlimited does an
excellent job of blending traditional super tough, go-anywhere Jeep attributes
with modern technologies and conveniences. The Wrangler doesn’t have the level
of luxury found in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, but it’s a million miles ahead of
its 1941 progenitor — the flat fender military Jeep. It’s a true multi-purpose
vehicle.
Walkaround:
There’s no mistaking the Jeep
Wrangler for anything but a Jeep. That’s an important attribute to Jeep
loyalists. Other Jeep models carry recognizable styling cues, but none are as
overt as the Wrangler. Jeep CJ models and earlier Wranglers have traditionally
been two-door vehicles (the non-Unlimited Wrangler is still a two-door), but
the four-door Unlimited has greatly improved versatility and still manages to
look both handsome and rugged. Our test Rubicon model was a great bright red
with a black removable hardtop. The black plastic fender flares are both
functional and classic Jeep styling items. The grille/headlight styling is
iconic.
Interior: The tan leather interior was the most luxurious
Wrangler cockpit we’ve ever encountered. The Wrangler interior was redesigned
for 2011. Again, it’s no Grand Cherokee, but it’s downright plush for a rugged
Jeep. Most of the switchgear had to be fitted within the dashboard center stack
area. That means items like the power window and mirror controls are on the
dash instead of the removable doors.
The substantial rollbar is nicely padded, but the
large overhead speakers can get in the way of rear seat passengers. We hauled
three six-foot-plus adults in the rear seat, but it was a tight fit.
Fortunately, it was a short shuttle to the Kingston ferry dock. The rear
seating position is very upright, but it’s a veritable limo compared to vintage
Jeeps. It’s a fine space for smaller adults and children.
The split folding rear seats make for an expansive
rear cargo area. They fold flat, so we were able to haul a couple oversized
chairs with lots of room to spare. The side-hinged tailgate and top-hinged rear
glass open wide for easy loading. There’s a rear power outlet and a small under
floor storage bin.
Under The
Hood: A new engine and transmission
are big news for the 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The engine is a new 3.6-liter V-6 that
produces 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. It replaces the previous 202
horsepower 3.8-liter V-6. The improvement was so noticeable that we thought
there was a V-8 under the hood. We had to read the spec sheet to dispel that
notion. The optional 5-speed automatic transmission is very smooth (a 6-speed
manual transmission is standard). The very useful Hill Descent Control feature
is included with the automatic transmission.
The Wrangler Unlimited is only available as a
four-wheel-drive model. The slick system includes a low-range (4:1 ratio) gear
for serious off-road use. Our Rubicon model also had locking differentials and
an electronic front stabilizer bar disconnect feature.
We did some trail driving around Chimacum in
Jefferson County with friends that have conquered the actual Rubicon Trail in
the Sierra Nevada mountains. We experimented with the stabilizer disconnect
feature, but didn’t try terrain rocky or rugged enough to notice a distinct
difference. Our friends agreed that the feature would be beneficial on the
extremely rocky Rubicon Trail. The Wrangler easily handled the loose dirt hills
and rutted roads we tried.
The Wrangler Unlimited is EPA rated at
16-city/20-highway mpg. We got 20.5 mpg on a non-stop highway trip from Port
Ludlow to Seattle and averaged 17.85 mpg in mixed city/highway driving.
Behind The
Wheel: As mentioned previously, the
Wrangler Unlimited is an off-road champ. We’ve had occasions to drive other
Wranglers on muddy forest trails and never been challenged in any way. The
bigger surprise was how civilized the Wrangler was on the highway and around
town. We were very pleased with its freeway demeanor. Even with relatively
aggressive LT255/75R17 on/off road tires the interior was pleasantly quiet. The
longer wheelbase of the Unlimited helps smooth out the highway ride. We’ve done
highway time in big-tired CJ-5 Jeeps and thought we were going to get seasick.
The doors fit/finish was very good, which contributed
to the low wind noise levels. The outstanding sound system also helped. The
supportive front seats and excellent legroom boosted the excellent driving
experience. The Wrangler sits up high, which provides a good road view,
although getting in and out can be challenging for shorter people.
Whines: Rearward vision is compromised by the rollbars,
full-size spare tire and the large rear window mounted wiper motor. The large
power side mirrors help alleviate this issue. The rear side windows are only
controllable from the dashboard. This is fine for small children, but annoying for
adults. We’d rather have the extra space than the oversized Infinity speaker
that hogs the right rear corner of the cargo area.
Bottom
Line: We thoroughly enjoyed the 2012
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. It’s always a blast off-road, but we were most
impressed by how pleasant it was for highway and around town driving. Its
mountain goat features didn’t compromise daily usefulness. Jeep has managed to
infuse the right amount of modern technology, safety, luxury, and convenience
without diluting the rugged character and endless fun that define this iconic
brand.
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