ShareThisWhen the first Jeep drivers went off road, many were probably trying to avoid landmines or enemy fire.
Nowadays, most Jeep off-roaders are just trying to avoid being stuck on some wilderness trail. If they're really serious, they're driving the Wrangler, the most authentic and rugged off-roader in the Jeep fleet. Wrangler is the most direct descendant of the "general purpose" (GP) vehicle that went to war in 1941.
To keep Wrangler relevant in a multipurpose marketplace, the current brand custodians at Chrysler are making some significant improvements to the 2012 model.
"I think what we've done for 2012 could be considered the second half of a complete remodel," said Chris Ellis, head of Jeep product marketing. "This may be the most flexible and useful sport utility vehicle we've ever built."
The most noticeable improvement in the 2012 model is performance.
With a new, 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, the Wrangler can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds, about 3 seconds faster than the previous model. The V6 cranks 285 horsepower, an increase of 40 percent over the 3.8-liter V6, while delivering greater fuel efficiency.
Offered in two-door or four-door Unlimited models, all Wranglers are 4-wheel-drive available in four trim levels: Sport, Sport S, Sahara and Rubicon. Prices range from $22,845 for the two-door Sport to $34,370 for the four-door Unlimited Rubicon.
The review Wrangler was a two-door Sahara with a base price of $27,970, which ascended to $31,770 with three option packages, including a three-piece hardtop for $1,715.
As a true off-roader, not a crossover pseudo SUV -- the Wrangler body still rides on a ladder frame and chassis featuring five-link rear suspension system, live axles, electronic lockers, and a choice of six-speed manual or new five-speed automatic transmission.
By increasing the number of speeds from four to five, the automatic transmission allows the engine to operate in a more efficient RPM range, which helps increase fuel economy. A lower first-gear ratio in the new automatic transmission gives the Wrangler more off-road ability through a lower crawl ratio.
Wrangler is available with 3.21, 3.73 or 4.10 axle ratios depending on model and towing capacity up to 3,500 pounds.
The Wrangler's approach angle of 44.6 degrees is best in class, as is the departure angle of 40.6 degrees. The break-over angle is 25.5 degrees, and ground clearance is 10.3 inches with the 18-inch tires that come on the Sahara trim.
Hitting the scales at nearly 2 tons, the Wrangler is not competing on the basis of its fuel efficiency. With a combined city and highway average fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon, you can expect to spend about $2,502 per year filling the 18.6-gallon tank.
Wrangler does compete nicely in its design, however. The interior features upgraded materials, automatic temperature controls, heated seats, power mirrors and steering wheel controls for vehicle systems. Larger rear windows are engineered for greater visibility. A USB port connects to the media center, 12-volt accessory outlets are located throughout, and a 115-volt AC outlet is available to power select two-pronged home electronics.
The exterior styling includes classic round headlamps, seven-slot grille, trapezoid wheel flares, removable doors, exposed hinges, a fold-down windshield and removable soft top or optional hardtop.
If the two-door model doesn't accommodate your family, consider the four-door Unlimited, which is the only four-door 4x4 convertible on the market.
Adding to the Wrangler's bona fides is the fact that it is assembled in its longtime home of Toledo, Ohio. The 3.6-liter V-6 engine is manufactured at the Trenton engine plant in Michigan. The five-speed automatic transmission is produced in Kokomo, Ind., while the manual six-speed transmission is produced in Gaggenau, Germany.
Wrangler once had much more competition than it now faces, but with the departure of Daihatsu, Isuzu and Hummer, fewer brands offer true off-road vehicles. Even Ford has converted the Explorer to a crossover vehicle, and Land Rover no longer offers an equivalent to Wrangler.
For buyers who want a crossover vehicle like those offered by most brands, Jeep provides plenty of choices with the Compass, Patriot, Liberty and Grand Cherokee.
One of the ironies for such an iconic brand is the fact that nobody is really sure where the name "Jeep" came from. Some contend that the name came from the slurring of the letters "GP," the military abbreviation for "General Purpose." Others say the vehicle was named for a popular character named "Eugene the Jeep" in the Popeye cartoon strip.
WHAT'S NEW: More power for 2012, new standard features.
PLUSES: Ruggedness, versatility, performance, brand identity.
MINUSES: Fuel economy, price.
BOTTOM LINE: Durable, versatile, venerable.
TYPE: 4-wheel-drive, two-door, four-passenger, mid-size sport utility vehicle.
PRICE: $27,970 base, ($26,413 invoice), $31,770 as tested, $800 destination charge.
WHERE BUILT: Toledo, Ohio.
KEY RIVALS: Toyota 4Runner, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Land Rover Discovery.
POWER: 3.6-liter, 285-horsepower, DOHC V6; six-speed manual transmission.
PERFORMANCE: 0-60 mph in 8.4 seconds.
FUEL ECONOMY: 17 city, 21 highway, 18 combined mpg; 18.6-gallon tank; estimated annual fuel cost $2,502.
CHASSIS: Front/rear live axles; front leading arms, track bar, coil springs, stabilizer bar, low-pressure gas-charged shock absorbers; rear trailing arms, track bar, coil springs, stabilizer bar, gas-charged shock absorbers; NV241OR Rock-Trac heavy-duty transfer case; power recirculating ball steering with damper; power disc brakes with ABS, electronic stability control, traction control, trailer-sway control; 18-inch cast aluminum wheels; P255/70R18 off-road OWL tires.
LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 152.8 x 73.7 x 70.9 inches.
WHEELBASE X TRACK: 95.4 x 61.9 inches.
CURB WEIGHT: 3,976 pounds.
GROUND CLEARANCE: 10.3 inches.
PAYLOAD: 1,000 pounds.
STANDARD: Air conditioning with automatic temperature controls, heated seats, power mirrors and steering wheel controls for vehicle systems, USB port connection to media center, 12-volt accessory outlets, 115-volt AC outlet, voice recognition, Bluetooth streaming audio, navigation system, Infinity 7-speaker sound system with AM/FM/SiriusXM Satellite Radio, power windows/locks/mirrors, tilt steering, rear fold-and-tumble seat; auto headlamps, fog lamps, tubular side step, tinted windows.
OPTIONS: Leather upholstery ($900); Preferred package 23G includes connectivity group with remote USB port, Bluetooth, electronic information center ($385); body-color 3-piece hard top ($1,715).
WARRANTY: 3-year/36,000-mile basic; 5-year/100,000-mile power-train; 24-hour roadside assistance.
(E-mail Richard Williamson at motorfriend(at)sbcglobal.net)
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