2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara SUV

The traditional icon, the Wrangler Unlimited, received some upgrades for the 2012 model year. Jeep chose to offer:

• All-wheel drive on every model.
• Consumers the choice of a five-speed automatic transmission as an option.
• Increased power with a V-6 engine.

The 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is the four-door version of the conventional two-door Wrangler. This version is offered in three trim levels, the Sport, the Sahara, and the Rubicon trim levels. On the Sport trim level, the Wrangler Unlimited rides around on 16-inch steel wheels, while the Sahara has 18-inch alloy wheels and the Rubicon features unique 17-inch wheels. The Wrangler Unlimited looks exactly the way one would expect it to. It has that traditional Jeep look with the round headlights flanking the vertically designed grille and the Jeep emblem just above it. All four fenders are exaggerated and give the overall body design similarities to a tank. The hood is hammered out with plenty of details. The rest of the body design is boxy and the windows are wide. Jeep is offering this vehicle with plenty of color choices as well.

The thing to remember about the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is that, for all of its recent upgrades, it is still a Jeep. The interior of the SUV is updated with a more modern design and offers seating for up to five passengers, but the materials used in the cabin are intended for easy cleaning after a day off road. You won’t find cushy seats with cloth or leather upholstery here. The four-door Wrangler Unlimited offers three available seats in the rear of the cabin. Cargo space is always important and for its size, the Wrangler Unlimited provides a decent amount. With the rear seats folded this vehicle offers 86 cubic feet of space. The only trouble is there is no way to lock the stuff down due to its soft top design. The glove compartment and center console are the only places to secure goods.

This vehicle comes standard with a soft top, though there is an offered hard top option. The soft top is a bit tricky to use and the plastic windows have to be stored somewhere inside the cabin. With the hard top versions T-top styled panels are removed from over the front seats. If you don’t want or need the true convertible design, this style is a good option.

The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited for the 2012 model year is equipped with a handful of standard safety features. This vehicle is equipped with traction and stability control as well as anti-lock brakes. It also has hill start assist. Unlike almost every other vehicle airbags aren’t standard, but they are available as an optional feature.

It’s important to note that the Wrangler Unlimited has a flaw not to overlook. The Wrangler’s doors aren’t equipped to withstand side impact accidents like other vehicles. This SUV did not score well in side impact testing. On the other hand, it did well in frontal offset collusion crash testing.

It takes effort to go off road and perform well in all terrains. The effort for the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited comes from the 3.6-liter, V-6 engine Jeep chose to offer this model year. It is paired with a six-speed manual transmission with hill start standard, though the five-speed automatic is offered as an option. The powertrain offers 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The fuel economy for this model comes in at an estimated 16/20 mpg city/highway with the automatic transmission and 16/21 mpg with the standard manual gearbox.

In terms of performance, the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is a master of the off road experience. While there are some advantages to the traditional two-door version, the more spacious interior of the Wrangler Unlimited leaves more room for passengers and gear. It also is more supportive during highway driving.

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