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For small families, the vehicle of choice is no longer the minivan or the SUV; it's the compact... Read More
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Some creature comforts never before seen here, such as seat heaters, power heated mirrors, and redundant steering wheel controls, make this the most refined (gasp!)
The Rubicon, of note, can be ordered with a body-color hardtop and fenders for the first time.
four-door Wrangler Unlimited, which is accounting for nearly 60 percent of all sales—compares favorably to the typical midsize SUV
FEATURES | 9 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
Some creature comforts never before seen here, such as seat heaters, power heated mirrors, and redundant steering wheel controls, make this the most refined (gasp!)
TruckTrend
The Rubicon, of note, can be ordered with a body-color hardtop and fenders for the first time.
Road & Track
four-door Wrangler Unlimited, which is accounting for nearly 60 percent of all sales—compares favorably to the typical midsize SUV
Automobile Magazine
The model lineup for the Wrangler remains mostly unchanged. Including base Sport, the popular Sport S, showy Sahara, and super-off-road-focused Rubicon. For 2012, the Rubicon model now shares its body-color hardtop with the Sahara.
Standard equipment includes fog lamps, tow hooks, a compass, a device that shows how economically you are driving, and even an outdoor temperature gauge. Its utter flexibility, along with those options and others like Bluetooth connectivity, MyGIG music storage, Sirius Satellite Radio, and a hard-core off-road package have us still quite amazed at all that's offered—more than any other off-roader.
In addition to the new instrument panel and new look last year, the refresh included an all-new steering-wheel design with integrated controls, a new armrest, and a locking glovebox, and heated seats and heated mirrors are newly available—as is automatic climate control.
Like many Jeeps before it, though, the Wrangler provides features that other SUVs simply can't match. One such feature is the removable top. Although it is also possible to remove the top on a two-door convertible car, the Wrangler remains the only four-door convertible on the market, and you can even flip down the windshield for low-speed operation.
The soft-top mechanism has been gradually improved over time, allowing easier access to convertible thrills. And with the Freedom Top, the Wrangler Jeep can go roofed, as a targa, or as a full convertible, which definitely increases its appeal.
Jeep has held the line on pricing for 2012, putting the base Wrangler at $22,845 and the base Unlimited at $26,345, including destination. But those base prices can be misleading, as Sahara and Rubicon models cost thousands more, and you'll want a number of options to make the off-road package (and appearance) complete. A well-equipped Sahara can cost more than $37k, and loaded Rubicon models can top $40k. At that price, it's hard to see many owners not gulping heavily at the possibility of scratching paint or scraping a boulder.
Conclusion
You can get all sorts of features that you wouldn't expect to see in the utilitarian-looking Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited, but prices can get high.
