STYLING | 9 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
you can now order the 2012 Wrangler with a body color hardtop and fender flares
Popular Mechanics
Rest easy, hard-core Jeep faithful, the Wrangler looks exactly the same as last year’s model
AutoWeek
seven-slot grille and round headlights
TruckTrend
the interior is finally as it should be
Autoblog
Very little has changed about the exterior of the Wrangler in recent model years; it's one of the boxiest, hard-edged exteriors in the business—enforced by details like removable doors, outside door hinges, and a fold-down windshield. The flat side sheetmetal, trapezoidal wheel flares, and seven-slot grille also keep with the Wrangler's ready-for-the-trail, military-truck heritage.
The Wrangler is still offered in two-door Wrangler and four-door Wrangler Unlimited variants. Last year, Sahara trims get a new body-colored hardtop, and for this year the new top scheme has been extended to the Rubicon. Brighter colors and an expanded color palette round out the exterior news.
Climb inside, and you might notice that the Wrangler has changed quite significantly over the past couple of model years. Jeep last year did away with the drab interior, which was retro in all the wrong ways (read hard plastic and '90s-era Chrysler switchgear), and brought it up to modern tastes. The instrument panels and door panels are newly contoured, trims were freshened and given a bezeled or machined look, and the look and feel is way more sophisticated while keeping the brief, upright, and businesslike look of the dash. You'll also appreciate the use of soft-touch surfaces in areas such as elbow rests.
Conclusion
The 2012 Jeep Wrangler is instantly recognizable on the outside, while a softer, more modern look inside doesn't detract from the experience.
