- Doors and Seats
2 doors, 4 seats
- Engine
3.6i, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
209kW, 347Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 11.3L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4X4
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2012 Jeep Wrangler V6 Auto Off-Road Review
JEEP WRANGLER REVIEW
Vehicle style: Two-door 4X4 compact SUV
Price: $34,000 (plus on-road costs)
Options fitted: Renegade pack - $2500, connectivity group (AAJ) - $490
OVERVIEW
For ‘go anywhere’ off-road credentials, the Jeep Wrangler is likely to be somewhere front-of-mind for most of us.
With its short wheelbase, short overhangs, large tyres and wide track - and partially developed at the Rubicon Trail in California - this is surely one of the more-qualified rock crawlers around.
Ok, so it’s good at clambering over boulders, but how will it fare when faced with bone-dry sand? To really test it out, we found the hungriest dust we could find and let it loose.
With the new Pentastar V6 under the bonnet, the MY12 Wrangler has more power and torque than before - something easily wasted in a flurry of wheelspin in the hands of the inexperienced.
So, what was the result? Does the short-wheel-base Wrangler deliver on its promise - and could you live with it day-to-day?
INTERIOR RATING 2.5/5
Quality: With the Wrangler, what you see is what you get. It’s whole persona is as a tough go anywhere ‘truck’, so don’t go looking too hard for creature-comforts or Lexus-style trim and fit.
Visual clues to its utilitarian past are the bonnet clips, canvas straps to stop the doors opening too far and interior plastics of the hose-out variety. Basic, it has to be said, but each successive Wrangler is getting easier on the eye, aesthetics-wise.
Comfort: The seats are reasonably wide and well padded, and the trim material is durable and not un-appealing. That said, with a suspension that’s set-up primarily for the dusty trail, there is too much bouncing and jiggling to describe the ride as “comfortable”.
But don’t be too deterred, it’s kind-of fun in its own idiosyncratic way. Top down, and heading to the beach, everyone will want to be travelling with you - guaranteed.
Equipment: The Wrangler is fairly basic, but you get air-con, leather-wrapped steering-wheel, electric windows and a six-speaker sound system. Removable doors are standard kit.
If, as per our test car, you option the Renegade Pack, you get a heap more: Infinity Audio including a subwoofer, six-disc CD/DVD/MP3 player, tinted glass, hard-top and side-steps. The Connectivity pack (also fitted) gives you Bluetooth with contact synching and voice commands.
Storage: For a compact ‘box’, storage space isn’t too bad. There’s 142 litres of available cargo space with the seats up, but fold them and it’s nearly 500 litres. Just don’t leave anything of value in the canvas back, it’ll be gone in a trice.
Thankfully, Jeep can also supply a hardtop which can be fitted in around half-an-hour; a few bolts here and there makes it a simple fit, and one that, for security reasons alone, would be best kept on full-time.
ON THE ROAD | RATING 2/5
Driveability: Our journey to the off-road tracks brought to light some interesting characteristics of the Wrangler.
The new 3.6-litre V6 offers the Jeep better urge thanks to its 209kW output, though its peak torque of 347Nm is still quite high in the rev-range; at 4300rpm to be precise.
This makes taking off quickly a bit laborious, as it has to rev-out for real progress. Once on the roll, the five-speed auto does its job reasonably well, but an extra cog would be helpful for keeping the engine on the boil for longer.
Refinement: It’s about as refined as, well, a Jeep. Refinement isn’t the name of the game; the Wrangler is all about image, lifestyle and fun. At least the new V6 doesn’t sound too gravelly.
Suspension: Again, things below are pretty unsophisticated for tarmac driving. The front and rear setups both use five-link live axles with coil springs – they’re not really suited to the city, with a solid, almost unyielding firmness.
The Wrangler’s steering is also disappointing on the road, with almost no feel, and the weighting is the same in a carpark as it is at the national speed limit. You find yourself continually correcting your line, and guessing where the wheels are going.
Brakes: With quite a wooden pedal feel, the brakes do their job, but not without plenty of encouragement. For those who love figures, the Wrangler uses 332mm vented fronts and 316mm solid rear discs.
OFF THE ROAD | RATING 4/5
The Wrangler may not have many endearing qualities on road - besides image - but venture way off the beaten track and it begins to make a lot more sense.
This test was a sand test - arguably one of the hardest for any four-wheel-drive.
There were two options for our time in the Wrangler. First option, we could let the tyre pressures down. That would get it through just about everything, with bagged out hoops.
Our second option was to keep road pressures throughout the entire test, giving a true indication of just how far the Wrangler could go without any driver intervention. Needless to say, we went with option number two.
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