2012 Jeep Wrangler Pentastar review: a faster smoother more powerful classic
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- ( www.TFLcar.com ) The 2012 Jeep Wrangler finally gets the new Chrysler Pentastar V-6 engine and 5 speed automatic or 6 speed manual transmission to not only compete in today's crowded Crossover and SUV segment, but rule the off-road world. More power and torque, better gas mileage and the same base price. What's not to like?
My mom gave me for having finished college a Wrangler Sport 3.6 3 door black 2014 automatic , instead I changed my 2011 Mini Cooper and I absolutely love my Jeep.
My 2012 Wrangler JK is the only time I spent a lot of money, and didn't have buyer's remorse later. I love it. God Bless Detroit and Toledo....
so glad they dropped the 3.8 mini van engine
I test drove one of these last week, smoothest manual transmission I've ever driven and damn they're fast at 285hp it was hard not to take it home
the reason i love jeep more than just the ability is it's history. the first 4x4 to hit the streets and first used in WWII. Much respect to anything that goes into the military. 7 continents conquered!
i'm getting a wrangler as my first "car"
but it's going to be a used one. Forget 20k or whatever they're calling for new ones, i can get a 90 something for like 4k and it's essentially the same vehicle. Plus i won't be scared to mess it up
Thanks man, Thats what I was hoping to hear. Im glad you commented I couldnt get anyone to talk to me about this.
And then in 2017, I discovered Roman and TFL and got a 2019 2 door JL. I LOVE MY JEEP! (I think Nathan is getting tired of me now) :)
i have the rubicon unlimited. i love it. have a leveling kit, 33 inch super swamper boggers, arb onboard air, and got a 9000lb winch up front. tons of fun and great daily driver. decent on fuel as well
I own the 2012 Ruby, I love it!! People ask me why the Ruby and I just say when you are by yourself out in the woods and those lockers are there to save yo butt, no better feeling.
-I have a 2011 Sahara-dual top. I keep the hardtop on during winter, switched to soft in spring-then I can lower the softop in 5 minutes. But the BEST is taking the doors off on an 80 degree day with top down-sunglasses on and straw cowboy hat on and total freedom!! You would love it fourbypete-I know it.:)
@weaselfly The new Wrangler is much improved with a new and better engine, new interior and now even a new gearbox. Those are the facts. Off-road few cars can touch the Wrangler. That's also a fact. It's also loud, heavy and somewhat unrefined, but you we think that post people already know that.
@klode62 If it has four wheels, an engine, and it is to transport people it's a car in our book be it a Jeep, Rover or Xterra.
no, you can also get them with hard top. the soft top ive heard is really bad when its winter.
AT LAST!!! I knew that the Pentastar 3.6L had to land into the Jeep Wrangler's engine bay. The previous 3.8L had to march into the horizon since it dates back to the 1981 Chrysler Imperial and consumed fuel up to 14MPG. Great move from Jeep/Chrysler plus an improved interior for 2012 and other features. See Motor Trend magazine for October 2011. The new Wrangler passed the tests in the Rubicon with flying colors just as the previous Wranglers with the 3.8L engines and road manners improved too.
I haven't recorded anything yet, but stay tuned. I don't exactly have a crew of people to film me when out in the bush. Usually it's 1 or 2 cars but mostly I drive by myself.
I owned a 2003 TJ with the 4.0L inline 6. I really liked the torque, but the on road acceleration could use a boost. I test drove a 2010, but did not care for the 3.8L V-6. I decided to wait for the 2012 model.
I now have (in my driveway) a 2012 Wrangler with the Pentastar V6 and the new 5 speed auto. So far, it is impressive. Very smooth and responsive. I haven't done much off road yet, as it is still new. I would definitely say "well done" for the new model.
12 years later, how'd it turn out? Just curious.
In my opinion, a better deal for the money than a Hemi (wich don't get me wrong, is still awesome) is a bolt on supercharger kit. Nearly the same HP and torque as the Hemi, at less than half the cost...better fuel economy too! I will be installing one on mine this spring, I can't wait, it will make towing the sleds and bikes a breeze, not to mention highway passing.
0:31 solid axles front/rear and GEAR-DRIVEN trans.case - best Jeep ever built.
@77deereboy I agree. I had a 2003 TJ with a 5 speed and it was great. Now I have a 2012 JK Sport (2door) with the new Pentastar motor.. and I am impressed.
0:13 coolest sound
I don't know if you've read some of my other posts but I actually like the Jeep Wrangler and I'm planning on buying one. What I don't like is the fact that they haven't put in a decent diesel engine for the Australian market. Petrol (what we call it over here) requires a person to mortgage an arm and a leg for a day trip. I'd like to see you come up with a good argument to why they don't put efficient diesels in Wranglers?
Please don't call me a road warrior, you don't know me!
Roman this review made me buy a 2012! I owe you!
The real question... how much horsepower will all you gear heads be able to get out of it after getting your hands on one? Looking forward to seeing some fast mods!
The new wrangler makes me almost wanna get rid of my 2004 TJ!!!! Thats a first since the JK came out. The improvements look AWESOME!!!!
Can you see the hood of the Wrangler from the driver's seat? all of it? I'm looking to replace my old cherokee with a Wrangler, one of the things I like about the Cherokee is that you can see all four corners of the vehicle from the drivers seat. I want to know if you can do the same in a Wrangler.
Re the Pentastar, I really like the interior, it looks well built. I'm looking at buying a diesel in the new year for the less tame bush tracks near my place.
You say it is a 3.8 Pentastar? I thought the 2012+ were 3.6 Pentastar?
+sandplasma It is a 3.6L Pentastar
@GeoNemesisITA 3.8 was the old engine. The new engine is the 3.6 VVT
@chrsl1987 the 80s model Jeeps weren't wranglers . They were the cj and starting in 87 were the yj . They were not built by Chrysler until 1991. It was all amc before that and they were tough as nails back then!
Very cool video Roman... Thanks heaps!! it helped me decide for one of those...Keep up the good work.
Hi fom Bogotá, Colombia.
got tired of waiting for diesels so I imported a JDM pajero 2.8 diesel lol right hand drive, love it
you're right. 15mpg is the norm on these things today, and thats just not acceptable, but we just keep buying them, and the US Gorvernment just keeps shutting down diesels. Immagine the loss of revenue if mpg increased even 2mpg on all vehicles over night...
What type of jeep wrangler is best to just cruise around in citites, showing off? With a minimal amount of off-road on the side:)
please the 6.1 hemi conversion that aev makes its about 1000% better i wish they would make this a stock option
Sticking to 4.0L :)
Yes the 2012 has the 3.6 pentastar. Its the only engine that comes in the wrangler for 2012 for the USA that is.
@fourbypete -I could argue some points with you-but one fact is there is NO vehicle I have ever owned that lets me go to work by day and smash snow or take the top down at my whim-this is all purpose fun.
There spec sheet was wrong. They said a 3.8l when the new one is a 3.6l...
This is the Land Rover Defender of America, although not as good, but still capable.
A civilized wrangler? Guess I'm missing out cause my 01 wrangler keeps getting wilder and wilder every time I drive it :) I may not have all the Italian upgrades, or the new 3.6L but with my little 2.5 I can still yank a hummer out of a ditch :) does that count? And well... of course I can't go anywhere where I don't get at least two tires with traction.
Im 6'3" tall, how well will a tall person like myself fit in the wrangler?
Hey guys! Roman was so young then!!
Love the new motor we had an 2011 rubicon that could't get out of it's own way. Even with 35's it's still way faster then the old one and who cares about gas mileage.
Love that tan color, but can't find it anywhere
Dang that 0-60 1940's willys rips
I know the rubicon is more capable off road. My point is that most people won't buy a $40k jeep and risk damaging it, and there are no reviews of the sport or sahara which far more people will purchase. A corvette is more capable on road than a malibu but you still see reviews of the latter.
how much faster/economical is the manual?
No, but North Americans have resisted buying diesels in the past. So manufacturers are wary of selling them here now. Times have changed though and people want them more and more. Chevy IS putting a small diesel in the Cruze next year in North America. And hopefully Jeep gets off its ass and brings the diesel to NA in the Wrangler.
Using the automatic transmission, can you lock the gear to remain in 1st or 2nd gear?
Tony yes
im waiting to see if jeep will put the new 3.0L diesel that ram and the grand cherokee are getting into the wrangler
When the Wrangler sells with a 176kw inter-cooled bi turbo diesel that gets it 0 - 60 in 6.5 sec then I'll buy one!
BTW my modified for off road Audi Q5 has the above specs as standard. My current specs are same engine but 204kw and 0 - 60 in 6.2sec I'm also getting 35mpg. Lift your game Jeep.
The states is the only place where it's not a stock option.
takes all the fun out of making your jeep "your own" i mean, i have a 2003 TJ RME i have had since new, it has 220000 KM on it, i have rolled it over and broken two dana 35 axles, every bump and scar is a story to be told.
The new 3.6 is heaps faster on the road and more economical on road BUT The 3.8 is better off road , it delivers the same amount of torque 2000 rpm earlier than the pentastar. You can put the 3.8 litre model through hell off road without breaking 1800 rpm. If you bought your wrangler for stoplight racing you failed anyway.
Also want to add that now the boffins are looking at improving the Q5 for VW touareg type offroading so I'll be looking to change to full lock diffs.
I WANT ONE!!!!!!!!! BUT do they waste gas
wrangler or fj cruiser ?
I've always known it as the "oh shit grip" lol
What is that supposed to mean?
Hi back
good thing they still make a manual :D
@deanbassist01 Yup, you got us. In fact Jeep pays us the exact same amount that their competition pays you to make these comments.
Jeep just needds to put a 4 cylinder diesel in a Wrangler, like the 4BT Cummins motor. Those things would sell like candy!!!!! Not only would you get better torque but also better mpg!
Is this California?
anyone know where that hill is at 1:39. looks like the coast range.
the drag race was an unlimited mojave vs a 2 door 2012? that dosent seem fair
You do realise the new V-6 makes more power than the old 304 right? If anything they need to bring the diesel over here so we get more torque AND better fuel economy. (You don't even need all 285 hp in the Wrangler off road, unless you are spinning huge Super Swampers in the mud). But domestic brands are still convinced North Americans hate diesels.
On some of the rims of the Rubi's and Sahara's there is a little Jeep painted on them as well. Haven't seen the little Jeep on "X" or Sport versions tho.
No, Just that when I bought the q5 there was a second car in the garage and the q7 wouldn't fit. Also, the Q5 has the best fuel cons in the range. Until the Q3 came out. @and2244rew & SCROGY, I've owned a Toyota HiLux 4" lift (gutless) Rav4 (three door) (no diflocks) and I've had the Q5 in places neither of them will go. Stick with your old army jeep. Also, HK do a 3" Hyd lift for the Q5 and I'm eying e diff locks. My tires are eqiv 31"stock.One day I'll upload some vid in the bush.
the 3.8 is better for off roading. the power delivery may have been less but it was all done down low . the new engine is for the jeep driver that has never used low range.
nice review
How about the 5.7?
The 3.8 was good with the six speed manual, the 4speed auto killed ot though :/
@israeluzcategui pretty sure they were both 4 doors
death wobble on happens if you go to fast jeeps are made to go slow and the suspension parts that you say are from japan not many jeeps stay stock alot of them get spring lifts
Everyone calling for diesel should know that diesel fuel is now almost as expensive as gas...also the new diesel engines are now so complicated they have poor reliability, they're not like the old fashioned simple diesel motors that never broke down....the new ones are very expensive to have things fixed plus diesel models are always marked up much higher than the gas models.
i have both!
a road vehicle, typically with four wheels, powered by an internal combustion engine and able to carry a small number of people:
MPG?
Who wouldn't want a Jeep Wrangler SRT-8 with a 6.4 Hemi?
He says "6 speed manual" like it's a very advanced transimision for today standards?! Always liked wrangler, but it always needed a bit more up to time tech... anyway it's fun either way. :)
Yeah, some mistakes, but a good review of the wrangler.
@martinsteele05 thanks that actually makes far more sense!
Land rovers are more expensive and I would not say they are nessarily better.
The old land rovers were amazing and could last for years were as that is not the same with the new models.
@Ddato1985 European version has one: 2.8L turbo diesel.
what tires are those?
i love the wrangler. but throw a better trans in there. the engineers took it home there is no way they could of been happy with the mpg. it should be making at least 18-25..... besides that can't complain
cant wait for that 2.8 inline 4 diesel though, like the pentastar but not in a wrangler, though 0-60 in 8 seconds is shocking considering my go cart honda crx only does one second faster
I liked the gt500 at the beggining...
You don't need 300 hp on the trail for one. It's useless for anything but deep mud and big mudders. Secondly, torque, unlike hp is multiplied thru the drive train. So if you have a 100:1 low range and your engine makes 100 ft/lbs of torque, you are actually putting 10,000 ft/lbs to the wheels when you are in low range.
As an engineer u cannot compare cars by racing them behind each other. u have to do individual times in a similiar enviroment and record the data. The golf r vs the golf gti was not well done, in nascar they use the same slip routine to pass and hold... please raise your bar
What's the point of extra power? It's still slow and now has worse gas mileage.
A Jeep is not a car. It's a Jeep.
Now All it Needs is a Supercharged V8 Puttin
out atleast 500hp, Better Build Quality, a
Roof that doesn't Leak, and a Lower Price.
:D
you really think the roof will stay on a jeep with 500hp?
4.0 are still better in my opinion
not really a review but still nice
typo at 44 sec. it says its a 3.8 when its a 3.6 lolz
@israeluzcategui you really think two doors was the reason he won? how bout 285 vs. 202 hp? course its not fair but its not because of doors