It's official: I was wrong.
Readers may remember that I was underwhelmed when I first drove a vehicle with the 3.6 VVT V6 that everyone else was gushing about. Now that I've spent some time driving a 2012 Wrangler with the 3.6 and the W5A580 5-speed automatic transmission, I'm eating my words.
The 2012 JK Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon is a great improvement over earlier models. The 3.6 VVT V6 produces 84 more horsepower than the 3.8 V6 it replaces, but does so at high RPM. The real star, I suspect, is the W5A580 5-speed automatic.
The transmission is a gem. With a 3.59:1 first gear, 2.19 2nd, 1.41 3rd, 1.0 4th, and 0.83 overdrive 5th (Reverse is 3.16), the new Wrangler never has a problem finding the right gear. Manual shifting is easy. With the selector in D, the shifter is rocked side to side to shift down (or back up). The W5A580 is so strong it's also used in trucks and Hemi-equipped vehicles.
The 3.6's relative lack of low end torque is overcome with the automatic's low 3.59 first gear. Ledge climbing and crawling is accomplished without a whimper.
I like the 2012 Wrangler so much I'm now figuring out how to buy one.