afterthought: I'd look carefully at the iphone/bluetooth options. That's one where factory-installed is good. I don't know what's on the 2012, but I had an aftermarket bluetooth installed and it works with the iphone and has voice-activated radio, but doesn't interface with my itunes library. bummer on road trips :(

 

I've got the 430 nav in my 2012, I can tell you for sure that it can stream music through bluetooth, and it can read your phone book from your phone too. But I don't think it alerts you of text messages, unless mine just isn't set up 100% correct. Make sure to check out the nav system user manuals available on jeep.com

I re-read your post, I'm not sure if I have access to my playlists, I've only streamed from the phone for a few seconds at a time. I prefer to load the music onto the nav hard drive or stream from a USB.

 

I have owned 6 jeeps now, first was a 48 ******* and just bought a 4dr rubi 2012. My advice is buy what u want, if u cheap out you will kick yourself later. If its just u and the wife and u are looking for a weekend fun vehicle maybe a 2dr is what u want. If u have kids or need a vehicle for 3 or more and want to use it as a daily driver, get a 4dr. If u are going to to wheel alot but are not going to go bigger then 35's get a rubi, u won't have to do anything but a small lift and tires and u are done. If u are going to be a hardcore wheeler maybe u should get an x model because u are going to replace all the rubi options with heavier stuff anyway. Get the dual tops if u get cold winters, u won't freeze in the soft top, but u will wish u had the hard top. I like the 430 or 730 stereos, i luv the HD and bluetooth that works with phones and ipods or ipads, no cd's bouncing around. All my music is on the 20g hard drive. I have tried the save money thing........thats why i have had 6 jeeps...ending up trading for what i wanted later. If its a mid life thing, pay the extra and enjoy it. A stock jeep will give u around 20mpg honest avg. few mpg better on the hwy, few less around town. When u are cruising with the top off, u won't care what the mpg is, trust me!!! Its a jeep thing!!

 

One more thing.....my 12 rides like a car.4dr has a better ride then the 2dr, they both ride nice 4dr just not as choppy. Go take 1 for a test drive, u will be surprised.

 

Well, I might get some of you mad at me... The jeep will have to wait, I'm shopping for Volkswagen EOS for my wife. Dont worry guys, my choice, simply pushing back the purchase a little.
Thank you for your comments and assistance, I will still wave at you guys, you simply wont notice me.