Late last year, we learned the 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL’s fuel economy ratings with the V-6, but we didn’t have official mpgs for the new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder until now. The EPA has finally published the numbers for the turbo-four, and they look promising.
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The news comes thanks to a tip from JL Wrangler Forums, which pointed out that the filing appeared on the EPA’s website. The listings were filed under “2018 Jeep Wrangler,” which is the name the EPA previously used for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler JK. We know that can’t be the case because the JK recently ended production. Jeep has confirmed to us that the filings are correct but actually apply to the new JL rather than the JK.
The EPA categorizes these models as “Hybrid Vehicle – Gasoline,” which refers to the turbo 2.0-liter’s standard mild hybrid eTorque system that includes a 48-volt Belt Start Generator system.
We can see the benefits of that system reflected in the turbo-four Wrangler’s city fuel economy. The 2018 Jeep Wrangler two-door equipped with the 2.0-liter is rated at 23/25/24 mpg city/highway/combined.
That’s 5 mpg more than the same body style equipped with 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 and eight-speed automatic in the city, though only 2 mpg better on the highway. Meanwhile, the four-door Wrangler Unlimited with the four-cylinder is rated 22/24/22 mpg, which is 4 mpg better in the city and 1 mpg better on the highway than its V-6 counterpart.
The turbo-four is only available with the eight-speed automatic, and like all Wranglers since 2011, only offered with four-wheel drive. The 2.0-liter turbo makes 268 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, versus the 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of the Pentastar V-6, and is a $1,000 option.
As we found in our First Drive, you get similar power delivery to the V-6 when off-road, but at lower rpms. Combine that performance with better city mpg, and the four-banger Wrangler might be worth the price premium. We can’t wait to find out in a future First Test.
