The Jeep Wrangler EcoDiesel is a new 2020 mode that has a number of benefits, but a higher number of downsides that make it a vehicle that is hard to recommend for consumers in the grand scheme of things. With other competitor vehicles able to do the same things that the EcoDiesel can do, even Jeep enthusiasts will have a hard time biting the bullet to pick one of these new vehicles up.
Some strong points of the new Jeep Wrangler EcoDiesel are its powerful torque and a soft top that is power-folding. Some unfortunate downsides are that diesel is priced fairly high right now, there is no manual gearbox or a two-door version of the vehicle, and reliability still remains a factor.
After the launch of a four-door version and a pickup truck that is based on the Wrangler, Jeep has found another incredible way to lure in customers: a turbo-diesel engine.
Some of the first impressions are pointed out by Car Guide out in Utah. The 2020 Jeep wrangler boasts a 3.0-litre EcoDiesel V6 engine that contains an immense amount of torque. Even though the 260 horsepower it can thrust out isn’t too appealing, what is appealing is the 442 pound-feet of torque. Some modifications were made to the engine that may or may not sit well with customers. The alternator on the vehicle is situated higher to avoid any damage that could potentially occur while off-roading. For many hardcore diesel engine lovers, it doesn’t come in the manual transmission option, just the eight-speed automatic. The automatic transmission is said to do a great job though. The Jeep Wrangler EcoDiesel is also only offered in four-door unlimited models. FCA states that because most of the demand is in that category, that’s where production will be.
Expenses
When the 2018 Jeep wrangler hit the market, it saw a $6,000 price jump in comparison to previous models. This didn’t really sit well with customers, and with the new EcoDiesel, it won’t sit well again because the EcoDiesel option for 2020 costs $7,395. This price isn’t even including the $1,795 premium that is charged for the automatic transmission. Tallying things up, this makes the cheapest model of the EcoDiesel Wrangler start at a staggering $43,495. Many have considered this price to be way too much to ask for when you consider what you actually receive from the vehicle. And extras on the vehicle will run you even more money.
You get 442 pound-feet of torque, but the towing capacity of the vehicle isn’t even much higher than the 3,500 pounds that the 3.6 litres V6 Pentastar can tow. The FCA states that it all depends on the chassis and not only the engine. To take things a step further, the Wrangler EcoDiesel is around 400 pounds heavier than the Pentastar-equipped model. Added noise insulation which makes operating the vehicle easier on the ears is what causes the additional weight of the vehicle. But even when you reach over 50km/h with the EcoDiesel, the wind and road noise are both so loud that you can’t even hear the sound of the engine anyways.
4×4
The EcoDiesel is no exception to the 4v4 capabilities that Jeep has built its name and reputation on. It excels in offroading and seemingly always will. Car Guide test drove the Sahara model at a media event and took on some boulders and sand areas in a Rubicon. It was one of the most difficult courses that Car Guide has ever seen and many of the obstacles looked pretty intimidating. With no surprise, the Wrangler tackled all of the obstacles like a hero, all the way from start to finish. Concerns about reliability still remain though, just as they have in the past. One of the big questions that remain around the EcoDiesel is if this time will be any different because the previous two generations did poorly. It seems that purchasing a diesel-powered Wrangler is somewhat of a gamble, and just a short time ago, FCA sent out a recall on 50,000 units of the 2014-2019 Ram 1500 that had the diesel engines because of the exhaust gas recirculation cooler having potential crack and leaks which could potentially lead to a fire.
Diesel engines used to provide decent cost-savings to customers in comparison to gasoline engines, but lately, the savings have diminished at a very fast rate. FCA hasn’t released any fuel ratings on it yet, but when it does, the value of the vehicle will become a lot more clear. Unfortunately, this vehicle can’t be recommended for customers and it is best to just stay with the much cheaper, tested and tried Pentastar V6.
Jeep Wrangler
- Trim Level: JL Sahara Unlimited V6
- Price: $45,495
- Warranty (basic): 3 years/60,000km
- Fuel economy: N/A
- Vehicle Strengths: Good torque, power-folding soft top,
- Vehicle weaknesses: Diesel option is high priced, no manual gearbox or two-door version, concerns of reliability have plagued the Wrangler chain of vehicles.
- Fuel Economy: Ratings for the fuel economy haven’t been released yet.
- Comfort level: The Wranglers have never been a very comfortable vehicle.
- Performance: The EcoDiesel engine delivers some incredible torque.
- Infotainment: The Uconnect system is said to be very beneficial.
- Driving: The wrangler is a very entertaining vehicle to drive.
- Overall: The small number of pros, unfortunately, doesn’t override the higher number of cons on this vehicle, and the EcoDiesel engine does not justify the high price.