EPA Ratings Appear for the New Jeep Wrangler

The program for Jeep’s new Wrangler has had more leaks than a screen door on a submarine, from the leak of its owner’s manual and standard options list to the discovery by our own Bozi Tatarevic of potential power numbers for the JL’s new turbocharged mill.

Always of interest to new-car shoppers are the official fuel economy ratings. Such numbers just appeared for the new Wrangler on the EPA’s website, leaving only the texture on underside of the JL driver’s seat as a surprise for its big reveal at the L.A. Auto Show later this year.

The old-style Wrangler Unlimited is currently equipped with a prehistoric automatic transmission when lashed to the Pentastar V6. That powertrain combination is currently rated at 16 city/20 highway/18 combined, or 5.6 gallons per 100 miles.

For 2018, the new JL Wrangler Unlimited is available with the company’s eight-speed auto box when the Pentastar is selected. These extra cogs boost the JL’s fuel economy ratings to 18 city/23 highway/20 combined, or 5.0 gallons per 100 miles. Not a huge increase, but big enough of one that Jeep owners sliding into the new model will see a good difference in range. Assuming a 22-gallon fuel tank, an equivalent amount of gasoline would take the driver of the new Wrangler an extra 50 miles.

Those who choose to row their own will see an increase in fuel economy as well. The old six-speed, Pentastar equipper Wrangler Unlimited was rated at 16 city/21 highway/18 combined. The EPA rates the new one at 17 city/23 highway/19 combined. The powertrain and body configuration mentioned here is the only one currently listed for the new Wrangler on the EPA site.

The new Wrangler broke cover (in pictures) during the SEMA Show in Vegas, with a topless red Rubicon and brown Sahara Unlimited gracing the screens on our phones and laptops. The Rubicon was shown in Firecracker Red, doors removed, and – joy of joys – windshield folded down. It appears folding the windshield may be a bit easier in the new JL than in the old JK, where bugs-in-yer-teeth wheeling involves removing part of the roll bar system. BFGoodrich All Terrain KO2s and a manual transmission all seem present and accounted for on the Rubicon.

Also recently leaked was a supposed list of standard equipment for the three Wrangler trims that’ll be available at launch: Sport, Sahara, and Rubicon. In the Rubicon, we see 4.10 gears listed as standard equipment, paired with Tru-Lok front and rear axles. Those suspension sticks are listed as a ‘Dana M210 Wide Axle’ up front and a ‘Dana M220 Wide Axle’ astern. This ‘wheeler thinks that’s great news, pointing to a stout level of off-road prowess right out of the box.

Sport and Sahara models are listed in the document as getting a Command-Trac Part Time 4WD system, while the Rubicon is showing a 4:1 Rock-Trac HD Part Time 4WD system. The Rubicon will also likely have a power inverter and a 220 amp alternator, perfect for supplying juice to power-sapping electrical accessories.

The new Jeep Wrangler is expected to appear on stage at this year’s L.A. Auto Show.