Despite being under investigation by the NHTSA, the Jeep® Wrangler continues to rack up awards for the iconic off-road brand. The latest award to adorn the Jeep brand’s trophy case is the coveted FOUR WHEELER “2020 SUV of the Year” title thanks to the new 2020 Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon EcoDiesel.
“The Wrangler is a truly exceptional machine both on- and off-road, and the new-for-2020 EcoDiesel engine option complements the outstanding JL platform,” said FOUR WHEELER Editor Ken Brubaker. “The EcoDiesel’s power and efficiency raise the bar for the already incomparable 4×4, making it even more extraordinary.”
FOUR WHEELER’s judges conducted a variety of tests spanning more than 1,000 miles of varied terrain that included pavement, gravel, dirt, sand, rocks, mud and snow. A loose-dirt hillclimb and water crossings were included in a week’s worth of testing. Night driving was also integrated into the competition to gauge each vehicle’s lighting equipment. Judges included staff from various 4×4 media brands, including FOUR WHEELER, 4-WHEEL & OFF-ROAD, and JP MAGAZINE.
“Jeep proves once again that it is listening to its customers, this time delivering the much anticipated diesel-powered Wrangler,” said MOTORTREND GROUP Content Director Sean P. Holman. “With no trade-offs in the capability or the experience demanded by enthusiasts and adventurers alike, the impressively efficient Wrangler EcoDiesel makes sense for your daily commute now, too.”
The Wrangler Unlimited EcoDiesel models that feature the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 engine, rated at 260 horsepower and 442 lb.-ft. of torque, with engine stop-start (ESS) technology standard. Wrangler EcoDiesel models are rated at 29 miles per gallon (mpg) highway, 22 mpg city and 25 mpg combined. The EcoDiesel is mated with the newly added TorqueFlite 8HP75 eight-speed automatic transmission, calibrated for low RPM shifts and the on- and off-road rigors of Jeep Wrangler duty. There are more than 40 individual shift maps to optimize shift points for fuel economy, performance and 4×4 capability.
“Our customers have been asking for a Wrangler with unmatched fuel economy, incredible driving range and the legendary off-road capability they’ve rightly come to expect, and our new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon EcoDiesel delivers on that ask and then some,” said Jim Morrison, Head of Jeep Brand – FCA North America. “I’ve even driven the new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon EcoDiesel on the Rubicon Trail and can attest that our customers knew exactly what they were asking for: the perfect combination of off-road capability, fun-to-drive on-road performance, and 29 mpg.”
