by Matt Konkle
Quadratec Channel Editor
Torque for days.
Well, maybe not really for days, but the upcoming Wrangler JL Diesel will certainly have enough torque to accommodate just about all of your towing and/or off-road needs.
The only caveats—you’ll apparently have to pay a premium if you really want all 442 pound-feet of added pulling power goodness in your vehicle. And you’ll also need all four doors.
According to Fiat Chrysler dealer order sheets recently released on JL Wrangler Forums, upgrading to the 3.0L V6 Diesel will tack on an additional $6,000 to your vehicle cost. That amount represents a $4,000 tag for the diesel engine and $2,000 for a beefier, specialized version of FCA’s current eight-speed automatic transmission. Diesel Wrangler JLs will not be available with a manual gearbox.
However, before you go shouting off into the wilderness about that upgrade cost, it really works out to a $3,250 markup up over adding a 3.6L Pentastar gasoline-powered engine mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Still a premium price, but we're betting less than most people thought when the diesel option was originally announced about two years ago.
Now, for those of you hoping to get that diesel in a two-door Wrangler JL version, well, it is most likely not going to happen. That’s because adding the diesel engine, its components and a diesel exhaust fluid tank just does not leave enough room for a viable fuel tank in the smaller two-door edition. Jeep plans to use an 18.3 gallon fuel tank with the diesel, which is a slight step down in size from the gas-powered four-door JL Wrangler 21.5 gallon tank.
Jeep has not officially confirmed the cost of its diesel engine option, but did acknowledge it would only be available with an automatic transmission. The vehicle will also receive Dana 44 front and rear axles, along with 3.73 axle ratios across all trim levels.
The diesel engine itself, like we said before, will push out a goose-bump inducing 442 pound-feet of torque, as well as offering 260 horsepower. In comparison, the standard 3.6L Pentastar offers 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque while an optional 2.0L ETorque allows 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.
FCA has not supplied any miles-per-gallon ratings yet for the Wrangler diesel, but the engine is essentially the same as what the automaker uses on its Ram series trucks. That platform lists a class-leading 22 mpg for city use, and 27 mpg on the highway.
“The Jeep Wrangler EcoDiesel is going to deliver the best fuel efficiency and also the best driving range on one tank of fuel of any Jeep Wrangler ever. Period,” said Jeep brand manager Brandon Girmus to trucks.com earlier this month.
The diesel Wrangler JL is expected to go into production later in November, and could reach dealer lots by early next year.
