New to wrangler: choose 2.0 or 3.6 for reliability and smooth operation?

[AlgUSF]

Guess I like my minivan engine then lmao. To each his own.

I have no complaints about my minivan engine either. The clutch bolted to it is another subject. Mine is making a stack of noise lately, getting the 19A done on Thursday.

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[4xFUN]

What are you talking about?

Dealer tech here.

2.0: Better power output, more complex. Significantly higher labor costs in the event repairs are needed. Still relatively new. Coolant leaks galore, failed oil coolers, turbo failure at higher mileage.

3.6: Less complex, any shop can work on it without issue. All issues are well known at this point. OFA leaks, head gaskets, rocker arms.

Both have roughly equivalent reliability. Personally I would suggest the 3.6L purely due to ease of reparability. The 2.0L also sounds like shit, so there's that. The 2.0 also get *horrendous* MPG with normal driving. Like ~13-15 on average with mixed use. The 3.6 isn't much better in the MPG department, but it's around ~15-17 on average.

Having both (till I sell the '20 JLR) a '20 3.6 Auto JLR upgraded with 4.88's and running 37" KO2's and a '24 JLR-X with factory 4.56's but also running 37" KO2's, I have to agree on MPG between the two. Overall I slightly prefer the 3.6 Auto w/4.88's combo to the 2.0 Auto w/4..56's. That said, so far I really don't have any complaints on the 2.0.

 

[Old Dogger]

Since the 392 has now joined in the conversation, it gets my vote.

 

[Sierra Hotel]

 

[alphawolff]

What are you talking about?

I've owned a 2016 JK 3.6l (supercharged), 2020 gladiator 3.6, a 2021 4XE, a 2021 392, a 2024 392, and a 2024 3.6L. The 4XE with the 2.0L barely got 13mpg driving cross country. The 392 did better at 14 towing a trailer with my toolbox in it. Even the supercharged one got like 15 average on 35s.

 

[azjl#3]

3.6, its not a mini van engine if they put them in Maserati's...

 

[Sarge21]

I've owned a 2016 JK 3.6l (supercharged), 2020 gladiator 3.6, a 2021 4XE, a 2021 392, a 2024 392, and a 2024 3.6L. The 4XE with the 2.0L barely got 13mpg driving cross country. The 392 did better at 14 towing a trailer with my toolbox in it. Even the supercharged one got like 15 average on 35s.

I didn't realize we were talking about the 4XE. I get 20-25mpg with my 2.0 JLUR.

 

[wcjeep]

Own the 3.6l auto, no Etorque. Rented the 2.0l and 4xe. Prefer the 3.6l auto. 4xe gets about the same mileage or less than the 3.6l. New 2025 configurations are disappointing.

 

[mcaltitude]

You need to consider the technology curve and observations here. The 3.6L is a well, well known machine. Having just watched someone run into issues on a trail a LONG way from help, I go with what I know. Forced induction for altitude, heck yeah. Trust in something I haven’t worked on before, hell no. If you’re not going to fix an issue in a trail, this is probably not a worthwhile question to ask as you’re stuck either way.

 

[John VonJeep]

Imagine thinking turbos are new technology?

 

[Odyssey USA]

Having had both eTorque variations of the 2.0 and 3.6, experience-wise…we both enjoyed the 2.0 more. More power down low and better economy. I happen to like the antique engine sound in the morning. lol

Reliability, about the same. The plugs and oil cooler swap was a bit of a pain on the 3.6 though. Easy swap on the 2.0.

 

[vegasbob]

Go big or go home...

 

[NWJeepr]

3.6, its not a mini van engine if they put them in Maserati's...

Stellantis is the Olive Garden of automobiles. Like cheap Italian food with a decidedly American flair.

 

[Socks]

As of right now I'm talking to a dealer in Alabama about buying a brand new 2-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X. 3.6/Auto. I'm in Indiana. Looked at all of the info on the 2025's. No 3.6/Auto available. Will it be...who knows. Basically no change between 2024 to 2025 besides a loss of paint colors. The one I'm considering is High Velocity Yellow. Payment will be stupid high. But, there are hardly in 2-door's out there in Rubicon X trim. Coast to coast border to border. Only one I found close to me and only one, is white. Just not a color I care for. I really miss my 2-door.

 

[Socks]

And...it has the 4.88 gear option too.

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