How did you decide on your engine?

[Ridgway Jeeper]

I bought the only one that came with a clutch pedal. Transmission was a higher priority than the engine. I still would have picked the 3.6 over the 2.0T for smoothness and sound quality. Bonus was no complex etorque system.

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[Heimkehr]

The diesel Wrangler I bought was at the time $8000 cheaper than any Wrangler on the lot (15 or more) and 450 or so ft lbs of torque was an inviting number.

The diesel adds ~$6K to the sticker price with a single click, and that engine is only offered on higher trim levels. If your 2021 JLU, so configured, was still $8K less expensive than any of the dozen plus Wranglers in dealer inventory, they must have been optioned almost to the point of parody. ?

 

[Rodeoflyer]

I bought the only one that came with a clutch pedal. Transmission was a higher priority than the engine. I still would have picked the 3.6 over the 2.0T for smoothness and sound quality. Bonus was no complex etorque system.

I hear that.. I also just wanted a manual trans so I got what I got.. Saved a few $$$ by going with that option so the money I spend later to make things right won't feel so bad.

Some days I regret that decision, however knowing an upgrade to the centerforce (or aftermarket whatever by that time) clutch and 5.13 gears will get me to where I want/need to be with the manual I don't really think about it much.

If I could do-over I'd drive it off the lot, right to the tire place for 37'' tires and then immediately to the shop for 5.13 gears. then it would handle the nastiest inclines and highest elevations here in the state no problemo.

 

[displayname]

The diesel adds ~$6K to the sticker price with a single click, and that engine is only offered on higher trim levels. If your 2021 JLU, so configured, was still $8K less expensive than any of the dozen plus Wranglers in dealer inventory, they must have been optioned almost to the point of parody. ?

It's available on all JLU trim levels and is $4500 more than the 2.0T or 3.6ESS with an automatic trans. It's $2750 more than the 3.6 etorque, which requires. If the lot is mostly Rubicons and Saharas, and the Diesel is on a lower trim, it's not surprising.

 

[PulaskiAS]

What were the driving factors that lead to your engine choice? I've been on the fence between the 3.6 and the 2.0T. I'm leaning towards the 3.6 because of the long track record, smooth power, and the sound, sound is oddly important to me. What I don't like is the reduced fuel economy and lower power compared to the 2.0T. I've owned turbos in the past with terrible curves making the gas pedal feel like a toggle switch.

My JLUR will be on 35's and a daily driver with a very short commute to work and day trips out of town through the mountains about once a month. Next year I would like to try some 3 day overlanding trips here in the PNW. I think part of my hang up with the 2.0T is a turbo seems strange in a wrangler, but that's just me and I would get used to it, it's proven to be a good engine so far. I'm not excited about premium gas though.

For choosing an engine the most important considerations, in order, are reliability, enough power to feel confident in all driving conditions, range, fuel economy, and maintenance cost.

The 2.0T has a different power curve, more consistent being electronic vers vacuum controlled waste gate. Pulls harder at lower RPMs and has a unique sound to it. I'm auto tech and the 3.6 has to be raced to do what the 2.0T does with moderate throttle. Now that I own the new 2.0T you couldn't give me the 3.6. The 2.0T torque curve builds till 3500 / 290 ftlbs and then holds flat till max HP

 

[MIAZ]

We’ve had our ‘21 Ruby diesel since February, the more I drive it , the more I like it. We are more of an adventure travel type users, we are almost always on our own when out exploring and one of the most important things about our vehicles is fuel range. With this rig and our previously owned Tacoma, we also tow a 22 foot travel trailer. It’s equipped with 3 solar panels and 40 gallon water, black and grey tanks so we can be off grid easily for 5 days and more if we are careful.
We head to some area of interest and look for nice dispersed camping and stay for varying lengths of time and take day trips from our base camp. If we have to drive out every day or two for fuel to sometimes quite distant gas stations, it’s a real time waster.
With the diesel we’ve averaged 16 mpg towing and sometimes a bit better, when off-roading the mileage has been in the 19-22 mpg range and with mixed off road and road driving it’ll go up to 25-26. On 2 lane roads with 55 mph limits and little traffic and driving to get the best mileage possible, I’ve had it up to 28-29.
Lots of people use their Jeeps in and for all kinds of different uses, their fun factor is or can be a lot different than ours. That’s really good, everyone should enjoy their lives and their Jeeps. Squeezing 300 miles out of a tank towing and and 475 driving solo gives me a lot of options while traveling and that possibility of running out of fuel in remote areas doesn’t attract me at all. Yah, I know about extra fuel cans and that these new diesels are complex and maintenance costs are higher, but when I’m in the boondocks and wish to go in an interesting direction and I look at the fuel gauge and calculate that I can’t go that way because of a lack of fuel range, I don’t like that.
Photos are of the travel trailer which is a Travelite Falcon 22RK, an ‘18 that they don’t make anymore and a fuel mileage shot of the dash. That’s my take on engines, we had a ‘13 2 door Ruby with the 3.6 and had a lot of fun with it for 6 years, it fit in a lot more small spots than the new unlimited, the engine was real reliable and had an average for me kinda feel to it, nothing special but average and sometimes that is real good if it lasts a long time. I don’t have enough time or mileage to comment on the reliability of the 3.0 diesel, time will tell. I’ve had several diesel vehicles previously and now and I love that low end torque. So that’s how I decided on the engine and after driving all the others except the plug-in hybrid.

 

[Z06]

The diesel adds ~$6K to the sticker price with a single click, and that engine is only offered on higher trim levels. If your 2021 JLU, so configured, was still $8K less expensive than any of the dozen plus Wranglers in dealer inventory, they must have been optioned almost to the point of parody. ?

My diesel of course had the 6000 dollar motor and transmission but other than that the only optional equipment was the three piece hardtop, Mopar all weather floor mats, and Sarge Green Clear-coat paint. Then they knocked $2500 off the price and added a Mopar hitch mount and the wire harness. Then they sold me the next full set of all 5 takeoffs from a new Rubicon (someone wanted custom wheels and tires added in financing) for $542 total including tax. They also installed a takeoff Mopar side step set for $100. All told, just over $39,500 as she sits.
But I roll my windows down manually, unlock doors with a key and have the standard equipment 5 inch backup camera, cloth seats, etc. Nothing fancy but I like it.
By the way, the diesel package does include the wider Rubicon axle width, but not the lockers and sway bar release. But it does add around 600 lbs of weight. I weighed my Sport Unlimited in with full fuel tank at 4680.

 

[Ratiogear]

Drove them (except the v8, cause I didn't want to love something I couldn't afford).

 

[JeffCj7Jl]

For my 2 door, i wanted a manual so the 3.6 was my only option. If I was going with an auto, the 2.0 would have been a contender.

 

[Heimkehr]

My diesel of course had the 6000 dollar motor and transmission but other than that the only optional equipment was the three piece hardtop, Mopar all weather floor mats, and Sarge Green Clear-coat paint. Then they knocked $2500 off the price and added a Mopar hitch mount and the wire harness. Then they sold me the next full set of all 5 takeoffs from a new Rubicon (someone wanted custom wheels and tires added in financing) for $542 total including tax. They also installed a takeoff Mopar side step set for $100. All told, just over $39,500 as she sits.

I roll my windows down manually, unlock doors with a key and have the standard equipment 5 inch backup camera, cloth seats, etc. Nothing fancy but I like it.

You got a great deal.

I too prefer simplicity, thus my decision to order a Sport in lieu of purchasing one of the over-optioned JLUs in dealer inventory.

 

[Z06]

You got a great deal.

I too prefer simplicity, thus my decision to order a Sport in lieu of purchasing one of the over-optioned JLUs in dealer inventory.
[/QUOTE]
Yes, they love the extra profits on those Wranglers with piled on options and then you get to pay when any of those electronic gadgets crap out just after warranty. A lot of folks enjoy all those options but I can’t see it on a Wrangler or pickup truck unless the truck is used for regular cross country tow or hauling.
By the way, thanks for your service.

 

[dennis2society]

What were the driving factors that lead to your engine choice? I've been on the fence between the 3.6 and the 2.0T. I'm leaning towards the 3.6 because of the long track record, smooth power, and the sound, sound is oddly important to me. What I don't like is the reduced fuel economy and lower power compared to the 2.0T. I've owned turbos in the past with terrible curves making the gas pedal feel like a toggle switch.

My JLUR will be on 35's and a daily driver with a very short commute to work and day trips out of town through the mountains about once a month. Next year I would like to try some 3 day overlanding trips here in the PNW. I think part of my hang up with the 2.0T is a turbo seems strange in a wrangler, but that's just me and I would get used to it, it's proven to be a good engine so far. I'm not excited about premium gas though.

For choosing an engine the most important considerations, in order, are reliability, enough power to feel confident in all driving conditions, range, fuel economy, and maintenance cost.

I've owned a 2020 2.0 with ESS and a 2021 3.6 with etorque. TLDR: you can't go wrong with either. My thoughts below.

I bought my 2.0 2020 JLU Sport S off the lot during covid. Live in NYC and used zipcar /silvercar for last 10 years. Bought it back in May 2020 when we weren't sure of how covid spread and I needed to secure an escape strategy for the fam. Not much inventory back then and impossible to order but I got a good "off the lot" deal on a sport s. I wanted one with more options but area dealers only had baseish jeeps and +$60k high altitudes/ rubicons, with nothing in between. I paid 38k for a 42k msrpa and loved for entire 8000 miles. Traded it for 2021 wililys with 3.6 etorque in June 2021 - insane used demand got me 3.5k more than I paid. Didn't do as well on the 2021 purchase but happy with it and in the end, I"m paying less monthly on the same 3yr 0%. Lost a few grand counting the 2020 taxes i paid but no regrets.

Few comparison thoughts below. FYI - My driving distro is 99.9% pavement, with 4-5 beach drives in last year. I drive 28-33 mph in city and 75-85 on highways. I live in NYC so more twice-a-week driver than DD...

- 2.B0 is definitely zippier, especially off the line and from low speeds.
- 3.6 (with Etorque) def smoother and still enough power for me to drive this brick. still fun. I enjoy 2.0 more on highway and 3.6 more putting around locally.
- WIfe loves 3.6. Was complaining about how jerky the 2.0 was.
- 3.6 has better engine noise and less fan noise
- 2.0 kills 3.6 in mpgs - no competition
- 2.0 harder to control in slow moving traffic, especially when trying to protect from others cutting in (yes I am that driver.) Turbo lag harder to gauge at lower speeds and i've had to to slam breaks more.
- Loved how 2.0 knocked me back into the headrest when turbos kicked in.
- 3.6 is generally smoother but always drops between 1st and 2nd gear (or 2 and 3, not sure. Feels like power loss for 1 sec before it catches and then accelerates. Almost like turbo lag jar but not as strong and def not as fast. Others experience this?

Hope this helps. Still a jeep noob so take with grain of salt/mud.... Other than that, main differences I've notice between 2020 sport s and 2021 willys (besides the latter being more badass) has to do with tires and ride quality.

Crossing my fingers that etorque won't break. 2.0 was perfect during my 8000 miles. Biggest relief with my 2021 willys was thumbs up from the wife. She was "not ecstatic" about me trading in a 1 year old jeep but immediately noted the willys improved ride quality and smoother acceleration (imo has to do with fatter stock tires, rubicon shocks and etorque.) There is a definite increase in highway tire drone with the MTs but not sure how much is attributable to the SOT top. My 2020 had a hardtop with bestop sunrider (highly recommend.)

 

[nowandthen]

A recent post by Brad at Trail Recon.

 

[Jeepnutz]

Just sold my 2019 3.6 auto JLU Rubi with 37's and 5.13's. Light to light the 3.6 is Impressive but that's where the love for this engine ends. Towing my turtleback trailer at highway speeds the 3.6 is pathetic at elevation for both power and fuel mileage. Would love to order a Rubi 392 but the required premium fuel isn't widely available in the back country. Will probably settle on a 3.0 diesel when I order my extreme recon this fall.

 

[Beetroot]

I ordered a 4xe because it has boatloads of power and it was $42,500 less than a 392 after the tax credit.

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