Need help deciding - diesel, gas or e?

[JElexion]

You only NEED the diesel if you want a lot of low end torque. You want torque if you will be pulling something like an expedition trailer over rough terrain, or if you are rock crawling for example. I love the diesel for wheeling. I go up steep rocky inclines with a loaded JLURD with power to spare. Icing on the cake is the fantastic fuel mileage I get. I typically get 26mpg, and if I milk it I can get 29mpg. I wheeled for 8 hours today and I was down barely a quarter of a tank. Don't get the diesel for the MPG though. It would take years to hit your breakeven point on the power plant.

I appreciate the insight for the diesel. I really do love the low end torque and the way it drives and while the extra MPG is a bonus, its not a deciding factor. I just have to determine if I like it that much more for the extra cost. Thanks!

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[Ratbert]

I appreciate the insight for the diesel. I really do love the low end torque and the way it drives and while the extra MPG is a bonus, its not a deciding factor. I just have to determine if I like it that much more for the extra cost. Thanks!

Diesels also require keeping the DEF sufficiently filled, periodically draining the water out of the fuel water separator filter, and oil changes are more expensive. Their torque, however, is pretty damn intoxicating. My inbound JLUR is a diesel.

 

[GtX]

It's made by Fiat and does concern me a bit.

I believe the 2.0L is also fiat, no?

 

[TX_Ovrlnd]

Diesels also require keeping the DEF sufficiently filled, periodically draining the water out of the fuel water separator filter, and oil changes are more expensive. Their torque, however, is pretty damn intoxicating. My inbound JLUR is a diesel.

Yes I have to add DEF and drain water every single day, it's really quite a chore. Oh wait, no it isn't. If we're talking needs vs wants, why is OP even considering a Wrangler? No one needs a Wrangler, they're purely wants.

 

[pangmaster]

The 2.0T 8AT combo is great for a daily and road tripper Jeep. My wife absolutely loves it and that sucker is peppy. I enjoy driving it too, though I prefer my 6 speed.

My only complaint is that the cold start exhaust note sounds terrible on the 2.0. Like a fart or an 80s German diesel, not sure which ?

 

[Pinky Tuscadero]

Sounds like you want the diesel
Better order that one
If your planning on regularly trailering for sure, the others will do it but...
Not like that diesel, the 6 will pull pretty much anything and waaaaay over what the spec is but.... that diesel will do it much more efficiently every day
Or get the 4, or the 4xe, or the Hemi
Not one of these engines is a dog ?

 

[Gaffer]

Diesel regen, DEF issues and the price of diesel are things to consider if you don't need to idle up a cliff.

 

[Heimkehr]

I'm replacing a daily driver and looking into buying a new wrangler.

1. Which model? I'm leaning toward a Sahara but open to suggestions.
2. Gas? I want diesel for the extra torque, but is it worth the extra cost and will it really save that much more gas?
3. Is there anything else should be considering?

Welcome to the forum, Joe.

1. Vehicle configurations are subjective, in terms of what each owner wants or believes he needs. The combination of features that you like, and will use, is the correct answer. That the Wrangler is seemingly available in 37 different trim levels adds a bit of work for the discerning consumer.

2. The break-even point for the diesel, vis-a-vis its buy-in cost paired with current and anticipated fuel price trends, is a years-long proposition. It's far enough into the future that the economic argument for the engine isn't easily made. Out-of-warranty repair costs for diesel engines can be breathtaking, too (as a family member learned with his Chevrolet Suburban diesel). The JL-generation Wrangler isn't yet old enough for us to have accumulated much intel on that particular subject, though.

What does support that engine choice is your use case: daily driver (diesels should be recurringly driven, and not just short trips) with a towing plan already in place. So there's that.

3. There are recurring threads here from 4xe owners which document the problems they've experienced with the tech on that particular model. This is not reassuring, and gives the impression that perhaps a few of them are unwilling beta testers (even if that isn't objectively true.) I'm old enough to remember when early adopters of the Pontiac Fiero buyers wrestled with their own issues in an identical manner. This is something to keep in mind if the electric Jeep is on your radar.

Best of luck with your purchase decision.

 

[Shibadog]

Don't buy the diesel to save money. You'll be on here whining that you're not saving money in no time.

Buy the diesel for the low end torque.

Also do not buy a diesel IF most of your driving is short haul stuff-today’s Diesel engines need to get warm to clean out the dpf. If you normal drive is 15 miles or so the diesel is great. My Ram truck with the same engine is great-for short haul stuff my Jeep with 2.0 is excellent. Look at your driving style, drive and decide. The hybrid would make sense for you if your normal commute is ten miles each way or so as you could basically run electric only for your usual drive.

 

[Sazabi19]

Short trips (0-35mi): 4xe or 2.0T
Med trips (35-50mi): 2.0T
Long trips (50mi+) 2.0T or 3.0D

4xe gets the worst mileage of all the engines once you're out of battery. Something about the the 2.0T in there lugging an extra ~800lbs+ of batteries.

To me the 2.0T is the best option, especially for me as my trips are pretty short and diesel really doesn't like that. My diesel would be chugging DEF and constantly be in regen. Also, the price of diesel here in IN is forecasted to go over $7/gal. Even regular gas here is forecasted to go into the $5/gal range which is ridiculous.

We're paying over 75 cents a gallon right now in taxes, it should be eased right now. If I was you I'd also look at fuel prices and their forecast. You think you're paying up front only to get into the diesel club? Just look at what your expected cost of feeding it for 1yr in our current climate.

 

[Ratbert]

Yes I have to add DEF and drain water every single day, it's really quite a chore. Oh wait, no it isn't. If we're talking needs vs wants, why is OP even considering a Wrangler? No one needs a Wrangler, they're purely wants.

You're acting like I was complaining about it. I was merely stating the additional requirements associated with diesels that people that are considering them should be aware of. Like I said, mine is inbound.

 

[TX_Ovrlnd]

Diesels are okay for short trips, I have 3k miles so far and a lot of that is short trips of about 15 mins. You don't have to carefully devise your daily drive to make sure you reach a certain temp. I just refilled the DEF as I was also refilling my washer fluid, it's so much easier refilling the DEF. Does it suck to have to bother with DEF, yes, but it's the world we live in and it is not as bad as some posters here would have you believe.

The 2.0 is a nice engine as well, I am biased towards turbos though.

 

[Maverick909]

I'm replacing a daily driver and looking into buying a new wrangler. I owned a FJ40 (as well as other Toyota trucks) for years, so I'm not totally new to off-roading, but I'm new to the Jeep brand. I'm not going to do any serious off-roading or rock crawling but I'll use it mainly for daily driving and camping/backpacking. I also plan on towing a small teardrop or camping trailer sometimes. With that said, I don't want a pure pavement pounder either. As for features I don't need a fully loaded model, but electric windows, nav and a decent sound system would be nice. I don't want to be a Rubicon wannabe, but having a decent tire/wheel setup with at least 32s is desirable as well.

Now the big questions:
1. Which model? I'm leaning toward a Sahara but open to suggestions.
2. Gas? I want diesel for the extra torque, but is it worth the extra cost and will it really save that much more gas?
3. Is there anything elseI should be considering?

Thanks,
Joe

Anything else I should be considering?

I would wait for the new 3.0 turbo inline 6 motor. It’s due out soon and it’s gonna be a torque monster like all inline 6’s fuel economy should be higher was well with the single turbo. Or you can get it in the twin turbo

 

[Ratbert]

I would wait for the new 3.0 turbo inline 6 motor. It’s due out soon and it’s gonna be a torque monster like all inline 6’s fuel economy should be higher was well with the single turbo. Or you can get it in the twin turbo

Soon could mean August, but likely not August of 2022 for Wranglers.

If fuel economy is a concern my understanding is that it's about 15% more efficient than the 392. That's an incredibly low bar. It might be a great engine, but not from that perspective unless the alternative is a 392.

 

[Heimkehr]

I would wait for the new 3.0 turbo inline 6 motor. It’s due out soon and it’s gonna be a torque monster like all inline 6’s fuel economy should be higher was well with the single turbo. Or you can get it in the twin turbo

Yes, introduction of the new inline six is pending, but where's the intel confirming its placement in the Wrangler, even for the 2023 model year?

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