The Jeep Wrangler is well known for its iconic design and its ability to go anywhere. Whether you are pulling a trailer to the lake for the weekend, off-roading, or running out for a bite to eat, the Wrangler will get you there in classic Jeep style. But you may wonder if it is available with a V8 engine. We did the research and have the answers you seek.
The Jeep Wrangler is not available with a V8 engine. The 2020 Wrangler's engine options are a gasoline 3.6L V6, a 2.0L turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder, and a 3.0L V6 turbo diesel. A limited number of trim levels with the gas V6 and four-cylinder engines are available with eTorque, which is a mild hybrid assist technology.
If you still have some additional questions about the Jeep Wrangler's engine options, don't worry. In this guide, we'll discuss the Wrangler's engine options and help you decide which one is right for you. Just keep reading!
What Engines Do Jeep Wranglers Have?
The engines available for the 2020 Jeep Wrangler are the same basic engines that have been available for all of the recent years of Wrangler. The only change is that in 2020, the eTorque version of the four-cylinder engine is only available on a few trim levels, while it was available on many trim levels in previous years. There is also an eTorque version of the gasoline V6 available on the Sahara and Sahara Altitude; it was previously not available on any Jeep Wrangler.
All of the engines come with ESS technology. ESS is an engine stop/start technology that automatically shuts down the engine during full stops. The engine will automatically restart when you take off. This increases fuel efficiency. You can disable ESS with a button if you choose.
Here are each of the available engines for the Wrangler:
Gasoline 3.6L V6 24V VVT
This engine comes standard on these trim levels:
- Unlimited
- Willys
- Sport S
- Black and Tan
- Sport Altitude
- Willys Sport
- Freedom
- Sahara
- Rubicon
- Sahara Altitude
It is optional on the High Altitude trim level.
This same engine is also available with the eTorque hybrid assist on these trim levels:
- Sahara
- Sahara Altitude
3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel
This engine is available as an option on these trim levels:
- Unlimited Sport (only on 4 door models)
- Willys (only on 4 door models)
- Sport S (only on 4 door models)
- Sport Altitude
- Sahara
- Sahara Altitude
- Rubicon (only on 4 door models)
- High Altitude
2.0L I4 DOHC DI Turbo
This engine is an option on the following trim levels:
- Unlimited Sport (only on 4 door models)
- Willys
- Sport S (only on 4 door models)
- Black and Tan
- Sport Altitude (only on 4 door models)
- Willys Sport (only on 4 door models)
- Freedom
- Sahara
- Rubicon
The same engine, but with added eTorque hybrid assist technology, comes standard on these trim levels:
- North Edition
- Rubicon Recon
The eTorque hybrid assist version is optional on these trim levels:
- Sahara
- Sahara Altitude
- High Altitude
Which Wrangler Engine Is Best?
The Jeep Wrangler has a few options when it comes to engines:
- A 3.6-liter V6 gas engine with 24 valves, variable valve timing control (VVT), and Engine Stop/Start technology (ESS) to help with fuel efficiency.
- A 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine with dual overhead camshafts (DOHC), a turbocharger, and ESS technology.
- A 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged diesel engine with ESS technology.
- The same 3.6-liter V6 gas engine listed above, but with added eTorque technology.
- The same 2.0-liter four-cylinder from above, but with added eTorque technology.
Which one is best for your purposes depends entirely on your needs. Some of the engines have more torque, some have more horsepower, and some get better gas mileage.
To give you a better idea of which engine is right for you, check out the ratings for each engine below.
3.6L V6 24V VVT
- Horsepower: 285
- Torque: 260 lb-ft
- MPG:
- With automatic transmission: 18 city, 23 highway, 20 combined
- With standard transmission: 17 city, 23 highway, 19 combined
2.0L I4 DOHC DI Turbo
- Horsepower: 270
- Torque: 290 lb-ft
- MPG:
- With automatic transmission: 22 city, 24 highway, 22 combined
3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel
- Horsepower: 260
- Torque: 480 lb-ft
- MPG:
- With automatic transmission: 22 city, 29 highway, 25 combined
Choice Based On Transmission
If your preference, like many people, is for the standard transmission then your choice is easy. That's because the only engine available with a standard transmission is the gas V6. It is also the oldest engine in the lineup and has proven itself reliable.
Best Choice For Responsiveness
For responsive accelerations, many people suggest the 3.6L V6 gas engine. Its horsepower beat out the other two by a small but noticeable amount. In this case, the four-cylinder engine would beat the diesel out for second by a small margin. Also, keep in mind that we found a sizeable minority who thought the four-cylinder engine felt more responsive in real-world driving.
Best Choice For Towing And Off-roading
The 3.0L turbo-diesel has a large torque advantage over the other two engines, giving it an advantage when it comes to towing and off-roading. While all engine options have the same maximum towing rating, the higher torque of the diesel would make it a more compelling choice. The diesel achieves its maximum torque sooner, making it ideal for off-roading and towing.
Best Choice Based On Fuel Efficiency
For fuel efficiency, the diesel wins again, and by a sizeable amount. The 3.0L diesel has approximately a 10% better combined rating than the 2.0L four-cylinder, and about a 20% better rating than the 3.6L gas V6. Most of that comes on the highway, though. City driving has the 4 cylinder and the diesel engines tied for fuel efficiency, with the 3.6L gas V6 coming in last.
Both the four and six cylinder gas engines are available with eTorque technology. This is a mild hybrid system which Jeep says will give a smoother transition on stops and starts as well as improve launch performance after a complete stop.
It uses a 48-volt electric motor that captures energy during braking and stores it. It then uses the motor to boost the torque of the engine at low speeds. While it does not change the overall maximum torque numbers shown above, it does add torque to the low end. This improves the engine's capability in terms of offroading and towing, so keep that in mind when making your decision.
What Jeep Has A V8?
The only Jeep model that is currently available with a V8 is the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The Grand Cherokee has an optional 5.7-liter V8 on the following trim levels:
- Summit
- Overland
- Limited
The Grand Cherokee SRT comes standard with a 6.4-liter V8, while the Grand Cherokee Track Hawk comes standard with a 6.2-liter V8.
In Closing
You won't find a V8 in a Jeep Wrangler, but you can find a variety of engine options available that will meet your needs. You can choose from a gas V6, a gas four-cylinder, and a diesel V6. These engines are quite capable, and between them all you will be able to select one that will pull the average trailer, get decent gas mileage, and drive smoothly.
Before you go, be sure to check out these other Jeep posts that might be of interest:
How Much Can A Jeep Wrangler Tow?