Page 79 - Motor Trend (May 2020)

2019 Jeep Wrangler
Service life:
6 mo/15,718 mi • Avg Fuel Econ: 17.2 mpg
“Stock Jeep Wranglers are rarer than hen’s teeth,
so I’ve raided the Mopar catalog for some parts.”
Christian Seabaugh
Avg CO2 1.13 lb/mi Energy cons 198 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved
problems None Maintenance cost $0 Normal-wear cost $0 Base
price $43,040 As-tested $57,110 EPA City/Hwy/Comb Fuel Econ
22/24/22 mpg Real MPG 21.4/26.0/23.2 mpg
otorTrend’s 2019 SUV of the Year is
M roughly halfway through its year
with us, and it’s settled nicely into
its day-to-day life of commuting during
the week and exploring on the weekends.
Since our last update, we’ve ordered
a handful of Mopar accessories for our
Wrangler. We’ve also finally tested it at the
track and on our fuel economy loop.
Test Day Jeeps—or at least Wranglers—are
hardly known for lightning performance,
but our Wrangler Rubicon nevertheless
performed admirably at the test track.
Sporting an eTorque 2.0-liter mild hybrid
turbocharged I-4 with 270 hp and 295
lb-ft of torque and an eight-speed
automatic, it ran from 0 to 60 mph in 7.6
seconds and through the quarter mile in
16.0 seconds at 83.1 mph. That makes it
about 0.4 second quicker to 60 and 0.2
quicker in the quarter than a 2018 eTorque
Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon we tested.
Interestingly, our long-term Jeep is about
11 pounds heavier than that Wrangler;
we’re guessing the extra mileage on our
long-termer has improved performance.
In the equally important braking
and handling tests, our Wrangler also
outbraked and outhandled that 2018
Wrangler. Our Jeep needed 137 feet for
our 60–0 emergency stop test, and it
lapped the figure eight in 29.3 seconds at
0.55 g average.
Real MPG Results Soon after test day, the
Emissions Analytics team hooked its test
gear to our Jeep to see how it measures
up to its EPA 22/24/22 mpg city/highway/
combined rating. It returned from testing
with a 21.4/26.0/23.2 Real MPG result, a
slight improvement on the EPA's numbers.
Preferred Axle Packs
Centric Premium Rotors + Posi Quiet Pads
Anecdotally, I’ve found our Wrangler’s
fuel efficiency has varied considerably
depending on conditions and circum-
stance. In Los Angeles traffic, at speeds
under 55 mph, the Jeep regularly returns
17 to 20 mpg, as indicated by the trip
computer. Highway mileage varies wildly.
I’ve seen everything from an indicated
14 mpg in moderate winds while driving
up and down California’s I-5 on vacation
at the 70 mph speed limit to an indi-
cated 23 mpg on a calm, cool summer’s
morning across CA-14.
Mopar Accessories Jeep sent a slew of
accessories, including a tailgate table Select Sport Axle Packs *
($225), MOLLE bags ($145), front and
Select Sport Drilled/Slotted Rotors
rear grab handles ($39 per pair), first
+ Street Select Pads * For Street Use Only
aid ($115) and roadside safety ($116) kits,
all-weather floormats ($165), door sill
guards ($75), and a cargo tray ($129).
I’ve installed the grab handles and
MOLLE bags. The bags clip to the back
of the front passenger seats and hold
small odds and ends that might other- Truck and SUV Pads
wise find themselves bouncing around Increased stopping power
the cabin. They somewhat impede rear while towing, hauling or
legroom, though, so I remove them and when using larger than
stock wheel and
reinstall them as needed. tire packages.
The grab handles are more useful.
These install onto the Wrangler’s Sport
Bar (rollcage to you and me) with a
simple T25 Torx bit and a handheld
impact driver. All in all, the entire process
took 15 minutes, and I must say that so
far, the extra handles are great to have
More to see at
while off-roading. www.tirerack.com/stoptech
As for the tailgate table, installation
requires a bit of drilling, so I’ll save that
installation for a future update.
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