The 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL can certainly be described as “all-new,” but the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 is largely carry-over from the outgoing Wrangler JK. Still, it’s got a new fuel-saving feature: Auto Start/Stop. The system automatically turns the engine off when stopped at traffic lights or other similar driving scenarios. Like other start/stop systems, the engine restarts automatically when the brake pedal is released, giving the engine time to rev back to idle before the driver has time to press the throttle. The result is less overall fuel consumption.

As for the rest of the Pentastar, the engine retains its 60-degree V shape; its aluminum, deep-skirt block; aluminum alloy heads; its chain-driven, dual-overhead camshafts with four valves per cylinder; its 11.3:1 compression ratio; and its multiport fuel injection. The horsepower and torque specs also remain unchanged at 285 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm.

The V-6 can be paired with both the six-speed manual transmission or the eight-speed automatic – both of which are new to the Wrangler for 2018. Towing remains the same, too. The Wrangler two-door can pull 2,000 pounds while the Wrangler Unlimited, the four-door model, will pull 3,500 pounds.

As for that all-important fuel economy, Jeep says the V-6 will get 18 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined with the automatic transmission and 17 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined with the manual gearbox. That’s a marked improvement over the 16/20 mpg with the manual-equipped JK and 16/21 mpg with the JK’s old five-speed automatic.

Continue reading for detailed specs of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6.

3.6-­LITER PENTASTAR V-­6 - Drivetrain Specifications

References

2018 Jeep Wrangler

Read our full review on the 2018 Jeep Wrangler.

2017 Jeep Wrangler

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Read our full review on the JK-gen 2017 Jeep Wrangler

Read more 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show news.