EcoDiesel Wrangler Rubicon Wins ‘2020 SUV of the Year’ Award
Like its Gladiator cousin, Jeep’s Wrangler Rubicon EcoDiesel wins highest segment award in the same debut year from Four Wheeler.
Jeep’s Wrangler Rubicon EcoDiesel has been named by Four Wheeler as “2020 SUV of the Year.” The award is given annually by the editors of the opinion-leading off-road enthusiast publication.
“The Wrangler is a truly exceptional machine both on- and off-road, and the new-for-2020 EcoDiesel engine option complements the outstanding JL platform,” said Four Wheeler editor Ken Brubaker. “The EcoDiesel’s power and efficiency raise the bar for the already incomparable 4×4, making it even more extraordinary.”
Over the course of a week, Four Wheeler’s judges conducted a variety of tests spanning more than 1,000 miles of varied terrain that included pavement, gravel, dirt, sand, rocks, mud and snow. A loose-dirt hillclimb and water crossings were included in testing as well. Night driving was also integrated into the competition to gauge each vehicle’s lighting equipment. Judges included staff from various 4×4 media brands, including Four Wheeler, 4-Wheel & Off-Road, and JP Magazine.
“Jeep proves once again that it is listening to its customers, this time delivering the much anticipated diesel-powered Wrangler,” said MotorTrend Group Content Director Sean P. Holman. “With no trade-offs in the capability or the experience demanded by enthusiasts and adventurers alike, the impressively efficient Wrangler EcoDiesel makes sense for your daily commute now, too.”
Wrangler EcoDiesel models feature the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine, rated at 260 horsepower and 442 lb.-ft. of torque, with engine stop-start (ESS) technology standard. Wrangler EcoDiesel models are rated at 29 miles per gallon (mpg) highway, 22 mpg city and 25 mpg combined. 
To handle greater torque loads, the EcoDiesel V6 connects to a newly added TorqueFlite 8HP75 eight-speed automatic transmission, calibrated for low RPM shifts and the on- and off-road rigors of Jeep Wrangler duty. There are more than 40 individual shift maps to optimize shift points for fuel economy, performance and 4×4 capability.
“Our customers have been asking for a Wrangler with unmatched fuel economy, incredible driving range and the legendary off-road capability they’ve rightly come to expect, and our new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon EcoDiesel delivers on that ask and then some,” said Jim Morrison, Head of Jeep Brand – FCA North America. “I’ve even driven the new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon EcoDiesel on the Rubicon Trail and can attest that our customers knew exactly what they were asking for: the perfect combination of off-road capability, fun-to-drive on-road performance and 29 mpg.”
Four Wheeler’s SUV of the Year award event – now in its 47th consecutive year – is an invitation-only competition that is only open to all-new or significantly revised SUVs for the upcoming model year.
Photos: Jeep