While verified technical details on the are still scant, it seems that the EPA has rated the new gas V6 version of the 4x4 for fuel economy. The 2018 V6 rates the same as the 2017 model, but improves markedly with the new 8-speed automatic transmission option.

A 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 has been the Wrangler’s standard mill since 2012, when it replaced the wheezy 3.8-liter the current “JK” bodystyle Wrangler launched with.

As you can see, there are several ratings for what appear to be the same Wrangler on handy chart there.

It looks like, in at least some trims, the six-speed manual version of the Wrangler Unlimited (four door)’s fuel economy rating will climb from 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 21 highway to 19 mpg combined, 17 city and 23 highway between the 2017 and 2018 models.

The five-speed auto will move from 18 combined, 16 city and 20 highway to 18 combined, 17 city and 21 highway in some specs, too.

But the biggest gains will be between the old five-speed automatic and eight-speed, which is a new option altogether for 2018. The 3.6-liter V6 paired to that is supposed to turn out 20 mpg combined, 18 city and 23 on the highway.

I’m guessing that significant weight differences between Wrangler trim levels will account for some of the variation here, and we still don’t have enough information to say definitively how Jeep’s ubiquitous Pentastar engine has been upgraded for the new Wrangler design. But it is cool to see a combined mpg claim finally crest out of the teens on this brick-shaped beast.

Don’t give me any crap about “not buying a Jeep for fuel economy”, now. When your fuel consumption rate is low, every incremental mpg gain is a significant percentage-increase in efficiency and ergo decrease in running cost.

Even though the new 2.0-liter turbo and upcoming diesel are exciting, I think the Pentastar is still going to be the backbone of the Wrangler lineup. So you’re going to want to squeeze all the range out of it that you possibly can.

Hat tip to Bozi!