JL Wrangler Dyno Battle Pits Pentastar V6 Against 2.0-liter Hurricane Turbo

A Wrangler EV could also be in the works according to the 2018 - 2022 business plan. Turning our attention to the Wrangler sold in the United States, the question is, which is the better engine between the Pentastar V6 and Hurricane I4? Extreme Terrain pitted two examples of the breed on the dyno, and the torque favors the mild-hybrid turbo four-cylinder.

Taking into consideration a drivetrain loss of 15 percent, the six-cylinder engine managed 239 horsepower and 223 pound-feet while the Hurricane posted 233 horsepower and 270 pound-feet. For off-road driving, the 2.0-liter is the better choice because it develops maximum torque from at 3,000 rpm. The Pentastar, on the other hand, needs 4,800 revolutions to make the most out of the available suck-squeeze-bang-blow.

The all-new Wrangler starts at $27,945 for the Sport with the Command-Trac four-transfer case, outfitted with 17-inch black wheels, Uconnect 3 with a 5.0-inch touchscreen, ParkView backup camera, and the six-speed manual transmission. Curiously enough, the Hurricane with eTorque technology comes exclusively with the eight-speed automatic transmission.

Further up there are the Sport S, Sahara, Rubicon, and limited-edition Moab. The range-topping Moab comes exclusively with four doors and turbocharged option, bringing the price up to a mind-boggling $51,200 (not including the $1,495 destination charge).

The closest competitor to the Wrangler from the United States will arrive for the 2020 model year from the Ford Motor Company in the guise of the all-new Bronco. Based on the Ranger pickup truck, the body-on-frame SUV is expected to feature the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 from the Edge ST. In the mid-size crossover, the six-cylinder engine develops 335 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque.