The Jeep Wrangler does 18.2 mpg combined (17 city, 20.3 highway), which works out to about $2,110 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 3L 6-cyl does 25 mpg while 6.4L 8-cyl does 14 — a difference of $1,207 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Jeep Wrangler engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Jeep Wrangler ranges from 25 down to 14 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $1,207 a year across 12 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3L 6-cyl | 22 / 29 | 2020–2023 | $1,536 | |
| 2L 4-cyl Hybrid | 22.3 / 24 | 2018–2020 | $1,670 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 21.1 / 23.6 | 2020–2026 | $1,738 | |
| 3.6L 6-cyl Hybrid | 20 / 24 | 2021–2023 | $1,829 | |
| 2L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid | 20 / 20 | 2021–2026 | $1,920 | |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 17.5 / 22 | 2012–2026 | $2,032 | |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 15.4 / 20.2 | 2007–2011 | $2,207 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 16.3 / 18.7 | 1987–2002 | $2,246 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 16 / 18.8 | 2003–2006 | $2,259 | |
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 15 / 19 | 1987–1990 | $2,327 | |
| 4L 6-cyl | 14.1 / 17.9 | 1991–2006 | $2,446 | |
| 6.4L 8-cyl | 13 / 16.5 | 2021–2026 | $2,743 |
What that actually costs
The Jeep Wrangler burns a gallon every 18.2 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 659 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.176 |
| Fuel per year | $2,110 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,550 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$180 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,605 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Jeep Wrangler gives up 3.3 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 20.3 out there against 17 in town, a 19% drop worth $367 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 17 mpg | $2,259 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 20.3 mpg | $1,892 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +3.3 mpg (19%) | Typical for its type |
How the Wrangler changed over the years
The Wrangler peaked in 2020 at 23 mpg (21.7 city, 25 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2006 at 16 — 7 mpg apart, or $730 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 18.8. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17.8 / 20.5 | 4 | $2,043 | |
| 2025 | 17.8 / 20.5 | 4 | $2,043 | |
| 2024 | 17.8 / 20.8 | 4 | $2,043 | |
| 2023 | 19.4 / 22.8 | 5 | $1,864 | |
| 2022 | 19.4 / 22.8 | 5 | $1,864 | |
| 2021 | 19.4 / 22.8 | 5 | $1,864 | |
| 2020 | 21.7 / 25 | 3 | $1,670 | |
| 2019 | 20.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2018 | 20.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2017 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2016 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2015 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2014 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2013 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2012 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2011 | 15 / 19 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2010 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2009 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2008 | 16 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2007 | 16 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2006 | 14.5 / 18 | 2 | $2,400 | |
| 2005 | 14.5 / 18 | 2 | $2,400 | |
| 2004 | 15 / 19 | 2 | $2,327 | |
| 2003 | 15 / 18 | 2 | $2,327 | |
| 2002 | 15 / 18 | 2 | $2,400 | |
| 2001 | 15 / 17.5 | 2 | $2,400 | |
| 2000 | 15 / 18.5 | 2 | $2,327 | |
| 1999 | 15 / 18 | 2 | $2,327 | |
| 1998 | 15.5 / 18.5 | 2 | $2,327 | |
| 1997 | 16 / 18.5 | 2 | $2,259 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 83 EPA ratings of the Jeep Wrangler — 12 engines across 1987–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,605. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Jeep Wrangler get?
18.2 mpg combined on average — 17 in the city and 20.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1987–2026.
How much does a Jeep Wrangler cost in fuel per year?
About $2,110 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,550 over five years, or 0.176 dollars a mile.
Which Wrangler engine is the most economical?
The 3L 6-cyl at 25 mpg, against 14 for the 6.4L 8-cyl — a difference of about $1,207 a year.
Is the Wrangler good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world Wrangler figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Jeep Wrangler is $3,605 against the $2,110 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 25 and 14 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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