While we whooped in joy when the Jeep Wrangler was finally launched in India, our enthusiasm was dampened a bit when we looked at the prices for the diesel Wrangler, which, at Rs 72.05 lakh (ex-showroom), was quite a bit on the expensive side.
However, Jeep has now come out with an alternative, a petrol Wrangler has been launched for Rs 56 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) – cheaper by Rs 16 lakh. And, if we are compare them purely by the engines, the petrol is 800cc bigger, at 3.6-litre and has two cylinders more, since it is a V6. The petrol is also more powerful, producing 280 bhp (compared to the 197 bhp produced by the diesel), but is less torque-y, producing 11.5 kgm less than the diesel. While fuel efficiency surely wont be the petrol Jeep’s strongest suits, the Pentastar engine gets a new thermal management system and Exhaust Gas Recirculation to help not guzzle too much fuel.
Other than the different engine, the petrol Jeep is pretty much the same as the diesel version. It is still Trail-Rated, comes with the Command Trac 4wd system, Hill-Start Assist, removable doors, the works.