thoughts on our 2019 Rubicon

et2 wrote:
So we own a 2017 Wrangler Rubicon Recon edition. Nope not getting 23mpg , more like 17 city 20 highway. Love the car.

Well I took it in for an oil change a couple weeks ago to the dealer. They gave it back without putting oil back in it. So they had it for a bit while they put a new engine into it on their dime.

Had a 2019 wrangler to drive for a week and half. Ride is comparable, but the new models tend to wander on the freeway. Mine stays where you put it as long and there's no wind blowing you around in comparison to the 2019. I attribute that to the new electric steering in the 2019 vs a hydraulic power steering. Mine is a tighter steering.

The new transmission is a 9 speed vs 5 on mine. It seems to give a little smoother power range and peppier at the accereration from a dead stop. But not much. Always seems to have the right gear at the right time. This is were the gas savings is in my opinion. Also the start stop feature helps ... But I hate it! Yes you can turn it off , but everytime you start it.

The engines are the same 3.6 Pentastar.

The doors on the 2019 are aluminum. Glad I have steel doors. Just feel safer.

The view out the rear window is better on the 2019 as they moved the wiper arm to the bottom of the window, freeing that motor from blocking the view at the top like on mine.

Some like the new dash on the 2019. It was more ... Feminized ... if I'm allowed to say it than the older models. I really like the old dash better even with the small media screen.

Optics, the new body style isn't working for me for some reason. I really like mine and even with the new engine installed after 35,000 miles I'll keep mine for as long as I can.

The biggest thing I liked was the transmission on the 2019. But it wasn't enough to get me to move.

OH ... And the Gladiator Rubicon I saw was $60,000. Crazy

Just a couple corrections for those that may use this thread for any actual research...

1. The JL uses an 8-speed automatic, not a 9-speed. It is a variant of the ZF-8HP that is widely used across the industry.

2. The 3.6L Pentastar in the 2018+ JL Wrangler is not the same as the 3.6L Pentastar that was in the previous generation JK Wrangler. Among the many key differences:

* Cooled EGR valve
* New valve train
* New PCV
* Smaller oil sump
* Higher compression
* ESS (as mentioned above, this can be disabled at start-up)