Give a shift? Jeep makes Wrangler’s V-6 manual-only

The 2025 model year signals the end of a longtime union: the one between the Jeep Wrangler‘s V-6 engine and its automatic transmission.

For the new model year, Jeep will sell the 6-cylinder Wrangler only with a 6-speed manual transmission, the brand disclosed Wednesday.

At the same time, Jeep only will allow buyers to order the Wrangler’s 2.0-liter turbo-4 engine with an 8-speed automatic.

The turbo-4 makes 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, while the 3.6-liter V-6 puts out a very similar 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. However, turbo-4 models top out at 21 mpg according to the EPA’s combined-cycle tests. V-6 Wranglers peak at 20 mpg combined. 

The best bet for many drivers could be the most efficient of the lineup. The Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid couples the turbo-4 to two electric motors, and teams it all to the 8-speed automatic. So equipped, the Wrangler 4xe puts out a net 375 hp and 470 lb-ft, and delivers up to 21 miles of EPA-rated electric driving range courtesy of its 17-kwh battery pack.

Jeep has yet to kill off its powerful 6.4-liter V-8 Wrangler. A Wrangler Rubicon 392 Final Edition will return for what may be the final model year. With this drivetrain, the Wrangler kicks out 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, and hits 60 mph in 4.5 seconds.

With a major update for 2024, the 2025 Wrangler gets only minor changes for the new model year. Power windows and door locks come with every Wrangler now, and the Jeep mobile-phone app now lets owners start the climate control to cool or heat the cabin before they enter the vehicle. An olive-drab paint color rounds out the changes.