2021 Jeep Wrangler Willys EcoDiesel - POV Drive & Detailed Owners Review 

in pa its still the difference in paying 3.20 a gallon for gas or 4.29 for diesel and thats 10/09/21 prices. So its only fair to say the Dollar less and getting 22 or 23 perhaps with the 2.0 turbo or even getting 19 or so with the 3.6 may be a similiar option. so mpg although good, its still really crappy prices in pa for diesel always has been a dollar or more higher that gas for whatever reason

Thank you Jacob, I really appreciate the feedback. Give the Jeep a shot and see what you think!

@@ApexReviewsOfficial I test drove it over the weekend. It certainly didn’t help the “I really can’t afford this” mindset, but I’m applying to a couple new jobs in the future that will actually give me full time so I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

Absolutely! Thank you for watching!

You are going to love it Fred! The optional packages you mentioned are well worth it. You and your wife will love your new JLs! Congratulations! Thank you for watching.

Agreed! Truly a great machine!

Great choice! The Wrangler wears the Sarge Green very well.

Hey Scott, thank you for watching. The 4Runner definitely has a much smoother ride than a stock JL. The diesel in particular also has stiffer springs up front to account for the weight and you can tell it's a bit more "rigid" than the gasoline variants. If we were comparing NVH levels, the 4Runner would also take the cake. As you can imagine the rake of the windshield and hardtop result in pretty good levels of wind noise on the expressway. Overall the 4Runner is the better road trip vehicle without a question, but the Wrangler just has a "character" about it on the road that you'll learn to love. If we were comparing the balance of the powertrain, the Wrangler definitely has the better pairing (engine/trans), but then one could counter the long term reliability that the 1GR-FE/5 Speed offers. It's really a back and forth on both sides, and each has great points. There were many pros and cons to each side, but I ultimately wanted to experience owning a diesel and some newer tech than I had in my 4Runner. Mine was a 2018 as well so we had the "OG" head units and I wasn't a fan of the 2020+ replacements as the resolutions appeared to take a hit. It's a nit pick, but the minor update made it difficult to justify trading into a newer 4Runner. I'd try finding a diesel JL locally and taking it on a good test drive (30-40 miles) to get a feel for it. It will feel way different than your 5th Gen, but you'll know if it's for you. Also, I see you're a subscriber, so you're probably aware of the BP-51s that were on my 4Runner. I had these a majority of the time I owned it and they completely corrected the nose dive the stock T4R has, and also eliminated most of the body roll (paired with KO2's that is). My observations on stiffness and overall mannerisms is based on my memory with that suspension set-up. Pardon the lengthy reply. I wanted to be thorough in my experience so you have good feedback from an owner of both.

@@ApexReviewsOfficial wow. Thanks for taking the time and typing that out. Great information I will look up the BP 51’s.

Rodel, the Diesel does have Auto Start Stop as well. I made a habit of pressing it every time I got in, but there are quite a few aftermarket options to keep it disabled permanently. The most common would be the Tazer by ZAutomotive. Side note, I have actually traded in the JL for a JT (Gladiator) Mojave as I wanted a truck bed for transporting my dirt bike. The Mojave does not have the diesel as an option so I am getting by with the 3.6L. All told, it does fine for Michigan, but I truly miss the Diesel engine. The torque the engine offers, as well as the peace of mind with the 8HP75 transmission are two key items I had to part with in choosing that particular trim. Although it’s not perfect, if Stellantis began to offer the trim with the alternative engine, I would put an order in the next day. Best of luck in your search!

@@ApexReviewsOfficial Thank you for taking time to answer my question, just saw that this was an older thread. I actually just sold my 2018 Tacoma TRD sport 4x4, and was really interested in the Willys package without going crazy with the Rubicon. Great content, and definitely subbed!

@@ApexReviewsOfficial I personally like the 3.6l esp now. its tried and true now in the jeep. theyve been running it forever, 2012 hurt its rep for sure, but they stuck with it and did what they should have and made it right. It has some get up and go I always thought. I have a jkr so its small but still its a good engine. I would never ever trust an italian 2 liter engine with a turbo in a jeep thats for damn sure,, the only way would be if leased or only drove em for the warranty period and traded em in.

I actually stumbled on this one while browsing a local dealer's inventory online. It was in transit at the time and was built almost exactly the way we would option it. I contacted a friend of ours at the dealer and he called us as soon as it arrived. I've been reading a few forum threads (as I'm sure you are as well :D) and most folks are seeing theirs arrive ~6 weeks after their order. Congratulations on the purchase, I know you're going to love it. I'm just shy of 8,000 miles and it's running like a clock. Truth be told, I'd have a hard time returning to a gasoline vehicle after enjoying the low end torque and general ease at which the Wrangler gets around with this powertrain.

@@ApexReviewsOfficial oh I'm definitely reading them daily on jlwranglerforums🤣 It would seem as some get it within 4 weeks, while some takes months. Accessories tend to be a hold up it would seem but we didn't add any of those, just a few packages. I figure 8 weeks is a good estimate. We recived our VIN a few days ago and according to Jeepchat it's in scheduling right now but no est. ship date yet. Like a little kid waiting for Christmas over here 🤣🤣

Creotag, great question. This is a standard Willy's, not a Willy's Sport. I took a look at the online configurator as well and see the same. It appears Stellantis may be holding this option back to push folks to higher level trims. I could surely see where someone would take this path as a more affordable, middle ground to the Rubicon. I would recommend talking to your dealer to see if they see it as an option when they go to place an order. Hopefully it's just a bug in the online configuration tool.

I just leased a 2021 willys ecodiesel and i luv it, i drove it to reno and it handled well in the snow

Glad you made it out ok....but the slide got you in that situation....

Yes I think you are right, the total average fuel cost would be about the same. For towing or large tires the diesel is going to perform way better. I would think that the diesel engine would last longer and the resale value would be better. I think it depends on your prefered driving style. If you like speed and zipping around go gas. If your a smooth and steady cruiser go diesel. If you get a diesel and your constantly accelerating hard or or pulling hard up hill(which is fun) you will wear down the tread on your rear tires in a hurry.

18.3 Gallons. They reduced the capacity from 21.5 in the gasoline JLUs to make space for the DEF tank. Even with the reduced capacity, you’ll be looking at 450+ miles of range. 👍

@@ApexReviewsOfficial That’s awesome, thank you for responding! How are those Firestone tires in the snow?

I saw about 17-18 MPG while towing a 3,000 lb horse trailer. If I were towing a travel trailer of equal weight, but more with a larger surface area creating wind resistance I would expect a MPG drop of 1-2.

@@ApexReviewsOfficial Thank you