Jeep Vehicles Shine at the FOUR WHEELER Awards
The 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon and the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon EcoDiesel have landed awards from the leading off-road publication FOUR WHEELER. The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon EcoDiesel was named the “2020 SUV of the Year,” while the Gladiator Rubicon is the “2020 Pickup of the Year” in its debut year — quite a feat!
FOUR WHEELER and its judging panel is comprised of staff from FOUR WHEELER, as well as staff from similar publications such as 4-WHEEL & OFF-ROAD and JP MAGAZINE. Judges are responsible for testing the vehicles over the span of a week through various terrain that includes gravel, dirt, sand mud, snow, pavement, and rocks. Testing requires over 1,000 miles of driving, but FOUR WHEELER also tests the vehicles through a loose-dirt hillclimb and several water fording challenges. An additional integrated part of testing is night driving, so that judges can gauge how functional a vehicle’s lighting equipment is.
Ken Brubaker, an editor over at FOUR WHEELER, had plenty of nice things to say about the 2020 Jeep Gladiator: “The new Jeep Gladiator is the truck many buyers have been waiting for. After a week of testing in a variety of challenging environments, the Gladiator proved that it is all truck and all Jeep, which is a formidable combination. Mix in the impressive Rubicon package that includes Tru-Lok differential lockers, Rock-Trac transfer case with 4:1 low range, front-disconnecting stabilizer bar and full skidplating, and it’s clear the Gladiator is at the front of the class.”
Brubaker also commented on the 2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon EcoDiesel, stating “The Wrangler is a truly exceptional machine both on- and off-road, and the new-for-2020 EcoDiesel engine option complements the outstanding JL platform. The EcoDiesel’s power and efficiency raise the bar for the already incomparable 4×4, making it even more extraordinary.”
2020 is the first model year in which the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine powers the Jeep Wrangler. The EcoDiesel Wrangler boasts 260 horsepower and an impressive 442 lb-ft of torque complete with standard engine stop-start (ESS) technology. A TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission is paired with the EcoDiesel to work in tandem with low RPM shifts and provide an even balance between the on- and off-road challenges of the Jeep Wrangler. Jeep happily announced that there are more than 40 individual shift maps so that Wrangler owners can optimize shift points for performance, fuel economy and 4×4 capability.
“Our customers have been asking for a Wrangler with unmatched fuel economy, incredible driving range and the legendary off-road capability they’re rightly come to expect, and our new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon EcoDiesel delivers on that ask and then some. I’ve even driven the new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon EcoDiesel on the Rubicon Trail and can attest that our customers knew exactly what they were asking for: the perfect combination of off-road capability, fun-to-drive on-road performance and 29 mpg,” said Jim Morrison, Head of Jeep Brand — FCA North America.
FOUR-WHEELER tests for these vehicles are through invitation-only competitions that are open to all-new or significantly revised vehicles for the upcoming model year. Don’t just take FOUR WHEELER’s word for it, come visit us atMiami Lakes Automalland take the 2020 Jeep Wrangler or 2020 Jeep Gladiator out for a spin. Once you’ve taken the vehicles for your very own test ride there’s no turning back! Follow Miami Lakes Jeep on social media and stay up to date with the latest Jeep news.
Photo Source/Copyright: AutoTrader
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