2019 has been an exciting year for Jeep. With the continued evolution of the SUV company and the return of the Jeep Gladiator, there has been much to like. And things look to continue growing and evolving in 2020 and the years to come, so if you’ve been considering a new vehicle and want to check out what’s available at your local Jeep dealership, there’s never been a better time. By going over the best of 2019, you’ll see the highlights that helped make 2019 the best year yet. Of course, if you’re preparing for a new vehicle but don’t need one right this instant, plenty of excellent options are coming to Jeep in 2020.
The Release Of The Jeep Gladiator
Let’s start with the biggest news out of Jeep in 2019. It was the release of the Jeep Gladiator. While released at the LA Auto Show back in 2018, it first hit dealerships this year and has been turning heads ever since. Essentially it’s a Jeep Wrangler with a truck bed on the rear. This gives you the customizable features of a Wrangler with the towing and payload performance of a light truck. If you’ve been savoring the idea of having a part jeep part truck, the Jeep Gladiator is the answer you’ve been looking for.
Introduction of eTorque
The eTorque isn’t anything new to Fiat Chrysler Automotive. If you’ve looked into Ram recently, you’ve probably come across engine options that offer the eTorque feature. However, it was new for the Jeep brand in 2019. If you’re not familiar with what eTorque is, it’s a small hybrid based system that replaces the traditional alternator. On most vehicles, the alternator pulls energy from the engine with the help of a belt. However, with the eTorque design, the device has a generator that pulls and saves energy generated by the vehicle braking. Then, the additional power is released by the eTorque system to aid the engine during lower speeds. This helps boost torque performance of the vehicle without making any actual changes to the engine.
Systems similar to eTorque have been used on EV and hybrid vehicles over the years, but Ram was the first company to use it widely in its pickups, and the success led to the role out in the Jeep vehicle lineup. The eTorque feature also helps improve fuel economy. For example, on the Jeep Wrangler using an I4 engine, the Jeep sees a boost in fuel economy by 33 percent. This will more than make up the added cost of the eTorque feature in just a few months.
Improving The Entry Level Jeeps
You don’t need to go with the larger Jeep vehicles in order to take advantage of new features found within the Jeep lineup. The Jeep Renegade is the entry-level compact SUV of the company, and it came out with several new features. This includes a brand new 1.3L direct-injection turbocharged engine. This engine features engine stop-start technology that helps improve fuel economy. It also offers 177 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque, all coming from this smaller engine design. The Renegade also has a sportier external design, which helps give it a fun, sleek appeal to those who want to drive a Jeep but may not one of the larger vehicle designs.
The Compass is the slightly larger SUV (yet smaller than the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee). The Compass comes with new internal design features that you’re sure to love. Despite having a smaller frame, the vehicle features a 7-inch touchscreen display. It also has a more fuel-efficient design and churns out more horsepower from the 2018 model year. Within this new touchscreen, you’ll still find UConnect, although this year, UConnect has both Google Android Auto and Apple CarPlay built-in. This way, you can easily pair your mobile device with the UConnect system and do more with your devices. If you have a slightly older version of a Jeep, Dodge, or Ram, you might have a UConnect system that only has a Bluetooth feature but is lacking with regards to any true mobile operating system pairing.
On top of the new technology, you’ll also find the Jeeps packed with new safety features, most of which now come standard on all models. This will help you drive and remain safe, wherever you go in your Jeep.
Look Ahead At 2020
If you’re a fan of in-vehicle technology, you’re going to love some of the announced changes coming in 2020. Now, of course, not all of the changes are set in stone and some of these plans might alter in the coming months, but as of right now, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and its Advance Safety Group announced it would include lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking and rain-sensing wipers on every Jeep package outside of the Trailhawk. On top of this, all Jeep Cherokees will have Alexa built into the UConnect system, along with a large 8.4-inch touchscreen. Thanks to the sales increase with the Ram 1500 and its large touchscreen, other Fiat Chrysler Automobiles companies are looking to bring the successful touchscreen technology into more vehicles, including Jeep.
Perhaps you were a fan of the Jeep Gladiator, but you were hoping for a few additional engine options? Well, the lack of engines was primarily due to the new design and need to manufacture new parts capable of handling varying engines. That is why Jeep will put out a 3.0L turbodiesel engine at some point in 2020. So if you’ve been holding off on buying a new truck because you wanted a diesel, you will find the improvements coming in 2020.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the flagship luxury SUV from Jeep. That doesn’t mean you can’t get it without some serious power. If you want a racecar-like engine dropped into your Grand Cherokee, just wait for 2020, because Jeep will be putting its 6.2L supercharged Hemi V8 into the Trackhawk trim, which should offer up around 707 horsepower.
And last, but certainly not least, it is believed the Jeep Wrangler will feature up to four engine types in 2020. It will still have the traditional 3.6L V6, but it will also have a 2.0L Turbo I4, a 3.6L with eTorque, and a 3.0L turbodiesel (the same turbodiesel the Gladiator will likely receive)
Things Have Never Been This Good At Jeep
From small improvements like better fuel economy and adding eTorque to engines throughout the Jeep lineup to help boost torque all the way to the head-turning Gladiator, there’s so much to love about Jeep. And things aren’t slowing down any time soon. While there was much to love with 2019, 2020 looks to be even better. So whether you’re considering a new vehicle right now or you’re starting to consider one shortly, there’s never been a better time to shop for a new Jeep vehicle at your local Jeep dealership. Of all the new features found on the Jeep lineup, which is your favorite? Do you like the better fuel economy and heightened torque performance, or are you excited for what’s expected in 2020? Let us know in the comments below!
