Ram has already killed off the EcoDiesel engine option in its 1500 pickup truck for 2023, and now it looks like Jeep may be hitting the “off” button as well. Four-door Wrangler Unlimited models will continue to offer the 3.0L diesel for 2023, but rumours are that the 2024 lineup will include the Farout, a “limited production final edition of Rubicon diesel.”
The automaker hasn’t confirmed the decision, but at the JL Wrangler Forums, someone posted a picture of a digital card shown to U.S. dealers that says the Farout is “now open for orders” and will offer “Premium Exclusivity with EcoDiesel’s exceptional torque, range and fuel economy.” There’s no indication that the Farout will be available in Canada.
This digital card was apparently sent to Jeep dealers in the U.S. Photo by JL Wrangler Forums
The package includes LED lighting, driver assist technologies, gloss black grille, black leather seats with red accents, and an “exclusive 3.0L D badge.” Some Jeep fans have speculated that since the Farout is specifically a Rubicon, the diesel may continue on in other models, but given that the take rate didn’t seem to be that high and Ram is also bowing out on it, it’s highly unlikely it’ll be saved just for the Sport and Sahara range. We’ll also have to see if it continues in the Gladiator pickup.
The diesel actually didn’t last long between the Wrangler’s frame rails, having been added as a “late-availability” option for the 2020 model year, with the automaker explaining that it was due to customer demand. The 3.0L engine makes 260 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque, and comes solely with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Ram added the 3.0L diesel to its 1500 pickup truck for the 2014 model year, the first of the light-duty trucks to do so, but won’t be continuing it after next January. Ford added a 3.0L diesel in the 2019 F-150 but has discontinued it for 2022, opting instead for high-torque turbocharged engines, as well as a hybrid and all-electric. GM added a 3.0L diesel in the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks, and so far, hasn’t hinted at getting rid of it. Of course, all three automakers still offer big diesels in their heavy-duty trucks.
Buyers might have originally asked Jeep for a diesel, but part of the problem might have been that they’d never heard the phrase “be careful what you wish for.” The 2022 Wrangler Unlimited comes standard with a 3.6L V6 gasoline engine, but opting for the 3.0L EcoDiesel adds $9,390 to the price tag. While fuel economy is much better with the diesel, its oil changes are pricier; you need to add diesel exhaust fluid (DEF); and right now, diesel is considerably pricier at the pumps than gasoline. If the rumours of the Jeep diesel’s demise are true, they certainly are understandable.
Keyword: Rumoured Jeep Rubicon Farout may mark Wrangler's last diesel