Last November, Jeep debuted its new Global Medium Engine (GME) family of 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engines in the 2023 Compass. Then came his 2.4-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder Tigershark with 177 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque, and his GME 2.0-liter making 200 hp and 221 lb-ft. This mill is a detuned version of the engine that also powers the 2023 Jeep Cherokee and his 2023 Dodge Hornet. In the Cherokee, the Turbo 4 makes 271 hp and 268 lb-ft, while the Hornet whispers 268 hp with the same torque. On the two Jeeps, product planners eliminated the front-wheel-drive Compass and Cherokee trim with the introduction of the new engine, but finally got some EPA fuel economy ratings to compare what’s left.
The 2022 Jeep Compass 4WD underpowered 2.4-liter Tigershark returned 22 miles per gallon in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg total. 2023 Jeep Compass 4WD with GME returns 24 city, 32 highway and 27 combinations. More power and a 2 mpg improvement across the board, that’s nothing wrong. The good news is that the EPA estimates that the new engine will save you $150 a year in fuel costs. The bad news is that it will be at least four years before the fuel savings start thanks to a minimum $605 MSRP increase on the Compass.
With the Cherokee line-up reduced to two trims, the Altitude Lux suffices with the 2.4-liter Tigershark. Trailhawk 4WD was previously only available in his Pentastar V6, a 3.2-liter that puts out 271 hp and 239 lb-ft, but now he’s only available in a 2.0-liter. The improvement in fuel economy is not as dramatic as the Compass because it maintains the same power while adding torque. Cherokee goes from 18 cities, 24 highways, 21 Pentastar combined with 20 cities, 26 highways, 22 combined with his GME. With the Cherokee Trailhawk costing $3,750 more than it did in 2022, the EPA’s estimated annual fuel cost is $100, but it will take 37.5 years to begin registration.
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