From the entry-level Sport to the fully-loaded Rubicon, the 2011 Jeep Wrangler offers plenty of trim levels to choose from. And they all come packed with the same rugged V6 engine, and all-wheel-drive configuration.
Key Points
- The power plant for all 2011 Jeep Wrangler models is a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 202 horsepower and 237 lb.-ft. of torque, backed by a standard six-speed manual gearbox or an available four-speed automatic transmission.
- The 2011 Jeep Wrangler Sport and Sahara models are equipped with the second-generation Command-Trac NV241 part-time, two-speed transfer case with a 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio. An available Trac-Lok limited-slip rear differential provides extra torque and grip during slippery, low-traction situations, such as driving over sand, gravel, snow, or ice.
- The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon model is equipped with an Off-Road Rock-Trac NV241 two-speed transfer case with a 4.0:1 low-range gear ratio, as well as electric front- and rear-axle lockers.
- Onboard the 2011 Jeep Wrangler, you’ll find plenty of features to help you translate all that horsepower into real-world performance, like hill start assist and Command-Trac 4WD shifting.
- Fuel economy is weak, at 15/19, city/highway, but you don’t lose any mpgs in four-wheel mode, and a hefty 22.5-gallon gas tank should cover your weekend getaway.
2011 Wrangler’s Inefficient but Powerful 202-hp 3.8L V6 should Make Most Jeep Fans Happy
The 2011 Jeep Wrangler keeps it simple under the hood with a gas-powered 3.8L V6 with 12 overhead valves. No hybrids, no FlexFuel, no CNG-capable. Just a good old-fashioned six-cylinder cranking out 202 horsepower and 240 lb.-ft. of torque at 15/19 miles to the gallon, city/highway.
Every 2011 Wrangler is equipped with all-wheel drive. They come with a four-speed automatic transmission, but a six-speed manual is up for grabs, too, if you like shifting by hand. Standard performance features include hill start assist and traction control, so all that horsepower will translate into real-world performance, and you’re getting a 22.5-gallon gas tank so you can spend the whole weekend out at the lake without having to hit town for a refuel.
It’s an awesome engine that does everything you expect a Jeep to do, and it comes equipped with everything it needs in order to get the job done, including hydraulic-assist brakes, next-gen Dana axles, and Command-Trac 4WD shifting, all standing at a roomy 10 inches of ground clearance. It’s everything you want a Wrangler to be.
2011 Wrangler’s 11 Recalls have Little to Do with the Engine, which Got So-so Reviews by Top Auto Critics
Jeeps don’t have the greatest reputation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If you’re a fan of the brand, you’ve gotten used to this. You know that every new Wrangler is going to see its fair share of recalls. Thankfully, the engine problems in the 2011 Wrangler are relatively few. There are 11 recalls on the books, most for airbag issues, none for the engine, and a 2014 investigation into a faulty power module didn’t turn up any major problems.
The 2011 Jeep Wrangler got more raves than recalls, including from Motor Trend, which reviewed the 2011 model in late-2010 and had good things to say about the engine, even if it isn’t perfect. “When we drove it in the snow in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the Wrangler didn’t skip a beat. …But we know there is a better engine out there, one that has more gusto and provides better fuel economy,” said Motor Trend.
Car and Driver also drove the 2011 Jeep Wrangler at the same Wyoming test-drive as Motor Trend, driving through challenging snowy terrain. “Thank goodness our Rubicon Wrangler was equipped with the extra-low (4:1) low-range gear and 4.10:1 axle ratios to overcome the anemic 202-hp V6 engine that is long overdue for an upgrade,” wrote Car and Driver.
2011 Stands as One of the Best Wranglers in Recent Generations, Just Know what You’re Getting Yourself Into
Repair Pal ranks the Wrangler in 25th place out of 26 compact SUVs for reliability, with the 2011 running an annual repair bill in the area of $758, earning the car a rating of 3.5 stars out of a possible five.
That’s not great. If you own a Wrangler, you’re going to be spending a lot of time in the shop, you’re going to be spending more on gas than you’d like, and you’re occasionally going to be asking your Jeep “What is it this time?”
But a Jeep is a Jeep, and nothing else is a Jeep. If you love the Wrangler, there’s nothing we can say that’s going to talk you out of buying one, and we totally get that. And, we can certainly recommend this potent V6 trooper over many of the newer models, like the 2018, which has scored no fewer than 1,263 complaints in just four short years.
A Jeep Wrangler is always going to be a bad choice for your primary vehicle, but as your weekend camping-tripper, the 2011 Wrangler is one of the best adventure vehicles Jeep has released in the last 10-15 years.
Photos: Stellantis
