Old Jeep commercials; 32 MPG?!

[HawkeyeScott]

I decided to look up some old Jeep commercials on YouTube. Found some really good stuff. (I was a kid in the 80s and really enjoy, for some reason, watching ads from those days.) This one, particularly the MPG rating, caught my eye. Did the 4-cylinder engines really ever come close to 32 MPG?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_rxGUL3h1w&feature=related

 

[Zaedock]

I'd bet it was close, especially unloaded and driving at the 55 MPH speed limit of the day. I don't take my 2.5L trail rig on the highway too much anymore (38" tires in Massachusetts), but I can go all day on the trail sipping fuel.

FWIW, I still get about 20 MPG mixed in my '89 2 door 4.0L/auto. A friend who drove his XJ on 35's on our trip to Moab was getting 23-25 MPG (with a 4.0L & swapped in 6 speed transmission), granted that was a LOT of highway.

 

[The_Jeff]

The highway EPA ratings were almost completely ficticious back then. My cadillac cimarron was at 40; driven 58 mph all warmed up all highway got me 31. They changed them once in the late 80s before they changed them in 2005 or so to reflect going 80 with the AC on and 3 iPods plugged in all at once with a flat tire and 3 fat americans in the trunk.

 

[HawkeyeScott]

I'd be curious to know their formulas used for estimating MPG back then. I know how my 4.0 is when I TRY to get good fuel mileage. Really hard to imagine 1.5L making that much difference!

Still cool to see those old Jeep ads. Really interesting to see ads for something brand new, that if it's still around today, is likely very worn out. Makes you remember that even today;s junk was once new and important.

 

[Gary Allan]

That Wagoneer is pretty much XJ sized. My son's 4.0 XJ can get 25+/- on longer single warm up runs. I'd say that the 4 banger would do slightly better.

In a Wrangler chassis? Not a chance.

EPA estimates were possible, just not likely.

 

[MNgopher]

I'm in the same boat. My '88 XJ with the 4.0 consistently delivers 20+MPG on freeway runs, and has done over 25 mpg several times. Not sure if the 2.5 with a stick might be able to deliver that high. The 24 MPG City though - good luck!

The only other thought is there was a small turbodiesel available for a couple of years in the Cherokee/Wagoneer. I don't remember the years, but the very, very few who have them (and still running) seem to report mileage in this neighborhood...

 

[greenaccord02]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
The highway EPA ratings were almost completely ficticious back then. My cadillac cimarron was at 40; driven 58 mph all warmed up all highway got me 31. They changed them once in the late 80s before they changed them in 2005 or so to reflect going 80 with the AC on and 3 iPods plugged in all at once with a flat tire and 3 fat americans in the trunk.


This should be read as a disclaimer before watching any more old car commercials

 

[saberz]

My 94 4.0L Wrangler was something along the lines of 16 highway/ 10 city.

I couldn't imagine it getting 25 highway on a good day with the planets/stars all aligned and angel's carrying the vehicle.

 

[stranger706]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
They changed them once in the late 80s before they changed them in 2005 or so to reflect going 80 with the AC on and 3 iPods plugged in all at once with a flat tire and 3 fat americans in the trunk.


This is hilarious but very true.

 

[kkreit01]

I think it was for the 2008 model year -- when they added "3 fat americans in the trunk".

 

[01rangerxl]

My parents bought a 1985 Cherokee 2.5L 5-speed 4x4 new. It had optional 3.73 gears, and an optional tire size was listed on the sticker. I think I still have the window sticker for it at their house but I'm not sure. I am pretty sure that our Cherokee was not rated for 32 MPG though...I don't think it ever got close to that in the real world either. Low 20s was more typical.