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Since the early days of the CJ, Jeep fans could get their beloved off-roaders with a six-cylinder mill under the hood. From the torquey straight sixes of the CJ-5 and CJ-7 to the modern, fuel-injected V6s in the JK and JL, the Jeep Wrangler and six-cylinder engine just go together. Well, the Wrangler is going through some changes, and fans won’t have the option of an automatic V6 model for 2025.

Jeep will discontinue the automatic V6 Wrangler, leaving the Pentastar engine in a manual-only configuration

The 3.6L Pentastar V6 has been a staple in the Jeep Wrangler lineup since 2012. Today, it’s still the base engine option for the iconic off-roader. Better yet, drivers had their choice of a standard six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic gearbox. However, Jeep has plans for the six-cylinder mill in the Wrangler.

Rather than producing the Wrangler with a V6 and an automatic, the only way to get the six-cylinder Wrangler for 2025 is to opt for the manual transmission. As for the other engine offerings, the extremely popular Wrangler 4xe PHEV will retain its automatic transmission option. In place of the naturally aspirated (NA) 3.6L V6, the 4xe marries a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine with a hybrid electric application.

Earlier this year, a friend of mine and I embarked on a road trip to knock out one of his bucket list items. Our vehicle of choice? A Jeep Wrangler JK with no top and no doors. Now, while my close companion is competent with a manual (he has an old CJ with a stick), he opted for the automatic transmission. Admittedly, it is a bit of a shame that drivers won’t have that option. The Wrangler with the auto was a compliant and joyful road trip ride. Aside from the fuel economy and road noise.

That’s not the only major change for the Jeep lineup. The Jeep Gladiator, the Wrangler’s pickup truck-ized sibling, is ditching the stick shift entirely. Instead, an eight-speed automatic transmission will be the only option for a new Pentastar-powered Gladiator.

As for other small updates to the lineup, Jeep is dropping the manual-wind windows and manual locks in lower-trim models. Not even the Wrangler’s old-school cool can last forever. But even without manual features, drivers can still row gears and play the third pedal in their six-cylinder Wranglers. At least for now.

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).