Yesterday I borrowed a brand-new 2012 Wrangler Unlimited Sport with the new 3.6L Pentastar engine and five-speed auto. Check out the fuel mileage.

 The factory in-dash mileage gauge are frequently called "lie-o-meters." Often they read about 1-2 mpg optimistic. I haven't had this Wrangler long enough to do any hand-calculations to see how accurate this one is.

I can say I drove Jp's red '07 Wrangler Rubicon two-door with the 3.8L engine, NSG-370 transmission, 4.10 axle gears, and 35-inch tires 130 miles up to the office in LA yesterday morning at 70 mph and used just over half a tank of fuel.

Then, Chrysler dropped off this loaner 2012 Wrangler Unlimited Sport with the new 3.6L Pentastar engine, W5A580 five-speed automatic transmission, 3.21 axle gears, and 255/75R17 tires and I drove it the 130 miles home at 70 mph using less than 1/4-tank of fuel. Yeah, it's not lifted and on big tires and the axle gearing is much higher than our 2-door, but even if you knock 3 mpg off the in-dash gauge, it's still pretty impressive for a vehicle with the aerodynamics of a clay brick.