Are XJ's really bad Gas Guzzlers?
I currently get 15.1 mpg mostly town with 3 inch lift and 235/75r15 tires.
But I also have a leak in my exhaust manifold. so that could be causing my mpg to be a bit worse.
But I also have a leak in my exhaust manifold. so that could be causing my mpg to be a bit worse.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Also I usually only drive it to work unless I want to go to the beach. Work one way is 13 miles. I drive that Mon-Fri. I usually get about 260-270 a tank and I drive with a feather foot. When I'm on the hwy i put the cruise control on 65 mph.
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,281
Likes: 2
From: Bentonville, AR
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0
I have gotten 20-23 mpg highway, stock and driving 60-65 mph (cruise control).
In city I get around 15 mpg. Mine is a daily driver.
Even upgraded to 235s, added a brushguard and roof rack still the same mpg.
Staying on top of maintenance is a BIG deal when it comes to fuel economy.
In city I get around 15 mpg. Mine is a daily driver.
Even upgraded to 235s, added a brushguard and roof rack still the same mpg.
Staying on top of maintenance is a BIG deal when it comes to fuel economy.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I have gotten 20-23 mpg highway, stock and driving 60-65 mph (cruise control).
In city I get around 15 mpg. Mine is a daily driver.
Even upgraded to 235s, added a brushguard and roof rack still the same mpg.
Staying on top of maintenance is a BIG deal when it comes to fuel economy.
In city I get around 15 mpg. Mine is a daily driver.
Even upgraded to 235s, added a brushguard and roof rack still the same mpg.
Staying on top of maintenance is a BIG deal when it comes to fuel economy.
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,281
Likes: 2
From: Bentonville, AR
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0
Man I wish I was getting that mileage. I have 235's and that's it. I've done all my maintenance and I'm still getting crappy mileage. Idk what's wrong with my Jeep, but it seems like there are a lot of ppl out there with lifts or in your case a bunch of stuff done that get better mileage than me.
Mine is a 1990 XJ Laredo, I6 4.0L, AW4, 4x4, 235s, roof rack, brushguard.
Also I try to avoid "cheap gas" I prefer Shell but use Sunoco or Mobil most days.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Mine is a stock 2001 Sport 4X4. I've got the part time transfer case and automatic transmission. I usually get Valero gas and I run 235's. Other than that it's completely stock. I don't have a heavy foot at all. It's my DD which I drive 13 miles to work one way and only 2 of those miles are city the rest is hwy.
Herp Derp Jerp

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 18,251
Likes: 17
From: Parham, ON
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L OBD-II
Here's an ongoing thread that might help you out: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/wha...er-mpgs-65217/
Shorter answer than that 26 page beast is that it's extremely variable. XJs on the market are between 30 and 12 years old. Since it's so hard to tell what's happened to a used vehicle, the previous owners' attention to maintenance is going to be a huge factor. Especially now that people are selling SUVs to get gas sippers instead of just fixing them in the first place! (You can find several threads on here like that) Some XJs you can expect to replace pretty much everything before it will run like it's supposed to - some are in decent shape. My completely stock 1999 with a 4.0L and the 5-speed manual gets me about 14-16 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway. On the highway I stick to about 65 and don't drive like a dick. I think something's wrong that's causing so poor city economy as other stick-drivers see around 20, but it could be because of how short my commute is. (Ahh, who am I kidding, as long as it says Jeep on the front something will need fixing!)
Another thing you can consider is what you want your Jeep to be for you. A lot of owners don't care so much about the fuel efficiency since they get so much more out of it. You're going to consider a simple daily driver very differently from your pride and joy XJ
Shorter answer than that 26 page beast is that it's extremely variable. XJs on the market are between 30 and 12 years old. Since it's so hard to tell what's happened to a used vehicle, the previous owners' attention to maintenance is going to be a huge factor. Especially now that people are selling SUVs to get gas sippers instead of just fixing them in the first place! (You can find several threads on here like that) Some XJs you can expect to replace pretty much everything before it will run like it's supposed to - some are in decent shape. My completely stock 1999 with a 4.0L and the 5-speed manual gets me about 14-16 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway. On the highway I stick to about 65 and don't drive like a dick. I think something's wrong that's causing so poor city economy as other stick-drivers see around 20, but it could be because of how short my commute is. (Ahh, who am I kidding, as long as it says Jeep on the front something will need fixing!)
Another thing you can consider is what you want your Jeep to be for you. A lot of owners don't care so much about the fuel efficiency since they get so much more out of it. You're going to consider a simple daily driver very differently from your pride and joy XJ


