Do Jeep Lift Kits Affect MPG?

What Are Jeep Lift Kits Used For?

Before diving deeper into the topic, it's worth going over a couple of reasons why lift kits are such a common modification for Jeeps.

The first and most common reason for lift kits is the added ground clearance that they provide. Lift kits can add from under two inches up to eight inches of lift depending on the lift kit model, and they can be either fixed height or adjustable. With added ground clearance, Jeep owners can use their vehicles for more serious off-roading and add other parts and components that can add more value.

Jeep owners can fit larger wheels and tires with a lift kit. Larger wheels and tires are a must-have addition if you plan on using your Jeep for any type of off-road activity, whether it’s overlanding, rock crawling, trail riding, or more.

The thing is that every modification regarding offroad capability, whether it’s a lift kit, larger tires, or additional offroad accessories, has some effect on a vehicle’s fuel consumption.

Reduced Aerodynamics

Jeep isn’t known for its aerodynamics, especially the Wrangler and Gladiator due to their boxy shape. When a lift kit is installed instead of its stock suspension, the aerodynamics are further reduced, increasing drag. This results in a slight fuel consumption increase, especially at higher speeds.

With off-road builds, other accessories such as light bars, winches, and roof racks additionally reduce aerodynamics, and on top of it all, add extra weight that also increases fuel consumption.

Another aspect that most people don’t consider is the exposed undercarriage of the vehicle, which increases turbulence and drag. Although it might not seem like a significant aspect at first, it has an impact on fuel consumption, especially at higher speeds.

Larger Wheels and Tires

Having a lift kit on your Jeep usually goes hand in hand with adding larger wheels and tires that will fill the gap and improve your vehicle’s offroad performance. On the other hand, wheels and tires that are larger than stock wheels will increase traction, but also make it harder for the engine to rotate them. The extra stress on the engine to gain and maintain speed increases fuel consumption.

If you replace stock wheels with an off-road set, which would be expected to go with a lift kit, you’ll add a significant amount of weight which makes it more difficult to accelerate, but also stop the vehicle.

Driving Style

With a lift kit installed, Jeep owners usually change the way they drive, especially if the lift kit is part of an offroad build. It isn’t necessarily the case every time, but in most cases, lifted vehicles are primarily used for off-roading or crawling over obstacles not found on public roads. By driving slowly, fuel consumption is increased by a significant margin. The consumption in this case isn’t directly affected by the lift kit, but its effects on the driver and driving style.

Summing It Up

Although Jeep lift kits offer a number of advantages, especially when it comes to offroad capabilities, they have an effect on fuel consumption, directly and indirectly.

The lift kit directly affects fuel consumption with its negative effect on the vehicle’s aerodynamic, as well as weight, and indirectly with additional components and accessories that are often added to vehicles alongside the lift kit. These include light bars, winches, skid plates, offroad armor, and more. All these accessories add weight and reduce fuel economy.

Larger wheels and tires are also often associated with lift kits, and they too add weight and affect the engine’s payload that increases fuel consumption.

With an added lift kit, and other accessories that usually go hand in hand with it, you can expect around a 15 to 20% increase in fuel consumption. With fewer modifications, it’s possible to have better fuel economy, but it will still be more compared to when the Jeep has stock suspension, and wheels.