2012 Diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee: First Drive

[MeBe4running]

I know... you are going to want to flame me.... but I might have suddenly seen a soft spot for a jeep.

"For 2014, Jeep Grand Cherokee delivers a best-in-class 30 miles per gallon (mpg) highway courtesy of a new 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 engine for North America and a new eight-speed transmission. The new 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 boasts an unmatched driving range of more than 730 miles"


New 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6

North American off-road enthusiasts have been clamoring for a diesel-powered Grand Cherokee. Jeep has delivered, and consumers will benefit greatly – on the trail, and especially in everyday driving.

Producing a class-leading 240 horsepower and a massive 420 lb.-ft. of torque, Jeep’s 24-valve dual-overhead cam 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 delivers clean-diesel technology with low CO2 emissions.

Capable of towing a best-in-class 7,400 pounds, the EcoDiesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee is expected to deliver 22 mpg city and 30 mpg highway in 4x2 models, resulting in a best-in-class driving range of more than 730 miles. 4x4 models are estimated at 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. Fuel economy is 43 percent more than competitive gasoline-powered V-8 SUVs in the segment.

New eight-speed automatic transmission

Jeep Grand Cherokee’s new EcoDiesel engine – as well as its V-6 and V-8 gasoline engine offerings – transfers power via Chrysler Group’s new eight-speed automatic transmission, significantly improving fuel economy across the Grand Cherokee lineup.

In addition to enhancing fuel economy, the new, robust and durable eight-speed transmission delivers quicker acceleration and precise, smooth shifting, enhancing ride quality to luxury car levels. An additional benefit is a lower crawl ratio of 44.1:1 to aid in climbing over – or through – tough obstacles, when equipped with a two-speed transfer case.

New steering wheel paddle shifters offer improved driver control both on- and off-road, including Electronic Range Select when using Selec-Speed Control in extreme off-road situations.

 

[Intruder]

North American off-road enthusiasts have been clamoring for a diesel-powered Grand Cherokee.

That made me laugh.

 

[BigredTEX]

On the surface, there's not much not to like. To have those power numbers with those economy numbers is the best of both worlds.

 

[Okki]

I hear ya... I hear ya....

If I knew that Toyota was coming out with a diesel I might wait to get the suspension done on my LDT; and instead switch to a diesel model and start over with the mods....

The interior looks pretty nice on the JGC.... and the engine is desirable... but it's everything else on it that makes me still concerned.

So while I'm happy for the jeep crowd; i'm still annoyed that Toyota isn't listening.

Okki

PS: how was the trip MeBe4Running?

 

[mform]

I drove a JGC Limited all over Colorado last summer, and it was pretty darn nice. Adding a bunch of grunt and better mileage will result in a heckuva piece. So, I think I'll sell my TE immediately and go buy one. [pause for effect] Hahahahahaha....um, NO.

:loco:

 

[Barry694]

Jeep Diesel

With diesel fuel averaging about 40 cents more per gallon than regular unleaded, I think that would cause quite a few people to think twice. Therefore, Toyota may feel like they cannot sell enough of that engine to allow for profit due to producing a lower number of a given vehicle.

 

[Yogi56]

I never hear friends bragging about their Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge anything "still going strong" with 150,000 miles or more. It seems commonplace with Toyota's. This Jeep does sound like a great package but it still looks like an M&M with wheels.

 

[KCcarguy]

The new 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 boasts an unmatched driving range of more than 730 miles"

Impressive....I wonder how many of these will break-down before they finish their first tank?

Every time I think about the Grand Cherokee, I remember the news story with guys at the JGC plant smoking pot and drinking on their lunch break. These guys were never fired due to "lack of evidence". Keep that in mind when you drop that 45-grand.

 

[Okki]

Just saw the 2014 design on Autoblog:

No amount of diesel is going to convince me to buy THAT!....

Okki

PS:

Price City Highway Fuel Tank City Range City $/Mile Highway Range Highway $/Mile
Diesel $4.19 21 28 24 504 $0.20 672 $0.15
Gas $3.81 17 22 24 408 $0.22 528 $0.17

Yup... I'll pay the higher gallon price for diesel... higher range for less cost per mile. Saving $0.02 per mile at current fuel cost in both city and highway mileage.

 

[philsey]

If you want economy, you'll have to pay for it ...

CAR & DRIVER:

"But no one ever said being fuel-conscious would be cheap. Indeed, the VM diesel is only available on the three top Grand Cherokee models, and adds $4500 to the cost of a Limited, Overland, or rear-wheel-drive Summit. (All-wheel drive runs $2000 on the Limited and $3000 on the Overland and Summit). Getting the diesel in the all-wheel-drive Summit is an extra $5000. "

If one wants a diesel for "cool", or tq, or towing, I understand - but to think there's any economy involved would be delusional.

 

[1engineer]

I would buy it if only I liked service department waiting rooms better. I spend a few hours yesterday helping my friend work on his 2009 JGC DIESEL. His sound deadening material that spans the middle of the unibody had come loose and gotten tangled in the transfer case and exhaust system. He has 50K miles on it. It has been in the shop dozens of times for rear lift sensors to new axles to self leveling headlights.

So they put an updated engine and a new transmission in it. What about the other 3000 or so parts that need redesigned too? Like suspension components, door panel clips and all electronics.

Sorry. I'll pass.

 

[1engineer]

Just saw the 2014 design on Autoblog:

No amount of diesel is going to convince me to buy THAT!....

Okki

PS:

Price City Highway Fuel Tank City Range City $/Mile Highway Range Highway $/Mile
Diesel $4.19 21 28 24 504 $0.20 672 $0.15
Gas $3.81 17 22 24 408 $0.22 528 $0.17

Yup... I'll pay the higher gallon price for diesel... higher range for less cost per mile. Saving $0.02 per mile at current fuel cost in both city and highway mileage.

[MENTION=55815]Okki[/MENTION] I think that pic is the new Liberty replacement they will call "Cherokee." The Grand Cherokee is the one Ollie pictured above. Good point about the economics though.

 

[Okki]

[MENTION=55815]Okki[/MENTION] I think that pic is the new Liberty replacement they will call "Cherokee." The Grand Cherokee is the one Ollie pictured above. Good point about the economics though.

Ahhhhhh yes.. A little digging found the back story on that. Sounds like a case of Fiat piggy-backing of the Cherokee name for the non NA market. Talk about brand dilution.

Thanks for pointing that out 1Engineer!

Okki

 

[RobDek]

Sure they look good...that's what Chrysler is all about. But compare a 6 yr old Chrysler/Dodge Jeep or truck with typical mileage of that age to a comparable Toyota truck....both in terms of resale value and reliability.

 

[Titanpat57]

2014 SRT Grand Cherokee: First Drive

Seems Scott had a great time driving it for sure...

 

[vicpick58]

I never hear friends bragging about their Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge anything "still going strong" with 150,000 miles or more. It seems commonplace with Toyota's. This Jeep does sound like a great package but it still looks like an M&M with wheels.

Actually I got well over 200k miles out of both of the Grand cherokees that I owned.

My 2000 Laredo 4.7 was still going strong when I sold it at 280k miles with out any work ever done on the engine or transmission other than regular fluid/filter changes. (lots of little things failed over time though)

And my 2004 Overland was still going with 218k miles when I traded it in on my TE. Engine and transmission still just fine, of course almost everything else had failed at some point or another during my time of ownership. Including the front differential being rebuilt 3 times and ready for a 4th when I finally gave up.

Now at 33k on my 2012 TE and NOTHING has gone wrong with it yet, knock on wood.

I am very happy with this Toyota, will not be going back to Jeep anytime soon.

 

[aspade]

So they put an updated engine and a new transmission in it. What about the other 3000 or so parts that need redesigned too? Like suspension components, door panel clips and all electronics.

Jeep did redesign the other 3000 parts. The crap they built during the Daimler years doesn't share much beyond a badge with the current lineup.

Not to say they're put together like Toyotas now. But they're not put together like Daimlers either and writing them off as though they were is doing yourself a disservice.

 

[1engineer]

Actually I got well over 200k miles out of both of the Grand cherokees that I owned.

My 2000 Laredo 4.7 was still going strong when I sold it at 280k miles with out any work ever done on the engine or transmission other than regular fluid/filter changes. (lots of little things failed over time though)

And my 2004 Overland was still going with 218k miles when I traded it in on my TE. Engine and transmission still just fine, of course almost everything else had failed at some point or another during my time of ownership. Including the front differential being rebuilt 3 times and ready for a 4th when I finally gave up.

Now at 33k on my 2012 TE and NOTHING has gone wrong with it yet, knock on wood.

I am very happy with this Toyota, will not be going back to Jeep anytime soon.

You ought to buy a lottery ticket, or stay out of a lightning storm. As near as I can calculate the odds of having two Jeeps go that many miles rank between being hit by lightning ( in any one year is 1 in 700,000, the odds of being struck in your lifetime is 1 in 3,000) and winning the lottery (winning a Powerball jackpot is 1 in 175,223,510) so get out there and buy one you lucky guy!

 

[Curt Sauve]

Jeep did redesign the other 3000 parts. The crap they built during the Daimler years doesn't share much beyond a badge with the current lineup.

Not to say they're put together like Toyotas now. But they're not put together like Daimlers either and writing them off as though they were is doing yourself a disservice.

I believe that the WK2 is built on the M-B W166 platform? The Pentastar V6 was designed before Fiatsler as was the Hemi. So far reliabilty has been a disaster, but it is a beautiful machine.

 

[JayG]

Fiat = Fix it again Tony!

Already had the Jeep experience and it wasn't a good one.