First Look 2014 Grand Cherokee Diesel

Clean diesel is the saving grace for Jeep.

Chrysler Group LLC. chose the 2013 North American International Auto Show as the launchpad for the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. What makes this Grand Cherokee special is the 3.0 liter V6 diesel that reintroduces Jeep to the world of diesel.

Diesel has been the dirty, hardworking cousin of gasoline in the United States since its birth in 1897. Sooty tail pipe emissions and noisy clatter meant being relegated to trucking and a small niche consumer who was willing to sacrifice for more efficiency. Now that fuel prices are going up and CAFE standards are looming just a little over a decade away diesel is being pushed to the forefront.

Diesel and Jeep should go hand and hand. Jeep isnt a car brand at all. Jeep only make SUVs and CUVs. These vehicles need to be capable and most of the time that means sacrificing fuel efficiency. Diesel offers the best chance right now of maintaining that capability of an SUV while meeting future fuel economy standards.

3.0 Liter V6 EcoDiesel Engine

Four cylinders just arent going to cut it in the full size SUV market. Grand Cherokee buyers are going to expect confident performance from their vehicle and enough torque to get them out of any situation. Jeeps choice for this job is a 3.0 liter MultiJetII turbodiesel engine. This engine is related to the VM Motori engine offered in Grand Cherokees overseas, but this version is updated with MultiJet injection technology as well as a Secondary Catalyst Reduction (SCR) system to reduce emissions further.

Jeep engineers have rated the 3.0 liter EcoDieseel at 240 horsepower at 3600 rpm and a massive 420 lb-ft at 2000 rpm which is 30 more lb-ft than the 5.7 liter Hemi® V-8 that is also available.

8-speed Automatic Transmission

Jeep CEO Mike Manley stressed that Jeep is focused on the entire power-train package. Jeep didnt want to saddle their new diesel with the antiquated 5-speed automatic in the current generation Grand Cherokee. Now the Grand Cherokee comes standard with a ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic that will further increase fuel economy. For Grand Cherokee use the transmission has been optimized for quick shifts and smoothness.  For tough off-roading situations and deep snow a crawling gear ratio of 44.1:1 is attainable with the two-speed transfer case. These are serious specs that add extra capability for those looking to take their Grand Cherokee places the old Grand Cherokee couldnt.

If all this technical talk is boring you then we can get straight to the point. All this technology combines to make the Grand Cherokee more fuel efficient. Jeep estimates that the 4X2 Grand Cherokee will travel 30 miles on one gallon of fuel. Combined fuel economy for the the 4X2 model is 25.5 miles per gallon. If you need 4X4, which you probably do, you can expect 28 miles per gallon on the highway and 24 miles per gallon combined. For maximum fuel efficiency an Eco Mode is available that changes the shift schedule, fuel cut-off and engine response that adds a theoretical 6 percent in efficiency.

Being able to tow is also important to Grand Cherokee owners. Maximum payload is a specialty of the diesel engine and the 3.0 liter EcoDiesel offers 7,400 pounds of towing capability. Stepping up to the V-8 is no longer necessary to get a capable weekend tow vehicle. 

For too long now diesel has not been taken seriously. Poor consumer perception warped by horrible diesel engines of the past has blinded consumers from the truth about clean diesel. Diesel engines are more capable, more versatile and better suited to the driving style of most drivers on the road today. Hopefully Jeep has put a gem of an engine rather than the scraps from Europe with SCR strapped on to achieve federal emission standards.

Diesel can save the full size SUV it just takes excellent diesel engines and a company that will stand behind diesel as a fuel for the future. Unless there is a dedicated effort to inform the public on what makes diesel special it will certainly fall flat. Diesel deserves a chance in the United States and consumers need to finally work through their prejudices. Jeep just might be the brand that does that.