Article Comments - 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 CRD Full Test

8 messages, Last post on Jun 18, 2008 at 6:42 PM

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What is this discussion about? Jeep Grand Cherokee, Diesel, SUV

Full Test: 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 CRD - Bottom Line: Affordable diesel option makes the Grand Cherokee a far more practical proposition. (more)

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#1 of 8 Article Comments - 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 CRD Full Test by KarenS HOST May 02, 2008 (5:13 am)
You'd think that putting a sophisticated turbodiesel engine into a heavy SUV would be a complete no-brainer, right? It looks like the perfect combination on paper. A turbodiesel supplies copious torque at relaxed engine speeds, with much better urban fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions. Read more and tell us what you think! Full Test: 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 CRD Replies to this message: 2002jetta (May 02, 2008 10:46 am) morey000 (May 02, 2008 11:52 am) cneff (May 02, 2008 7:36 pm) phx1021 (May 02, 2008 9:12 pm)
#2 of 8 Re: Article Comments - 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 CRD Full Test [ by 2002jetta May 02, 2008 (10:46 am)
Replying to: KarenS (May 02, 2008 5:13 am) I like how they put "america's only diesel SUV" when VW had the V10 TDI and Mercedes has the G and M which both have CDI's. Now if VW can bring in a TDI for the Tiguan or BMW can bring over the XD 3.0sd, I'll but one of those ... =) Go diesel!
#3 of 8 17/22mpg? by morey000 May 02, 2008 (11:52 am)
Replying to: KarenS (May 02, 2008 5:13 am) Well, I guess compared to Jeeps powerful V8's this is a noticeable improvement, but I was truly expecting better mileage. The reports that I've heard about the 3.0L CRD in the Touareg indicated 25mpg or better. Apparently, this MPG thing isn't an easy problem to solve. (despite how easy Toyota makes it look) I'm getting consistent 21mpg in mixed driving with my Subie Tribeca. Doesn't have quite the off road capabilities of the Jeep, but it's better suited to my needs with more room, better handling and sufficient off road capabilities. Replies to this message: cneff (May 02, 2008 7:36 pm) phx1021 (May 02, 2008 9:12 pm)
#4 of 8 Re: 17/22mpg? [morey000] by cneff May 02, 2008 (7:36 pm)
Replying to: morey000 (May 02, 2008 11:52 am) I have an 07 ML320 CDI which is the same motor in the Jeep except has 398ft lbs of torque and what I think allows for better fuel mileage, a 7 speed tranny vs. 5 speed. I just took a long trip with mixed driving (highway speeds of 75 plus and stop and go towns) and averaged 25mpg. Not uncommon in this SUV. Best to date for me is over 28mpg. Even with the cost of diesel these days I feel I'm still ahead, plus the torque is intoxicating.
#5 of 8 Re: 17/22mpg? [morey000] by phx1021 May 02, 2008 (9:12 pm)
Replying to: morey000 (May 02, 2008 11:52 am) I agree that 17/22 is..... well just lame. I'm getting similar mileage in my 03 4wd v6 4runner, averaging in the 19's , along with similar 0-60 performance. I don't have that torque though so the GC should tow better. I need for these type of vehicles with a diesel to average at least in the mid 20's to consider one in the future.
#6 of 8 Affordable? by datoes1441 May 03, 2008 (6:58 am)
A mention of the diesel option only adding 1350 or so to the price of the jeep should come with this caveat: YOU HAVE TO STEP UP TO THE LIMITED TRIM LEVEL TO GET IT! it is not an option on laredo or rocky mtn trims in the GC. Making it really a $8-10k option, if the only thing you really want is the dsl engine. Replies to this message: aspade (May 03, 2008 4:27 pm)
#7 of 8 Re: Affordable? [datoes1441] by aspade May 03, 2008 (4:27 pm)
Replying to: datoes1441 (May 03, 2008 6:58 am) And on top of that the incentive for diesel models is curently $2000 lower than it is for the gas engines.
#8 of 8 Affordable yes, and good mileage in mine by sahara111 Jun 18, 2008 (6:42 pm)
I ended up with a 2007 GC Diesel Limited and love it, it is surprisingly a very, very fit all-around vehicle (decent in town mileage, rated to 7200 lbs towing, awesome off-road low range crawling up steep, loose trails and in deep sand). Here's how I ended up with it after not even being aware of it last year... I had a situation where I was replacing 2 cars (Subaru legacy wagon went to my daughter, leaving me with just the Passat TDI - great mileage! - but no easy way to carry stuff inside, especially my bicycle...) with one for myself; it had to be able to do it all and I was aiming for low-mid 20's on my commuting mileage (Puget Sound area). My overall requirements since I drive about 30k miles/yr were excellent comfort for distance, vacation etc (noise, seating); easy to steer and keep on the road with good handling; and the mid-20's mpg on my commuting (most of my mileage...). I looked at several rigs, and was poised to get the then just-released new Highlander. The new Pilot wasn't out yet, Acura had nothing in the right price range and size range I needed; I also drove the new Saturn 3-row Outlook (if the name is right...) which was very smooth and fancy inside. I had a friend at a Jeep dealership who told me of the Jeep GC diesel, which at first I didn't believe. Looking at the mileage rating and having experience with diesel and how to coax the mileage out of them I figured I had a good chance of 25mpg on my commutes. Ended up test driving it several times, the Highlander several times, and the Saturn once. I kept noticing how both the Highlander and Saturn felt and steered nice but more like a minivan to me, and how the Jeep felt sportier. The Saturn had a cool 6spd but had the lowest rated mileage. The Toy of course has the rep for great reliability. But I was also comfortable with the MBenz euro engine and tranny combo - and the fact the vehicle has been sold there like almost 4yrs now and is proven. Plus, the MB 3.0 CRD is their current bread-n-butter engine for a few years now - they're used in many vehicles, it's a really proven and mature engine. So, all 3 vehicles met my min requirements. So I said, what else am I getting with these 3 as a single guy who likes doing some outdoor stuff? The Saturn and Toy are true crossovers that are people-hauling oriented (each with 3 rows last year once configured with all other items I wanted...), but with no true off-road ability and significantly less towing weight, and a bit less mpg ratings. So I went for the Jeep. (note I did not consider the Jeep gas engine offerings; the mpg was even lower, and, I wasn't comfortable with them in general in spite of the big engine warranty....sorry, don't mean to offend anyone). My Jeep stickered at $42,295 (plus the market ADM of $1,989 which is often ignored.). I paid - after incentives and using the Costco price and more haggling - $34,615 before the state taxes. This price was right at about $1100. more than the Toy or Saturn (the Saturn had a fixed saturn price; the Toy was new and the Costco price was best, but not great at all...not much discounting last August). So, with the mileage being better and my high miles driven, and the insurance being a tad lower for me, and the cost close enough that was it. I have since heard of people getting $10-12k off of the diesel. The one I test drove in KS last year was being offered at about $12k off about 3 months ago. Oh, my overall average (just now hitting 25,000 miles) is just at 24.92 mpg; but was over 25mpg before my 4422.5 miles road trip 2 wks ago - tons of stop-n-go, dirt, gravel, mud roads, 4x4 in sand, crawling up Engineer Pass in CO, stopping for about 1000 pictures, etc, etc. My average will be back up over 25mpg in about another fill-up or so..I have several in the 26.x and 27.x range. I believe the MB ML320 owner - that vehicle has a) better aerodynamics, b) I think a different rear-end ratio and c) a 7 spd tranny. Makes perfect sense. Oh, and my mpg is still slowly on average getting better. Many experienced diesel owners will tell you it is very normal to not get fully broken in till say 40,000 miles - although I'm not sure that applies to modern engines but....?? Hope this helps. I have posted more detail in the Jeep GC Real World Mileage forum (or similar name of topic...). Good luck to all.