Diesel power returns to Jeep off-roader
Grand Cherokee Summit offers loads of torque
— Real off-roaders will tell you: it’s torque, not horsepower that will get you out of the mud or over a boulder. So those who take their SUVs off-road will be happy to see the return of diesel power to the very off-road capable Jeep Grand Cherokee after a sixyear absence.
Already flush with an available six-cylinder and a pair of eight-cylinder gas engines, Fiat-Chrysler’s Jeep brand has added a turbocharged diesel mill — branded EcoDiesel — to its mid-size five-passenger, four-door sport utility vehicle’s engine menu. It’s part of a thorough refresh for 2014 that also includes updates to the Jeep’s interior, a new transmission, more towing capacity and improved all-around drivability.
Grand Cherokees for 2014 start with the $41,690 Laredo with its 290-horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque six-cylinder gas engine. The diesel, though, can only be had on the mid-range $49,890 Limited trim level as a $4,995 option. (All prices include freight and pre-delivery inspection fees.)
While over $53k may seem like a lot for a vehicle with a Jeep badge, keep in mind that rival diesel-powered luxury SUVs are tens of thousands of dollars more expensive when comparably equipped. My Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel tester was the top-line $65,040 Summit trim level model. Add the diesel engine, $195 metallic paint and $225 CD player, and the total for my Jeep came to $70,455.
The EcoDiesel’s 240 horsepower is not the engine’s bragging point. But the robust 420 pound-feet of torque — 30 more than the Jeep’s 5.7 L V-8 — definitely is. Mated to the Grand Cherokee’s standard and new-thisyear eight-speed automatic transmission, the diesel’s immediate torque (available at a low, low 2,000 rpm) is not only felt right off the line, but also during passing manoeuvres on the highway.
The diesel engine is also felt when it comes time to fill up. While rated at 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres city and 7.0 highway, after a week of urban, highway and unpaved road driving, I saw an average of 9.9 L/100 km.
The addition of the new diesel engine is a real boon, not only for on-road fuel economy gains, but also for off-roading fun.
Grand Cherokee Laredos start with the full-time, allwheel-drive Quadra-Trac I system. Optional on Limited and Overland models but standard on the Summit is the Quadra-Drive II system, which comes standard with Selec-Terrain and offers an electronic limited-slip differential and a two-speed transfer case. Summit Grand Cherokees also get the Quadra-Lift air suspension that can raise or lower the Jeep to five different heights.
Jeep’s Selec-Terrain allows the driver to choose from five drive surfaces via a consolemounted dial. Married to the stability and traction control systems, 12 settings for power, throttle, braking and transmission adapt to either on- or off-road conditions.
During my few hours tooling around, the big and luxurious Jeep acquitted itself amazingly well on slippery rocks and easily climbed and descended steep hills using its hill-descent and hill-ascent controls. The immediate punch from the diesel also helped navigate some of the pit’s steeper inclines. And the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters allowed for easy gear changes when necessary.
All the while, I was surrounded in climate-controlled comfort, listening to my favourite satellite radio station. Once done, I simply reset the Grand Cherokee’s various controls back to their on-road settings and enjoyed a luxury sedan-like drive back home. Pros: Frugal and torque-rich diesel, class-leading off-road capabilities, luxury sedan-like on-road manners Cons: The super luxurious Summit Grand Cherokee will likely never leave a paved road What I would change: Make the diesel available at lower trim levels