Diesel is not a factor at Jeep as the corporate ended its experiment with the Ecodiesel engine late final 12 months. Whereas that V6 diesel was the torquey engine that Jeep followers had been ready for, it wasn’t the primary time the model tried providing diesel fashions.
Beginning in 2005, the powers that be at Jeep needed to check the waters with one thing new. This resulted within the first technology Jeep Liberty getting a diesel. Known as the Liberty CRD, it was purported to gauge the general public’s response to the oil burning engine. The Liberty CRD was the primary Jeep diesel since 1987.
Energy for the Liberty CRD got here from a 2.8-liter turbocharged diesel I4 constructed by VM Motori in Italy. It made 160 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, 60 extra lb-ft than the gasoline powered V6. This was paired with a five-speed computerized transmission and a Command-Trac half time four-wheel-drive system. A full time system was out there as an possibility.
Efficiency was first rate. It may hit 60 mph in 10 seconds. And because of all that torque that was out there from a low RPM, the Liberty CRD had a 5,000 pound towing capability. Fuel mileage wasn’t unhealthy both at 22 mpg metropolis/27 mpg freeway. There wasn’t something significantly particular in regards to the Liberty CRD although. Apart from a “CRD” badge on the rear hatch, the diesel Liberty was equivalent to the gasoline powered ones. You would even have it in Sport and Restricted trims. Initially, Jeep deliberate to solely supply 5,000 models for the primary 12 months, however within the 16 months the mannequin was provided within the U.S. over 11,000 have been bought, each with a beginning MSRP of $25,125 or $27,355 for the Restricted trim. The Liberty CRD was dropped for the 2007 mannequin 12 months resulting from federal emissions requirements. On the identical time Jeep determined to introduce one other diesel mannequin.
In ’07, Jeep launched the Grand Cherokee CRD and the WK technology. Reasonably than return to VM Motori for one more diesel engine, Jeep went to its company proprietor/accomplice Mercedes-Benz for an engine. A 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel V6, it made 215 horsepower and a V8-like 376 pound-feet of torque that was out there at a low 1,600 RPM. This torque additionally gave the Grand Cherokee CRD a 7,400 towing capability. Gasoline economic system rankings have been an honest enchancment over the V6 and V8 gasoline powered Grand Cherokees at 18 mpg metropolis/23 mpg freeway.
Consumers may pair this engine with a five-speed computerized transmission and both rear or Jeep’s Quadra-Drive II four-wheel drive system. Efficiency was first rate for what it was, with the Grand Cherokee CRD capable of hit 60 mph in eight seconds. And just like the Liberty CRD, styling in comparison with the gasoline powered fashions was equivalent save for a “CRD” badge.
The Grand Cherokee CRD wasn’t low-cost although. Pricing began at $38,315 for the primarily based CRD Restricted 4X2. Pricing jumped to $45,145 for the CRD Overland 4X4. This value might have turned off some consumers because the take charge for the Grand Cherokee was low; in 2009, simply eight p.c of Grand Cherokee consumers went for the diesel. One other downside appeared to be the engine’s urea aftertreatment system.
Required for passing emissions, urea for diesels is notoriously costly. Each of those mixed precipitated Grand Cherokee chief engineer Phil Jansen to say that the model was dropping the diesel possibility in 2010. Jansen additionally talked about that the one approach the model would convey again the choice was if diesel powered luxurious SUV gross sales had a 15 to twenty p.c market share which is type of nuts. Only a few years later although Jeep would reverse course and supply the Ecodisel possibility on the WK2 Grand Cherokee earlier than it was dropped in 2019. With the ultimate Jeep diesel mannequin being a restricted version Gladiator that was restricted to 1,000 models, one has to wonder if or not Jeep will ever convey one other diesel engine to market. With the shift to electrical and hybrid autos, it’s uncertain.
