Diesel is now not a factor at Jeep as the corporate ended its experiment with the Ecodiesel engine late final yr. 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 era Jeep Liberty getting a diesel. Referred to as the Liberty CRD, it was speculated 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 obtainable as an possibility.
Efficiency was respectable. It might hit 60 mph in 10 seconds. And because of all that torque that was obtainable from a low RPM, the Liberty CRD had a 5,000 pound towing capability. Fuel mileage wasn’t dangerous both at 22 mpg metropolis/27 mpg freeway. There wasn’t something significantly particular in regards to the Liberty CRD although. Aside from a “CRD” badge on the rear hatch, the diesel Liberty was equivalent to the gasoline powered ones. You could possibly even have it in Sport and Restricted trims. Initially, Jeep deliberate to solely provide 5,000 models for the primary yr, however within the 16 months the mannequin was provided within the U.S. over 11,000 had 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 yr on account of 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 era. Fairly than return to VM Motori for an additional 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 obtainable at a low 1,600 RPM. This torque additionally gave the Grand Cherokee CRD a 7,400 towing capability. Gasoline financial system scores had been an honest enchancment over the V6 and V8 gasoline powered Grand Cherokees at 18 mpg metropolis/23 mpg freeway.
Consumers might pair this engine with a five-speed computerized transmission and both rear or Jeep’s Quadra-Drive II four-wheel drive system. Efficiency was respectable for what it was, with the Grand Cherokee CRD in a position to 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 worth could have turned off some patrons because the take price for the Grand Cherokee was low; in 2009, simply eight % of Grand Cherokee patrons went for the diesel. One other drawback appeared to be the engine’s urea aftertreatment system.
Required for passing emissions, urea for diesels is notoriously costly. Each of those mixed brought on 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 method the model would deliver again the choice was if diesel powered luxurious SUV gross sales had a 15 to twenty % market share which is sort of nuts. Only a few years later although Jeep would reverse course and provide 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 deliver one other diesel engine to market. With the shift to electrical and hybrid automobiles, it’s uncertain.
