Mercedes-Benz builds the torquey 3.0-liter common-rail turbodiesel that's under the hood of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD. You're going to hear MORE about that when the sport/utility goes on sale in the first quarter of 2007-Chrysler Group won't be shy about the DaimlerChrysler connection.
We got a limited drive in the Grand Cherokee CRD and can report it's a much better Jeep diesel than the discontinued Liberty CRD, which Chrysler says sold beyond expectations. The Liberty's turbodiesel was an ancient four that won't meet stringent new NOx standards. The Grand Cherokee's Benz diesel is a quiet, smooth V-6 that comes to the States first this fall in the Mercedes E320CDI.
It's a worthy first diesel in a U.S.-market full-size SUV, good for off-roaders or those who need to tow up to 7400 pounds. Jeep will deliver each G.C. CRD with five-percent biodiesel from its Jefferson Avenue assembly plant in Detroit. It's not gas-engine smooth; you'll feel some shake in the steering wheel. But from inside, there's no smell and little noise to hint at the fuel you're using. Estimated EPA is 19/23 mpg.
The engine has to wind up past 2000 rpm for the turbo to do any serious work, so low-end torque isn't great, and with the diesel's early 4500-rpm redline, you run through the torque band and the five automatic gears quickly. It offers good sport/utility performance, which means it can get you into traffic easily, but it won't be mistaken for a performance vehicle. The engine makes 215 horsepower at 3800 rpm and 376 pound-feet at 1600 to 2800 rpm.
The Grand Cherokee has been on sale with a Mercedes turbodiesel in Europe since the 2005 model year, so import to the U.S. is a no-brainer. And if it does well here, the engine might find its way into other U.S. Chrysler products, including the 300. What's more, it looks like the first in an onslaught of European diesels in U.S.-market SUVs.