First Drive: 2014 Grand Cherokee Diesel

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is new and revised for the 2014 model year, and is on sale as you read this. While at a quick glance it may look like last year’s model to some, the new Grand Cherokee has been revised in many ways. The upper grille is shorter and the headlights are slimmer. In addition, the front fascia and fog lights ride higher and LED lighting is now standard on some models.

The best change is that the new Grand Cherokee has a diesel engine option for the first time in the U.S. market. We had a chance to drive the new Grand Cherokees recently and can tell you that any of them are great. However, the diesel engine option is by far the best of the new upgrades.

This engine is the same 3.0-liter V-6 that’s been used in Europe for the last several years. However, the tuning is all new, perfected for the driving conditions and style of owners in the good old USA. This EcoDiesel also offers up incredible mileage for a 4×4 Jeep, 22 city and 30 highway in the two-wheel-drive Jeep and 21 city and 28 highway for a 4×4 Jeep. This means a potential driving range of more than 730 miles from the 24.6-gallon fuel tank, 20-percent better than the V-6 gas engine. The small 60-degree diesel V-6 produces 240 horsepower and 420 ft-lb of torque. These specs mean the diesel offers a 30-percent increase in fuel economy and a nearly 62-percent increase in torque versus the 3.6- liter V-6 gas engine option. It should be noted that the full-time 4×4 option drops the mileage across all motors, down to 21 city and 28 highway with the diesel. How-ever, this is still better than similarly equipped Jeeps with gas engines.

JEEP and DIESEL

While researching facts for this story, we found a curious fact. The words “Jeep” and “diesel” are spelled the same in 21 languages, using the Roman alphabet. So we feel safe here at UDBG in stating that Jeeps and diesel engines are recognized the world over and were made for each other. Now we finally have a Jeep with a diesel option for the USA.

The 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine features a low-weight, high-strength iron block and aluminum heads. The engine is a 24-valve, dual-overhead cam configuration with MultiJet II common rail injection and a Selective Catalyst Reduction (SCR) system. Yep, it takes DEF, the blue fluid we’ve come to love and hate at the same time. Yet it helps this new engine achieve the emissions and fuel mileage results that we know you’ll love. The engine is B5 capable.

The new standard transmission for the entire 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee lineup is a new eight-speed automatic. Jeep says it fea- tures “a wide-ratio spread, high numerical first-gear ratio, quick shifting and aggressive torque-converter lockup.” We can tell you that it’s smooth and offers seamless shifting when behind the diesel and the gas engines, both in high and low range.

The 4×4 models have been upgraded to a crawl ratio of 44.1:1 with this new transmission. Other off-road related components and features are the new Selec-Speed Control. This is a hill-as-cent and hill-descent control to aid drivers on steep grades with a minimum of driver input. If you’re an old-time wheeler, this may take a little getting used to, but it can be turned off. For those new to the trails, the system shortens the learning curve and increases the fun curve of off-pavement travel. Depending on the model, there are three choices for the four-wheel drive system. These are Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II with rear Elec- tronic Limited-Slip Differential (ELSD).

On the towing front, the diesel-powered 2014 Grand Cherokee has a maximum trailer weight rating of 7,400 lbs for the 2WD version and 7,200 lbs for the 4×4-equipped Jeep.

In closing, we can tell you that the diesel engine in the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee is far from crude—the only thing close to crude about it is the diesel it burns. Oh, and they offer V-6 and V-8 gas engines, if you’re into that sort of thing (LOL). UDBG

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