jaje

Anyone own a Grand Cherokee Diesel ('07 / '08)? It uses a the 3.0 Benz CDI diesel engine and transmission. I found a 2wd version (better mpg) and I will be occasionally towing with it (open trailer and 2400 944 plus some supplies). If I can get this, my wife can drive it as her normal vehicle and I can borrow it from time to time. I considered a Cayenne S and an X5 4.4 but their gas mileage is pretty bad.

Leigh2

I had the Benz with that engine and it's fabulous, the fuel economy is stunning. I've also had several Jeeps and it's a pretty stable chassis the combination should be good. I wish more manufacturers would come out with small diesels...they are perfect engines for SUV's and trucks.

Minoclan

What is the towing capacity on a Jeep diesel?

jaje

For the JGC diesel it is 7,700 lbs (higher than my 1/2 08 silverado pickup).

multi21

What kind of mileage they getting?

Veloce Raptor

Agreed. But shame on Jeep/Chrysler: I had no idea Jeep had ever offered a diesel.

Eifeler

Common in European Jeeps but I haven't seen any here either. Glad to here they used the MB3.0 instead of the smaller junk diesel Jeep put in other vehicles.

Circuit Motorsports

20-25 from people doing real world and calculating the mpg is what I saw when I was looking at them a couple years back. Really not all I was hoping it would be and then with it being a Jeep there was nothing that made it stand out for me.

jaje

The gas v8 JGC gets mid to low teens (so getting 20-25 mpg which equates to ~ 8-10mpg improvement is well worth it). For other comparison we get about 20-25mpg in my wife's 08 WRX manual (which takes premium about the same price as diesel). Plus when towing the diesels tend to have even a lower drop in mpg compared to gas vehicles which have to rev higher to stay in their powerband.

67King

+1! Love my Ram with the Cummins, but I would have seriously thought about this.

FWIW, my wife drives an R320 CDI. As much as 28 on the highway, fully loaded plus a cargo carrier on the roof. Very impressive.

VaSteve

Doesn't diesel cost more though?


I'm glad this came up. I really like the JGC as a possible tow vehicle for myself. This engine makes is a bit more attractive. Even though they don't sell diesel at my local gas station.

What was the MB vehicle this engine was used in?

sig_a

Quite a few for sale with low miles in $30K range. 3.0 MB V6 CRD engine is listed as "2007 Ward's 10 Best Engines." Though you may want to take time to research customer satisfaction. Fiat to reintroduce with 3 liter Fiat in 2013 -- more HP and torque.

Potomac-Greg

My occasional tow vehicle is a Benz GL with that engine. Good grunt and amazing mileage. I just went to VIR and back (about 500 mi.) pulling the SRF on a light, open trailer (maybe 2,300 lbs total?) running 65-70 MPH and still got 19 MPG. Those diesel Jeeps are rare gems and will hold their value because of the drivetrain.

ukrbmw

That's kind of the problem - they were about that new. People are asking too much of a premium for them these days. Same truck with V8 is 10K less. So unless you plan on putting a 100,000 miles on this truck you're still better off with a V8 given the current delta on price.

I looked at one new and really wanted one, but their availability was pretty bad. Funny, back then Jeep had crazy incentives to get them off the lot - nobody wanted a Diesel. Now they demand a premium!

jaje

Diesel costs about the same price as premium gas (diesel only costs more b/c of less refining capacity - bulk goes to gasoline and its derivatives).

You can find these in the low $20's but just have to look (anyone asking for close to $30k is way too much). They also made 2wd versions. IIRC the CDI was sold in the US only with the Limited package (higher end so the diesel engine costs more but it was much better appointed than the standard JGC). I'll be picking one up soon (maybe < 1 month). I would like the 2wd b/c you'd get even better mpg and less expensive repairs as no front drivetrain.

A ML320 with the same engine is around $30k used - so the CDI JGC is a great deal considering they cost high $30s new and you get the excellent Benz engine and drivetrain. Plus its in a much smaller package so you can daily drive it much easier than a full size pickup or SUV (i.e. an Excursion diesel).