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Words and photos by Kevin C. Limjoco

Now that we have officially tested every single engine/trim variant of the heavily updated new Jeep Grand Cherokee, we can now say without question that the turbodiesel, named the ECODiesel, built by VM Motori Cento in Ferrara, Italy, is the sweetest spot of an already sweet batch of candy. I will spare you all the technical details of the engine but I will say that it is superior to the original 3.0-liter turbodiesel unit built by Mercedes-Benz and it is more powerful than last year’s model combined with the new ZF 8-speed gearbox which profoundly transforms the behavior of the award-winning mid-size SUV. With the new drivetrain, the Jeep Grand Cherokee ECODiesel actually has a slightly better towing capability over the 5.7-liter V8 HEMI while generating more torque and better fuel economy to a realistically achievable range of almost 1,200 kilometers on a single tank of diesel fuel!

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Unlike any other mid-size SUV in its class, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the only vehicle in its segment to have genuine hard-core offroad hardware to tackle serious terrain, the compromise for that ability however is more weight, so the Jeep lumbers around with more brutish heft compared to a BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz ML, Volkswagen Touareg or Porsche Cayenne equivalent. The sound of the diesel engine rattling is unmistakable too but thankfully it’s more muted than ever.

Unfortunately, even with the new transmission, the powerband was not as wide as I had hoped. In fact I find the power delivery to be peaky, reaching maximum power too soon then giving up abruptly which is wasteful. I appreciate that same power at low revs for trailing though like a traditional diesel truck but I just think the new engine is much too sophisticated to be calibrated as such. I am confident that with some technical savvy the engine could be retuned for even better overall performance (I’m sure that eventually the Jeep engineers will do just that by the time its mid-model-cycle is reached to extend its value).

Aside from the powerplant, the rest of the Jeep is mostly similar to other variants within the model range which is a good thing because the numerous upgrades made the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s interior cabin one of the most comfortable and well thought out environments in any vehicle. Our test unit had the standard 18” x 8” alloys shod with all terrain Michelin Latitude 265/60R18 109T tires so the ride quality was not at its best nor was the handling even with the adaptive air suspension. Even the steering felt numb and less communicative. Reactions were delayed to the point that I thought I even had multiple f lats but when I checked the onboard console the display stated identical and stable air pressures on all corners. With the more modest material choices in the mid-level variant, the audio system used was a 506-watt 9-speaker system with sub-woofer. Overall the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited ECODiesel is considered the very best in its class because it combines so much value, luxury, and performance at the most favorable price in its segment.

ENGINE: V6, 2987 cc, dohc 24V, Direct Fuel Injection Turbodiesel, 8-Speed AT
MAX POWER: 240 bhp @ 3600 rpm
MAX TORQUE: 420 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
0-100 KM/H (0-62 MPH): 7.6 sec.
TOP SPEED (MPH): 210 km/h (130 mph) Governed
FUEL MILEAGE: 21 mpg City / 28 mpg Highway
PRICE AS TESTED: US$ 49,185.00
+ : Genuine alternative to the Teutonic SUV’s, most bang for buck in its class.
– : Still thirsty despite being an oil burner, feels like the weight of the world is on its shoulders.
EDITOR’S RATING:9.5/10