|
|
By The Numbers: 2013-2014 Model Year Diesel SUVs
Where does the Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel Dtand in the Current Crop of Diesel SUVs
March 13, 2013
By Edward A. Sanchez
The U.S. may not be seeing the massive diesel revolution some were predicting a few years ago, but in certain market segments, diesels are making some major headway. The SUV market is one of them. As they do in other segments, German models the diesel SUV market. There is just one one non-Teutonic choice, the new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel. True, the WK2 Grand Cherokee does have a little bit of Mercedes in its DNA, but it beats with an Italian heart, and is bolted together in Michican, not China, as some ill-informed right-wing alarmists would have you believe.
We've compiled the vital stats on all the 2013 and 2014 model year mid- and full-size SUVs offered with a diesel engine that we currently know of. There are some compact diesel SUVs on the horizon, such as the Mercedes-Benz GLK 250 Bluetec, Audi Q5 TDI, and Mazda CX-5 Skyactiv-D (all expected in the fall) plus a likely diesel version of the BMW X3. But that will be a different By The Numbers feature when they finally arrive. In the meantime, get your diesel geek on with the stats below. 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDieselThe 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the EcoDiesel option has been one of the most highly-anticipated SUVs we can remember in recent memory. The Grand Cherokee has been a perennial best-seller for Jeep, and it's easy to see why. For thousands less than European rivals, the Grand Cherokee combines luxury car refinement with mountain goat off-road capability. With the mandatory Limited trim level for the EcoDiesel plus its $4500 premium, the Grand diesel starts at under $42,000. Not cheap by any means, but considerably less than anything else on this list. Granted, checking the options list can inflate the price quickly -- a fully-loaded Summit model with the EcoDiesel maxes out just shy of $60,000 -- but equip an X5 or ML to a comparable level of plushness, and you'll be taking a considerably harder hit to your bottom line. The combination of up to 30 mpg highway with a more than 7000-lb towing capacity is a nearly unprecedented combination in this class at this price.
| 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel |
| Base Price | $41,290 |
| Engine/Transmission | 3.0L DOHC 24v turbodiesel V-6, 240 hp, 420 lb-ft, 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | RWD/4WD |
| Length x Width x Height | 189.9 x 76.5 x 69.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 114.8 in |
| Passenger Capacity | 5 |
| Curb Weight | 5065-5374 |
| Towing Capacity | 7200-7400 (4WD/2WD) |
| 0-60 MPH Acceleration | 7.5 sec (est) |
| Fuel Economy (EPA Est City/Highway) | 21/28 mpg (4WD), 22/30 mpg (2WD) |
| Estimated Total Range | 688-738 miles |
Its alpha-numeric mouthful of a name aside, the BMW X5 xDrive 35d is one of our favorite SUVs, combining BMW's legendary formula of driving dynamics, ride comfort, and real-world versatility. At one time sharing its 3.0-liter I-6 turbodiesel with the sleeper torque beast 335d, the X5 is now the sole home of the torquey six in the U.S. market. Even carrying the significantly greater heft of the X5, this diesel is more than capable of motivating the SUV with ample verve while returning a respectable 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. It's no wonder that approximately 25 percent of the X5 models sold are diesels.
| BMW X5 xDrive 35d |
| Base Price | $57,595 |
| Engine/Transmission | 3.0L DOHC 24v turbodiesel I-6, 265 hp, 425 lb-ft, 6-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel-drive |
| Length x Width x Height | 191.1 x 76.1 x 69.9 |
| Wheelbase | 115.5 |
| Passenger Capacity | 5 |
| Curb Weight | 5192 |
| Towing Capacity | 6000 lb |
| 0-60 MPH Acceleration | 6.7 sec (2011 model) |
| Fuel Economy (EPA Est City/Highway) | 19/26 mpg |
| Estimated Total Range | 585 miles |
The Volkswagen Touareg TDI we currently get is neither the colossal torque beast that was extremely rare 5.0-liter V-10, nor is it quite as muscular as the 4.2-liter TDI offered in some markets with 335 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. But with 240 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, the Touareg TDI offered in North America arguably strikes the best balance between performance and economy. Packaging and price-wise, the Touareg TDI is probably the most direct rival to the Grand Cherokee diesel, closely matching it in nearly every category, including fuel economy and towing capacity. The Touareg and 2014 Grand Cherokee also both have a standard eight-speed automatic transmission.
| Volkswagen Touareg TDI |
| Base Price | $48,320 |
| Engine/Transmission | 3.0L DOHC 24v turbodiesel V-6, 240 hp, 406 lb-ft, 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel-drive |
| Length x Width x Height | 188.8 x 76.4 x 68.2 in |
| Wheelbase | 113.9 in |
| Passenger Capacity | 5 |
| Curb Weight | 4974 lb |
| Towing Capacity | 7716 lb |
| 0-60 MPH Acceleration | 7.9 sec (2010 model) |
| Fuel Economy (EPA Est City/Highway) | 20/29 mpg |
| Estimated Total Range | 765.6 miles |
Imagine a three-row, upscale Touareg and you've basically got the Audi Q7. Since we last tested a Q7 TDI in 2011, it has received a modest 15-hp bump to 240, but the overall character of the engine remains unchanged. Audi also produced a very limited run of ultra-exclusive V-12 TDI models cranking out a colossal 493 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque, but these were never exported to the U.S. For those that like the power of this engine, but don't need seven-passenger capability, the 3.0L TDI will also be offered under the hood of the 2014 Q5 TDI, a calculated strategic move on Audi's part to position the Q5 diesel as more of a performance option, rather than offering it with a four-cylinder TDI (as it's offered in Europe) that could potentially cannibalize sales of the Q5 Hybrid.
| Audi Q7 TDI |
| Base Price | $52,895 |
| Engine/Transmission | 3.0L DOHC 24v turbodiesel V-6, 240 hp, 406 lb-ft, 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel-drive |
| Length x Width x Height | 200.3 x 78.1 x 68.4 in |
| Wheelbase | 118.2 |
| Passenger Capacity | 7 |
| Curb Weight | 5412 |
| Towing Capacity | 6600 lb |
| 0-60 MPH Acceleration | 8.6 sec (2011 model) |
| Fuel Economy (EPA Est City/Highway) | 19/28 mpg |
| Estimated Total Range | 739.2 miles |
The Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg share a common platform, and although for several years, and on most models, the two have had distinctly different powerplants, they do share a diesel engine. The output of the Cayenne's 3.0-liter diesel is identical to both its VW and Audi cousins at 240 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. To some, the idea of a diesel Porsche is anathema to the brand's performance pedigree, but the TDI works surprisingly well in the Cayenne, providing ample power and decent economy in a sporty package. For those that are addicts of diesel torque, but want something a little hotter, it's been rumored the V-8 Cayenne Diesel S is being considered for the U.S. market, bringing 382 hp and 627 lb-ft to the party, but we're still awaiting official confirmation on the hi-po diesel for the States.
| Porsche Cayenne Diesel |
| Base Price | $56,725 |
| Engine/Transmission | 3.0L DOHC 24v turbodiesel V-6, 240 hp, 406 lb-ft, 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel-drive |
| Length/Width/Height | 190.8 x 76.3 x 67.4 in |
| Wheelbase | 114 in |
| Passenger Capacity | 5 |
| Curb Weight | 4795 lb |
| Towing Capacity | 7716 lb |
| 0-60 MPH Acceleration | 7.2 sec (mfr est) |
| Fuel Economy (EPA Est City/Highway) | 20/29 mpg |
| Estimated Total Range | 765.6 |
Mercedes-Benz ML350 BluetecMercedes-Benz has long been known in the U.S. market for its diesels, but it's only been recently that they've been compelling options for those that actually enjoy driving. The OM642 3.0L turbodiesel V-6 under the hood of the ML350 Bluetec is a far cry from the gutless, smoky OM617 I-5 diesels from the 1980s. With 240 hp and a generous 455 lb-ft of torque, the V-6 is a model of refinement and smooth, effortless torque. But if you like the specific combination of the ML with the Bluetec V-6, you'd better act fast. The 2014 model ML is going through an engine downsizing, receiving the same 2.1-liter I-4 diesel that will be offered as an option on the GLK250 Bluetec. Although slightly less powerful than the V-6, the plucky I-4 will still serve up 190 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, which should be enough to shuttle around the ML economically with decent, if not soul-stirring acceleration.
| Mercedes-Benz ML350 Bluetec |
| Base Price | $52,175 |
| Engine/Transmission | 3.0L DOHC 24v turbodiesel V-6, 240 hp, 455 lb-ft, 7-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel-drive |
| Length x Width x Height | 189.1 x 75.8 x 70.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 114.8 in |
| Passenger Capacity | 5 |
| Curb Weight | 5038 lb |
| Towing Capacity | 7200 lb |
| 0-60 MPH Acceleration | 7.3 sec (mfr est) |
| Fuel Economy (EPA Est City/Highway) | 20/28 mpg |
| Estimated Total Range | 688.8 miles |
Mercedes-Benz GL350 BluetecSharing the same engine (for now) as its smaller two-row sibling, the Mercedes-Benz GL350 brings diesel power to the three-row class. We were so impressed with the GL350 Bluetec, and the entire GL line for that matter, that we voted it our 2013 SUV of the Year. Its fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway are close to those of its closest marketplace rival, the Audi Q7 TDI. But keeping the GL's not-insubstantial 5774-lb weight in consideration, that's an excellent fuel economy rating. Combined with the GL's huge 29.6 gallon fuel tank, that's good for a hypothetical highway range of 769.6 miles, about the distance from El Paso to Houston, Texas. If you're familiar with the Lone Star state's expansive geography, that's no small feat.
| Mercedes-Benz GL350 Bluetec |
| Base Price | $63,305 |
| Engine/Transmission | 3.0L DOHC 24v turbodiesel V-6, 240 hp, 455 lb-ft, 7-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel-drive |
| Length/Width/Height | 201.6 x 76.1 x 72.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 121.1 in |
| Passenger Capacity | 7 |
| Curb Weight | 5774 |
| Towing Capacity | 7500 lb |
| 0-60 MPH Acceleration | 7.5 sec |
| Fuel Economy (EPA Est City/Highway) | 19/26 mpg |
| Estimated Total Range | 769.6 miles |
 | The Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen (G-Class) is a highly traditional vehicle, to say the least with further proof given by the addition of diesel power to the venerable G-Class. |  | Short of Its 2011 Revision, We Revisit V-Dub's Diesel Hauler - The 2010 model is the current-generation Touareg's final year, and, finding it deserving of an encore, we brought it in for another round of flogging and testing. |  | Crude Oil? Not Even Close. Vehicles like the Audi Q7 TDI have done a lot to change that perception, and the company's lone turbodiesel gets better for 2011. |  | America Finally Gets the Best Cayenne |  | We've taken a look at all the cargo-hauling variants of each van that's currently offered and figured out which one offers the most space to help you decide which van is the right one for you. |  | At first glance, it may seem obvious who will prevail in this battle. The giant, Duramax-powered, 7500-plus-pound Silverado versus the much smaller TDI-powered VW Touareg. |  | Quiet Riot: Diesel Engine Allows Best in Class Fuel Economy, Off-Road Capability, Without Affecting Luxury |  | With the recent debut of the new Ram ProMaster, much of the focus in the van market has been on the full-size models and their studio apartment-sized cargo areas. But not all businesses have the need for that much cargo capacity. |
|
|