2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3L Diesel

I was browsing the Net for reviews on new vehicle models. I stumbled upon a review of the new Chevrolet Camaro, but I found it still lacking. It’s perfectly understandable because the 2008 Camaro hasn’t yet been unveiled, but there have been a few who have been granted an exclusive peek at the new model, so I was kinda keeping my fingers crossed there. Unfortunately, there was still nothing much about the new Chevy in the news. On other hand, I did stumble on a great review about the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3L Diesel written by Rex Roy, a columnist for the Detroit Bureau of the Auto Channel. Here are a few lines from his first-hand review:

…In industry parlance, this SUV is mid-cycle—another way of saying that its middle aged, old news, not worthy of much attention, and completely out of the media limelight. However, when fitted with the 3.0-liter clean diesel V-6 produced by Mercedes-Benz, the Grand Cherokee suddenly becomes a newly-relevant SUV.

With the exception of a small badge on the rear hatch, you'd never know this Jeep packed a huge diesel punch while sipping fuel like a tree hugging hybrid.

It's not that the tried-and-true Grand Cherokee isn't a fine SUV when powered by any of its three gasoline-fired engines. The Jeep's lightweight unibody and trail rated suspension deliver performance and refinement that compare favorably within the class of five-passenger SUVs.

Certainly, the 420-horsepower SRT-8 models lives in rarified air because of its mind-bending acceleration and cornering performance. However —more like HOWEVER—in 2008 the biggest newsmakers are attracting attention by "out greening" their competition.

…

The specifications on the diesel are this: 215 horsepower at 3800 rpm, 376 lb-ft of torque at a low1600-2800 rpm, and a towing capacity rated at a maximum of 7,400 lbs. What these numbers don't tell you is that while racking up such impressive performance figures, the diesel produces approximately 30-percent fewer C02 emissions than its gasoline-burning counterparts…

For an SUV, this information is definitely very surprising. And it’s also promising to say the least. How I would wish this same technology can be applied to Hummers so I won’t feel guilty every time I drive one. Maybe next week I’ll get to read a review of the new Chevy Camaro.