Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel review

Even among SUVs , the well-rounded Grand Cherokee stands out for its impressive versatility. When properly equipped, it's capable both off-road and on. The ride is comfortable, and the interior is quiet and well-finished. It's a good choice for trailer towing. And it offers Chrysler's easy-to-use Uconnect infotainment system.

A 2014 freshening brought improved controls, better fit and finish, a slick new eight-speed automatic transmission, an electric steering system, and an available 240 hp, 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6.

Overall, this modern diesel brings a new level of fuel efficiency to the Grand Cherokee while retaining a mostly civilized driving ex­perience. We averaged an impressive 24 mpg, which is a 6-mpg boost in overall fuel economy compared with the 3.6-liter gasoline V6. That ties the Grand Cherokee with the diesel-powered Volkswagen Touareg TDI as the most efficient nonhybrid midsized SUV. With 32 mpg highway fuel economy, the Grand Cherokee can also go a bladder-busting 785 miles without a fuel stop.

The diesel's 0-to-60-mph time of 8.6 seconds is slightly slower than the gasoline V6's 8 seconds. But its whopping 420 pound-feet of torque delivers plenty of midrange grunt for pulling a trailer.

The diesel is barely audible when cruising, but you can hear quite a bit of diesel clatter when it's idling and a distinct thrum when you apply the throttle; it's most noticeable when starting the engine cold.

The diesel doesn't come cheap, though, adding $4,500 to $5,000 to the sticker price depending on the trim line.

You'll need to add diesel emissions fluid periodically, but it's easily done through a filler port next to the fuel filler and usually costs only about $6 per gallon at auto-parts stores.

Pairing the eight-speed automatic with the diesel results in a happy driving combo. Having all that torque on tap means that the transmission doesn't need to downshift much. But quick, responsive, and imperceptibly smooth shifts come when more power is needed. Trailer towing is particularly smooth and effortless.

All of that earned the turbodiesel-powered Grand Cherokee a high test score of 82, which places it solidly near the top of its class. The diesel engine is too new for us to have reliability data, however; reliability for the gasoline version has been well below average.

Best version to get. The diesel is available only with the higher-end Limited, Overland, and Summit trim versions. We'd stick with the Limited, which includes such desirable features as a backup camera, a power liftgate, and heated leather seats and steering wheel. If you're pulling a trailer, you'll also want the optional towing package. Unless you plan to do some serious off-roading, stick with the regular four-wheel-drive system and conventional suspension.