Jeep seems to be really proud of what it has achieved with the Grand Cherokee, now that it has been redesigned for the 2014 model-year. It can be seen in the way they show it off, the style of writing that they use to promote it, and in the fact that that they gave it a credible SRT version. Now, fuel-conscious buyers can rejoice, because Jeep’s flagship offering can be had with a torquey and efficient diesel engine.
In one of its latest video sessions, MotorTrend has pitted the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4×4 EcoDiesel (rated for 240 hp and 420 lb-ft), to give its full name, against one of its rivals, the Volkswagen Touareg, featuring a three-liter diesel, with very similar power and torque figures.
The vehicles are put through their paces on a variety of road surfaces, and their off-road capability, maneuverability and engines are evaluated, along with all the other usual tests (ride, interior quality, looks and value).
In the end, it all comes down to costs, and since for only $2,000 more than you pay for the 2013 Touareg that comes with a 240hp 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 diesel, you can have a fully-loaded Jeep which has “absolutely everything” and is a bit better off road, then the latter is the better choice.
However, the Touareg is a much better handling vehicle on the road, and decently capable off road, so if you want to (inexplicably) drive one of these in the city, it is more car-like (reviewer calls it a “big Passat”) and therefor better for that purpose.
For us, it looks like one of the coolest 4×4-related names in the industry now has a lot of substance behind the bold styling, plus the new diesel engine only adds to the appeal – it just seems so suitable for a vehicle like the Grand Cherokee.
By Andrei Nedelea
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