CD Article: 22008 CanadianDriver Fuel Economy Challenge

[Railton]

Where's Grant Slumming around now, Vanier?
Railton

[wing]

Orleans

[dymond]

I have had the fortune of an extended "test drive" with the GC Diesel also. Mine is a loaded 2008 Limited with all the trimings, the coolest of which is the NAV equiped MYGIG stereo.

I currently am looking for a replacement for my wife's 2005 Toyota Highlander and a friend with Chrysler connections suggested I try this out. I would not even consider the GC if not for the diesel and although I like the truck image I do have reservations about fuel costs from an economic and social standpoint.

The GC Diesel has impressed me from the get-go. It has a ton of torque and more than adequete power around town and decent power for passing etc. I was actually able to let the tires loose for a second on some rain soaked roads after matting it.

The diesel has quite a roar from the outside and I feel like I should be rubbing elbows with some Kenworth drivers rather than patrons at my local Starbucks. In fact although I love the roar, I feel a little self conscious at times. Inside, there is very little engine noise, or road noise for that matter. There is a slight grumble around town at idle, but far from obtrusive.

The vehicle itself is very well appointed with all the trimings and then some. It has every option checked off and lists for $60,000.00. YIKES! But, that is before the numerous rebates, etc.

My fuel economy has been good. The little computer reads 12.5 in mixed 401 and city driving. I reset it on the highway coming home from Guelph late one night, set the cruise at 110 and it dropped to 8.5l/100 which beats the ratings on the sticker. Sweet.

Overall, I love the engine! I think its a gem and should be available across the board in Jeep vehicles. My beef is more about the GC itself. Its a big, heavy, luxury vehicle that is very secure and capable. You feel its weight, and that is a good thing for towing, off-roading and jeep-ie type things. For me, however, the space and girth are in all the wrong places. The front seats are nice and comfortable, the rear seats, although well appointed are tight on legroom and short on cushion height and length. We had to move the seat forward (not uncomfortably so) in order to fit my son's car seat in the back. The cargo area also is tight and has a very high floor height.

By comparison, the Highlander is smaller in terms of footprint, lower in height, achieves equal fuel economy, but gains more second row room, a third row and a bigger cargo area. I am sure many will argue that both vehicles are in tow distinct classes, which they are. And the Cherokee will leave the Highlander at the curb in offroad ability and towing. But to me it seems illogical to lose usable space in a vehicle in a bigger footprint. Now, if this diesel were offered in the Durango or Commander, that would be a diferent story.

Good job Chrysler. Don't give up on this awesome powerplant.

[Railton]

Orleans

He lives in Orleans yes, but those pics sure look like Vanier or Hull.
Railton

[wing]

The camry shots are all in front of that blue building how you can tell where that is?  THe Jeep, those would be Paul's he's downtown.

[Railton]

The camry shots are all in front of that blue building how you can tell where that is?  THe Jeep, those would be Paul's he's downtown.

Yeah, the Jeep pics, downtown, like Vanier...maybe the low-rent section of the market..like Cathcart and Dalhousie.
Railton

[safristi]

 

[airbalancer]

AT Mac Lang in Sunridge Ont they have a 08 Jeep GC withe a diesel and leather listed for $40 gs
Which does  appears to be pretty good price, a lot less then the 60gs that is usually  talk about

[random006]

Challenge update: Jan 2008.

I can echo both writers' observations regarding slogging through snow and cold weather effects.  My fuel economy dropped so low that I noticed my fuel gauge needle had moved during the few minutes it took to drive a few blocks and plow through a nasty pile in a curbside parking spot.

[safristi]

Looks like the Fuel "challengers" were  left on the SHORT BUS END.....HAD 30% OVER the MAX RESULTS wif WHINGEING attached...........

[H-IMA]

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[H-IMA]

...

[Terry J Lynch]

 :)Interesting articles. My obsevations tell me, time and time again, that my WIfe's Passat TDI is the "Uber" mileage King....it will do better on the highway than any Hybrid, and with the high premium on a Hybrid is it really worth it?
As a footnote, there are many of us "Old Farts" still very interested in things automotive ( I am a certifiable car nut) and still take our fuel consumption in MPG. While I know 6L/100kms is better than 10L/100kms , 30 MPG has more "resonance" to my ears (eyes in this case). Please include both.
Cheers to all. Terry

[H-IMA]

...

[airbalancer]

What the heck is (with 2 1/5 people on board with 1/5 weeks worth of luggage):
I will take a diesel over a hybrid any day of the week

[H-IMA]

...

[tpl]

I think that if you took the batteries AND the gas engine AND the fancy automatic transmission out and replaced it with a  small current generation turbo diesel with a 6MT you'd have a much nicer vehicle with a bigger trunk. 

[Rupert]

As I asked before, I wonder if enough diesel could be produced for general usage on a larger scale. I thought that a barrel of crude broke down into defined quantities of gas..diesel...on down to road tar. At least that is what I heard. Canada has much more conventional oil than necessary for it's own needs does it not. Refining ability is another matter I am lead to believe.

[tpl]

I think you are correct, refining capability in general  and diesel refining capability may be a problem. I think refineries can be tuned to a certain degree to produce more gasoline or more diesel  but only by a few percent.

[danlisahall]

I am a car nut & have had a wide variety of performance, utility, and economy vehicles in the past 40 years.  My vehicles have range from Mustang GT & Dodge Grand Caravans to Honda Civics & Mazda GLC. I have always been able to beat U.S. EPA estimates utilizing a careful driving driving style without holding up traffic.

I applaud CD's efforts to demonstrate the real world fuel consumption differences between aggressive and  conservative driving styles  It is  unfortunate that you choose wintertime to do so as that adds a big layer of complexity - as you acknowledged.  I encourage you to do this more in the future, during more reasonable weather.   

We North Americans have had adequate warnings about the "energy crisis", starting in the 1974 with the 1st Arab oil embargo.  We can blame much of our current oil woes on ourselves for driving unnecessarily large, powerful vehicles in a careless manner for the last  It is our own dang fault & we still don't seem to be learning the obvious very well.  Our concerns about our immediate confort is going to result in signficant long term for all of us.