Jeep diesel attracts sales

[Perian]

By Richard Truett
Automotive News / March 02, 2005

Alan Castle couldn’t wait for the diesel version of the 2005 Jeep Liberty to arrive at his local dealership in San Antonio. So he went online, found one at a dealership in Ohio, flew there and bought it. Then he drove to Maryland to visit a friend before returning to Texas — a trip of about 2,200 miles.

For Castle, the adventure ended a 2½-year quest to own the Liberty diesel. Castle knew he was going to buy the vehicle the minute he heard about it on a TV show. He paid sticker price — a little more than $31,000 — for a fully loaded model.

“It’s a fantastic vehicle,” says Castle, a 55-year-old welder who says the wait was worth it.

The Chrysler group hopes there are at least 4,999 other customers out there this year who share Castle’s zeal. Five thousand Liberty CRDs are scheduled to be built this year, but the Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio, can produce more if demand is higher. The Chrysler group has received more than 15,000 requests for information about the Liberty diesel.

400 sales and counting

The automaker started shipping the Liberty CRD — short for common-rail diesel — in late January. Even without advertising, about 400 had been sold by the end of February.

Chrysler group spokesman James Kenyon said data show the Liberty CRD lasts an average of seven days on a dealership lot. Without revealing specifics, Kenyon said that is “well below” the time it takes to sell a gasoline version of the Liberty.

The Chrysler group is the first domestic automaker to offer a diesel engine in a light-duty passenger vehicle since the 1980s. Until Mercedes-Benz launched the E320 CDI last summer, Volkswagen was the only other automaker to offer diesel engines in passenger cars in the United States.

A diesel offers a fuel economy advantage of about 25 percent over a gasoline engine, as well as plenty of low-speed torque or pulling power — two traits that make it an ideal engine for light trucks.

The Liberty CRD, with its 2.8-liter turbocharged engine, is EPA rated at 21 mpg city and 27 mpg on the highway. Castle says his fuel economy varied from a low of 21 mpg on the highway to a high of 27 mpg with the cruise control set between 70 and 75 mph. Four-cylinder gasoline versions of the Liberty are rated at 20 mpg city and 24 on the highway but can’t tow as much as the diesel version.

Ad campaign begins

Chrysler plans to tout the Liberty CRD’s long distance between fill-ups, its best-in-class towing capability and fuel economy in print ads that will appear this month in auto enthusiast magazines.

Price for the base version of the Liberty diesel starts at $25,125, including destination. The diesel engine adds $3,740 to the price. But the Chrysler group is offering a $500 rebate on the Liberty diesel as well as $1,000 off if a buyer finances the vehicle through Chrysler. The $1,500 off brings the cost of the diesel engine in line with what other automakers are charging for gasoline-electric hybrids.

The Chrysler group targeted Midwestern and dealers in Western states because of the Liberty’s nearly 500-mile range between fill-ups.

The Liberty CRD is not available in California and four Northeastern states that have adopted California’s strict emissions regulations.

“I live in a territory where the Duramax, the PowerStroke and the Cummins are kings of the road,” says Castle, referring to diesel-powered Big 3 pickups. “I don’t believe diesels have bad image anymore.”

Source: Automotive News

[MelvinJ]

My local dealer finally got one in the other day so I stopped to take a quick look. The stickers say they are rated at 22/27. I started it to hear the idle. There's no mistaking it's a diesel - these little things really rattle when they are cold! I didn't have time to take it for a test drive.

Unfortunately, when I asked how much it would be with the supplier discount I am eligible for, he said the CRDs weren't offered with the supplier discount, and that's when I found out that the rebate was $1000 less than the other Libertys. The sticker was $27,775.

Even at that price though, I think these things are a screamin' deal, especially if you tow. 295 lb.ft. of torque is only 5 off what my 350 TBIs had, and at a lower RPM to boot.

[Action]

If DCX priced the diesel closer to what VW charges for their TDI I think their sales would be greater. I wish more domestics offered diesels. I think their time has come.

[Z28x]

I want a 3.0L Turbo Diesel Chevy Colorado. They make a Diesel Colorado in Asia.

[Perian]

A simple thought:

GM announced they will produce a pickup truck based on the Colorado/Canyon for Isuzu.

Isuzu has announced that a new and smaller diesel is in the design phase.

The H3 will receive a diesel for export, possibly the Isuzu unit.

Would the Colorado/Canyon/Isuzu trucks then be in line for the product?

After all, the past Isuzu pickup offered here in the USA had a very popular option...a diesel engine.

Just a thought.

[goblue]

Small diesel serial hybrids are the future. GM would be wise to continue research on small diesel powerplants.

[jd4548]

I'm sure there are people out there that like the idea of a diesel Jeep, but I never thought sales would take off.

[apro4x4]

I wonder if I can get a CRD in my 78 CJ-5, that would the $hit!!!

[dreadnaught1181]

Originally Posted by MelvinJ

My local dealer finally got one in the other day so I stopped to take a quick look. The stickers say they are rated at 22/27. I started it to hear the idle. There's no mistaking it's a diesel - these little things really rattle when they are cold! I didn't have time to take it for a test drive.

I think it was C&D who compared the Diesel Liberty to the Escape Hybrid and had a Toyota RAV4 as a placebo and mentioned the noise issue as well. They also noted that the mpg were low because the engine being used in the Liberty is an older Italian diesel and not a modern one like what Mercedes uses. Must be using it because of the high sulfer content of our diesel fuel. Still they said that it is a viable option to the V6, and would probably be a better choice if you like to go off-road.

[MelvinJ]

Originally Posted by dreadnaught1181

I think it was C&D who compared the Diesel Liberty to the Escape Hybrid and had a Toyota RAV4 as a placebo and mentioned the noise issue as well. They also noted that the mpg were low because the engine being used in the Liberty is an older Italian diesel and not a modern one like what Mercedes uses. Must be using it because of the high sulfer content of our diesel fuel. Still they said that it is a viable option to the V6, and would probably be a better choice if you like to go off-road.

I saw that report - it was in Motor Trend. I'm looking forward to what C&D says.

They did mention the noise, and the mileage was very disappointing. But I bought a Popular Mechanics that was comparing diesels to hybrids, with the CRD and the Escape Hybrid. The Escape beat it in city mileage, 23-24 to 29 or so for the Escape (I can't remember the exact numbers). But in their highway test, the CRD got 31 and the escape was still in the upper 20's. I don't know what gives as far as the big difference in mileage between the two magazines. PM also mentioned that it was like being in a mini-Ram diesel

I still want one.

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

I remember in 1984 they had Renault diesels in euro-market Jeeps. Good ideas!

[MelvinJ]

Originally Posted by Smaart Aas Saabr

I remember in 1984 they had Renault diesels in euro-market Jeeps. Good ideas!

They actually put the Renault turbo-diesel (2.1L, 85 hp) in the U.S. versions of the Cherokee in '85 and '86, and in the Commanche pickup in '86. I've never seen one in person, and I don't think they sold many of them. It was unfortunate timing since gas prices were on the way down by then.

[Tiger]

I ordered the infor from Chrysler-Jeep and received a very well done brochure. The thing that impressed me is that it is frugal, but also offers performance and increased towing!

A diesel Colorado would be a great thing.