Jeep Diesel Liberty Makes Cents

[Ming]

Diesel Liberty makes cents
By Jason Stein
FortWayne.com

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Listen closely. That ticking sound you hear in the distance is not a time bomb, although it could be.

With gasoline prices still hovering somewhere near “Are you kidding me?” and “I can’t take this anymore,” that click-click-click you hear could justifiably be the sound of Americans ready to explode over high oil prices. Or it could be the sound of the 2005 Jeep Liberty (diesel). If you’ve never driven a diesel, there are a few things to know. For starters, yes, it’s normal for the entire block to hear you idling at the stoplight. Second, diesels are cleaner than they used to be. They are not the exhaust-belching, dirty engines they used to be. They are clean and provide a much smoother operation. Finally (and here’s the good part), diesels are something to consider.

Borrowed and enhanced from Chrysler’s European vehicles, the all-new 2.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder Liberty is called a CRD, short for common rail diesel. Available on the Sport and Limited Liberty models, it is the first turbo CRD offered in this segment.

Jeep will sell it as something with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder engine, the acceleration of a V-6 and the torque of a V-8. And that’s nearly right. After taking the Liberty through city slowdowns and highway speeds, it fits the bill.

Diesels provide robust torque, and the Liberty doesn’t disappoint. Its power numbers (160 horsepower) are a little modest, but there is loads of acceleration in this engine (295 pounds-foot torque at a low rpm). It can even tow 5,000 pounds, which is best in its class.

During our test, fuel economy in the diesel averaged 23 in the city and 28 on the highway (as opposed 17/22 in the V-6). On the road, the early Liberty offered good road feel and sharp handling, and this model is no exception. With direct inputs from wheel to tire, the Liberty provides a good connection to the highway. It doesn’t float its way along. With a coil spring independent front suspension and link-coil rear suspension, the Liberty offers a firm, well-controlled ride, although on streets with more potholes than paving, you feel every bump.

From the outside, the Liberty has been freshened up a bit with a more rugged appearance on the Jeep Liberty Renegade edition – a flatter hood, a taller grille, off-road fog lamps and tail lamp guards.

Inside, there have been a few tweaks but, for the most part, Jeep offers a basic interior package that means lots of plastic, a touch of brushed aluminum trim and some unusual locations for switches. For instance, it’s still tough to get used to the window switches that are located on the center console instead of the driver’s side door. They used to be located near the driver’s elbow. Now they are centered next to the parking brake. One note to Jeep: Just put them on the doors. We are all creatures of habit. You sit high in the Liberty, but despite refurbished seats, I had a hard time feeling comfortable. They’re a little too firm on long trips.

Being a Jeep, of course, there’s the chance to really dress it up for four-wheel-drive off-roading. The vehicle has functional rock rails, four skid plates and the option of 16-inch all-terrain tires with wider treads. A GPS DVD-based navigation radio is also an option. Like previous Liberty models, cargo room is abundant when the rear seats are folded flat. When the seats are upright, the Liberty is a decent suitcase hauler in the cargo area. Rear seat room is adequate for this class of vehicle. Two fit fine. Three will be tight.

But the big story is diesel where you’ll pay 75 percent the price of regular unleaded and get 25 percent more fuel economy. If diesel isn’t your thing, the Liberty still comes with a 2.4-liter, 150-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a 3.7-liter, 210-horsepower V-6. A six-speed manual is offered for the first time this year in the Liberty, but the diesel only comes with a five-speed automatic.

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MPG rating: 22 city/27 highway (diesel)

Manufactured: Toledo

Warranty: Basic warranty is three years/36,000 miles with roadside assistance.

Base price: $25,000 (est.)

[jro4566]

That's pretty impressive. I'd consider a diesel for my next vehicle since they're now becoming available at almost every gas station where I live.

[PositiveAboutGM]

Rather than be reminded of yesterdays failures, I prefer to focus on the present and the future, using the progress made since those failures as a reference.

Case in point: Today, the Duramax is a credible proven performer with few major weaknesses. Thanks to the pilot injection system, it is refined enough for a psudo-lux truck and yet strong enough (605 lb ft of torque in 2005) to work for a living. You see, some lessons have been learned.

I feel that it would behoove GM to continue to fully utilize their investment in Isuzu Diesels to expand availability. I personally would like to encourage DC/Jeep for their step.

How about a DOD-Hybrid small diesel in a midsize sedan, wagon or crossover anyone?

Just my two cents...

[ChevyLaxMan]

GM should exploit its Isuzu diesel resource and make the diesel option more redily available especially for their trucks. Why not offer the same diesel available in the dmaxx version of the colorado/canyon?

[Nocturn_Bird]

I would consider them if they wern't so loud and annoying, IMO anyways.

[ByTheLake]

I recently spent two weeks driving a Duramax Diesel-equipped Silverado. It was my first diesel experience.

After two weeks I never got used to the engine sound. The signature 'knocky' sound was most pronounced during acceleration, but still, it was pure noise to me.

Also, I really had trouble finding diesel stations near my house. I had to drive 9 miles to get to a diesel station. I believe I filled up 4 times in those two weeks, and every station's diesel pump handle was a smelly, greasy mess from spilled diesel fuel. Even with gloves I could smell that damned fuel on my hands for hours after the fill-up.

I'll stick with gasoline engines, leaving the diesels to the truck-driver-wanna-bees looking to compensate for something.

[MelvinJ]

I think the Liberty CRD sounds like a great package, especially it's towing ability relative to it's fuel economy.

I had a Blazer with a 6.2L diesel in the 80's, and I loved it. I liked the noise it made, but the 6.2L was pretty quiet for a diesel. Never had any problems with it, and averaged around 20 mpg around town. Highway mileage was 22-23.

I experienced some of what By The Lake was talking about with regards to refueling. Not every station has diesel, and it can be a smelly mess around pumps, but not every station was that way.

But I really don't think you need to be compensating for something to want one. The mileage advantage will take quite a while to pay for itself at today's prices, but people buy hybrids with the same economics. And right now, the diesels in pickups are the undisputed kings of towing.

[kmacleod]

My Grandfather owned an 84 Cutlass Ciera w/the 4.3 diesel Olds engine. He averaged 43mpg Hwy/32mpg city. He owned that car for 5 years and LOVED IT.

I live in Southwest Lower Michigan. Diesel fuel is everywhere here. I recently read an article about an BMW M5 Diesel not for sale in the US. The author drove it from Detroit to Traverse City MI and back (5hrs each way...). He averaged 85 MPH and the MPG observed was 41MPG...... yes that's 41..........


GM should put on the front burner all OPEL diesels from Europe as well as Isuzu's diesels...

I would imagine a Cobalt with one of OPEL's TDI 4 cyl. units could get more than 50MPG on the hwy. I'd buy one in a heartbeat.........


Ken

[barcodedorganic]

Originally posted by laserwizard@Sep 12 2004, 03:14 PM
I applaud the use of diesels in vehicles though I wouldn't applaud a diesel powered Liberty any more than I would applaud the gasoline powered one. I recall this product being cramped and inefficient in layout (ingress and egress in the rear).

It is a shame that the diesel engine still has to fight for credibility after the black eye it was given by under-engineered GM attempts. Diesel engines were once known as being nearly indestructible but GM managed to prove that notion wrong. I have a feeling that GM will wear the 1980's around its neck for a long time like the proverbial porkchop in a den of wolves.

have you ever sat in the liberty or driven it? the things got a ton of room and i'm 6'2 250lbs and three feet wide at the shoulders...i really wish people would actually drive vehicles then make baseless comments about them

i mean i'ts not like the liberty's an exploder...


and for the record the diesel liberty will automatically make it an awesome vehicle to run over some rocks with...let's hope it's a sales success and let the other automotive manufacturers take notice

[zaxxis]

Originally posted by Ming@Sep 12 2004, 02:54 PM
But the big story is diesel where you’ll pay 75 percent the price of regular unleaded and get 25 percent more fuel economy

Obviously the author doesn't drive a Diesel.

In the midwest, for many, many years, diesel was been more EXPENSIVE than even the cheapest unleaded fuel. Just this morning, the local Marathon had 87 Oct at 1.73 while Diesel was 1.89.

Typically as gas reaches $2 a gallon for 87 oct, diesel starts to become cheaper, but usually only buy a few cents, if any.

-Z

[AdmiralViscen]

You're paying 1.73 for 87? Where do you live?

[awalbert88]

87? They still make engines that run on that stuff? My last two cars required 91+

:P

In all seriousness, this is a pretty good thing. It'd be nice if they offered this engine in more vehicles, and I would like to see Ford and GM follow suit with smaller diesel engines for their light-trucks and SUVs.

[AdmiralViscen]

...Congratulations.

[327]

Originally posted by AdmiralViscen@Sep 13 2004, 10:12 PM
You're paying 1.73 for 87? Where do you live?

your not payin around 1.70 to 1.80 for a gallon of gas
where do you live?

[AdmiralViscen]

I'm living in a dorm in Queens, right now, So I haven't seen a gas pump for a week or two. But when I was last home on Long Island it was hovering around the two dollar mark.