Although Jeep Grand Cherokee has held on tight to its leadership position in the American family SUV market since 2011 when it was redesigned, the automaker decided to refresh it all the same. According to the President and CEO — Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC, with the new Grand Cherokee, Jeep is taking the industry’s most highly acclaimed SUV to a higher level. The refreshed 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee was unveiled at a press preview for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit some days ago.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee that we saw had some new details which include slim new headlights and a refreshed interior with new safety and convenience features. But those are not the most interesting thing about it; this American icon took a step away from its comfort zone and went to a place no one else has gone to as it introduced a new Eco-Diesel V-6 engine with an output of 240-hp with 420 lb-ft of torque and an eight-speed automatic transmissions with paddle shifters across the line-up.
According to the automaker, the jump to diesel power was heavily influenced by its outdoor buyers who have been asking for more diesel options since the Grand Cherokee CRD went away. This marks the first major expansion into diesel power by an SUV maker in the U.S. The diesel engine has the potential to boost power and fuel economy.
According to Jeep, the Grand Cherokee Diesel 2014 model will have EPA ratings of 21/30 mpg city/highway for the rear-wheel drive version and 20/28 mpg city/highway for the all-wheel drive; we expect these to produce a combined EPA rating of around 24 to 25 and 22 to 23mpg for the rear-wheel drive and the all-wheel drive respectively.
Thanks to the new Diesel engine and the new transmission, Jeep predicts that the 2014 Grand Cherokee diesel will give a highway driving range of more than 730 miles.
The 2014 Grand Cherokee diesel SUV’s new horizontally oriented headlights gives a new look to the vehicle, making it appear wider at first glance. The height of the grille was reduced, the chin was pushed up and the lower fascia reshaped. Summit model comes with adaptive headlamps, while a single chrome outlet and LED rear lamps are standard features at the rear end of all the line-ups.
The Grand Cherokee Diesel 2014 gets a little fashion-forward in the choice of its interior decor. The Interior was refreshed with some new materials and trims. The center stack was redesigned with new HVAC controls. It also features a new instrument cluster with 7-inch touchscreen that displays vehicle information, a new transmission lever and steering wheel. Dash and doors of the Laredo and Limited models come in dark wood trim. The Summit model was designed for ultimate luxury, and it features a 19-speaker, 825-watt surround-sound audio system and leather seats.
Pricing information will be announced shortly before the SUV goes on sale in the next few months. We expect the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel version to be more expensive than the gasoline models. But we expect it to still be a hit with those who are in the market for a vehicle with high towing capacity.
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