2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Cut Short for Diesel in 2014

Anyone thinking about buying a new Jeep Grand Cherokee would be wise to wait until next January when the truck will pick up an eight-speed transmission.

Even customers who end up buying the current version with its five-speed transmission will probably save money once the more efficient version is available, though there will be fewer of the current models made during the 2013 model year than in 2012. That’s due in large part to the automaker’s plan to finally offer North Americans the same 3.0-liter diesel engine as it does in Europe.

When that happens you can expect the new truck’s mileage to trounce EPA estimates for the current gas burner. Even the diesel paired with a five-speed transmission it claims 23 mpg in the city and 33 on the highway. Hook that in with a longer list of gear ratios and the numbers are sure to improve even further over its current 16/23 figure.

With 241 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, drivers will be sacrificing some horsepower over the current 3.6-liter V6 with 290. It’s hard to imagine that will really be a big deal, though, given how much torque the oil burner offers and the promised increases in fuel mileage. We would expect that increase to be 50 percent or better on the highway, which would negate the price difference between the two fuel types.

[Source: Automotive News]