Has anybody seen or driven the new Jeep Liberty CRD Deisel 2.8L. This could be competition for the Hybrid Escape. I see it listed on there web site but have yet to see one in a local dealership. I think this concept would be great if US manufactures could get small to mid sized vehicles with high mpg deisel engines much like the VW's on the road. As I am not to knowledgible on deisels. Do the cars such as VW need to be plugged in and do you have to wait upon start up and shut down of these engines? In a previous life I had to drive 25-30k miles per year and there were many, many short trips in between. With all the advances in technology this seems to be a better alternative to the Hybrids in drivability.

 

from what i've heard it's a really good engine but i don't care much for the liberty itself. i don't know if you need to plug them in. the short trips won't hurt a diesel, but they're not good for it. they should be fine.

 

My girl bought one of these 6-8 weeks ago. I don't know much about it as she lives 1100 miles east of dad but she likes the way it drives and handles. What she doesn't like is the constant warranty problems. Windshield wiper motor twice, 6 cd changer is the third one and this one is broke as well. She would not suggest anyone buying one because of accessory failures. I didn't ask the fuel mileage because it doesn't have many miles on it yet. So far, no drive train problems. She lives in So Carolina if that makes a difference.

 

Motor Trend did a test between the CRD, Hybrid Escape, and Rav4 4-cyl a month or two ago. 0-60 was 7.8 for the Rav4, 9.9 for the Escape, and 10.1 for the Liberty. Fuel economy was 25, 28, and 22 mpg in that same order. The Liberty's weight really seems to hurt its performance. It is the real truck out of the three though, it is rated to tow 5000 lbs vs 1000 for the Escape and 1500 for the Rav4.

As for plugging in diesels, I have a VW TDI with a 1000W coolant heater and I generally plug it in if the temperature drops below 0C. I have read that it starts fine down to decently low temperatures but I have never been away from an outlet. Plugging it in should save wear on the glow plug system, the vents give heat instantly instead of waiting for that efficient engine to warm up, it is quieter and smokes less after being plugged in, and it probably is easier on the engine, starter, and battery. Basically the same as plugging in a gas car. One hour for every 10C below zero usually means and 1-2 second glow plug delay and firing up on the first chug. I really don't think I would go without a coolant heater on any vehicle, gas or diesel after this experience. It actually generally starts nicer than any gas engine that has been plugged in for a comparable amount of time, likely because my coolant heater is more powerful than the average block heater.

 

the jeep motor is from italy made by who the dcx web site dose not state. the newer vw tdi's do not need to be pluged in but doing so helps bring the heat in faster. i do from time to time have one come in with a mil on and its a bad glow plug. the new motor from 04 has no injection pump is a common rail motor. with electronic fired injectors. so far no problems.

 

VM Motori makes the engine which is has something to do with Detroit Diesel. The latest test I read stated it managed 23.5 mpg at 70 mph. Not gonna do it for me.

 

Thank's for the info. I thought that a turbo 4 cylinder diesel would have been a good second vehicle to put some miles on. Hmmm VW gets around 40mpg in the TDI and the folks on this web site state a 7,000 pound truck could get the same mileage as a compact Jeep with a diesel. I would have thought the Jeep could have managed somewhere in the low 30mpg range. But the concept is good.