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2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited EcoDiesel Review: Jeep Perfection with Incredible MPGs

The Chrysler Group has introduced diesel powered passenger vehicles in the past with little success but with the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel, the company has put a name to their new diesel technology that will help market it to consumers while the power and efficiency of new 3.0L V6 diesel does the rest as this is one fantastic engine option.

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The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the bestselling and most awarded sport utility vehicle in the history of the segment so when the Trail Rated brand makes a big move – the industry takes notice. The 2014 Grand Cherokee features the new EcoDiesel powerplant that allows Jeep owners to haul and tow comparable amounts to the 5.7L Hemi while offering nearly 30 miles per gallon. The current Grand Cherokee is a great SUV; adding a 3.0L diesel engine that allows you to tow 7,200 pounds while offering 28 miles per gallon on the highway (not while towing) makes it one of the best SUVs today…if not the best.

My 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee test vehicle was a 4x4 model with the Limited trimline and the 3.0L EcoDiesel engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Luxury Group II added $3,000, the Off Road Adventure II package added $1,795, the premium infotainment system added $400 and when added up with the $995 destination and base price, my test vehicle carried a sticker price of $48,785.

grand cherokee diesel frontThe Exterior
The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 Limited package wears just enough chrome/silver trim around the outside to look like it isn’t a base model. It doesn’t look like an overly blinged out luxury model, but features like the 18 inch split spoke wheels and the silver accents found around the lower fascia opening, around the distinct 7 slot Jeep grille, on the mirrors and on the door handles give this Grand Cherokee a far more upscale look compared to the lower priced models. Of course, the 2014 Grand Cherokee has all of the same great looks that make this the bestselling big SUV in the world. This is the Jeep which best displays the iconic look that the Trail Rated brand has become known for and when fitted with the Limited package – it’s a sharp looking large SUV.

grand cherokee ecodiesel

The EcoDiesel package doesn’t add anything special, but it does have a nice looking set of badges to show off that it is a fuel friendly vehicle.

The Interior
The Limited level trimline is technically midrange for the 2014 Grand Cherokee, but thanks to the addition of the Luxury Group II Preferred Equipment Package, it is impossible to tell by looking around inside. Leather seats, leather door pads and a leather center console armrest cover all in black with white stitching give this cabin a very high end look and feel with help from the minimal chrome trim scattered throughout. The front seats are nicely padded with deepish side bolsters that are comfortable for folks of all shapes and sizes while the power seat controls allow enough adjustment to make it easy for both very tall and very small drivers to safely operate the Grand Cherokee. Regardless of your size (unless you are a giant like Shaq or something), anyone sitting up front should find there to be ample seating space in every direction.

gr seats front

The rear seats have the same soft leather and generous levels of padding, but the rear seats are less contoured than the front. They are still plenty comfortable for a long vacation trip with gobs of leg space for even very tall adults. There is a middle seat in the rear, but I wouldn’t try to put anyone aside from a small child there for a very long ride and putting someone there really cuts down on the elbow space for everyone. Fortunately, with that middle seat empty and the armrest folded down, the Grand Cherokee has a wonderfully comfortable rear seat setup.

gc seats rear

Unlike the Dodge Durango that rides on the same basic chassis platform, the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee does not have a third row of seats and that leads to a massive rear cargo area. It is a big, flat area that is accessed via a large door opening so you can really use every bit of rear cargo space to haul large items. It will comfortably hold golf bags, hockey bags or a brand new Charbroil grill, fully assembled with any problem.

jgc cargo area

Arguably the most impressive aspect of the 2014 Grand Cherokee Limited interior is the large infotainment touch screen system that works with the Thin Film Transistor (TFT) gauge cluster to give this cabin a very high end look. The 8.4L touch screen is among one of the largest in the industry and in my opinion, it is one of the best infotainment systems on the market – giving the driver quick and easy access to control everything from the navigation system to the climate control to the hands free phone system to the boomin’ sound system. This system looks great and it works great, without any real learning curve. It is easy to go from function to function and unlike some other automakers’ infotainment systems – you won’t need to take any classes to figure this one out.

grand cherokee dash

The UConnect infotainment system is controllable via the touch screen, a few knobs below the touch screen, via voice commands or by using the many buttons mounted on the steering wheel. Those buttons on the wheel also give the driver easy access to adjust the configurable driver information center in the middle of the TFT gauge cluster. In addition to the analog tachometer, temperature and fuel level gauge, the large center screen lets you pick from a wide variety of information including things like a compass, outside air temperature, nav information and more. This is the nicest gauge cluster in the segment…and one of the best in the industry…which is why the Chrysler Group is using something similar in so many of their new and popular vehicles.

The Drive
The key feature of my 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 Limited EcoDiesel is the 3.0L diesel engine that delivers 240 horsepower and 420lb-ft of torque to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission and the QuadraTrac II Four Wheel Drive system. While it is a little low on horsepower, the monster torque output makes up for the horsepower numbers in a big way.

ecodiesel muddy

This engine doesn’t offer quite the same level of instant-on power that you get with the Hemi, but the diesel pulls incredibly hard through the mid range. This gives the EcoDiesel Jeep solid acceleration numbers from a stop and it is just as strong when putting the hammer down when moving at speed on the highway – all with very little engine sound at all. On one hand, I miss the roar of the Hemi under hard acceleration while on the other hand, I see the beauty (to some people) of a large Jeep that has so much power with so little resulting sound.

grand cheroke diesel side

Now for the big news. The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 Limited EcoDiesel is expected to deliver 21 miles per gallon around town, 28mpg on the highway and 24 combined. In my time driving the EcoDiesel Jeep I was not able to hit that average number, but around 150 of my miles were driven with the horse trailer loaded up. Even with those harder working miles, I averaged 21mpg overall and on one tank where I did not tow at all while driving most of the miles on the highway, I was able to achieve 25.6 miles per gallon. I believe that someone who lives in an area where the maximum highway speed limits are 55-65 will be able to exceed the 24mpg average figure. The EcoDiesel offers incredible fuel economy figures and it makes good on those promises.

Better yet, the 3.0L EcoDiesel equipped 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited is able to tow 7,200lbs and while I don’t have a 7,200lb trailer, I do have a 5,500 pound horse trailer that I use for all of my towing exercises. The EcoDiesel pulled my small horse trailer very nicely and the big torque allowed for smooth, easy acceleration while handling the hills fairly effortlessly. The EcoDiesel didn’t pull quite as well as the Grand Cherokee SRT with the 6.4L Hemi, but it pulled better than any other SUV of this size which I’ve tested. The diesel engine is designed to be a workhorse and it handles the heavy load just as well as the non-SRT Hemi.

grand cherokee diesel road rear

Oh, by the why, while the EcoDiesel does sound a little different than the Pentastar V6 or the Hemi V8 at idle, it isn’t a far cry from the stereotypical chug-chug-chug of a heavy duty diesel truck engine…and there is no excessive soot when you put the hammer down, either. This clean new EcoDiesel engine provides the grunt of a hard working diesel engine, but it does so without any of the misconceived downsides like being very noisy or very smokey.

In terms of handling, the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 Limited offers a really nice, smooth ride that can sometimes be hard to find from a large SUV that can actually deal with some obstacles. While I didn’t do any offroading, I did use the adjustable terrain system to tackle some of the areas unpaved roads. I spent my time in the EcoDiesel Jeep towards the very end of winter so the melting snow had turned some of those local “Natural Beauty Roads” into treacherous offroading courses with deep mud, huge holes and flooded areas that could almost be considered ponds. These are roads that are nearly impassable for modern sedans and tricky for rear wheel drive pickups, but the Grand Cherokee made short work of even the worst muddy conditions. As you can see, the Grand Cherokee 4x4 Limited still looks good when it’s really, really muddy…after all, it IS a Jeep. It’s Trail Rated.

grand cherokee diesel road front

Once taking the Grand Cherokee Limited back on the paved surfaces, the advanced suspension and drivetrain system allows the big Jeep to ride as smoothly and as quietly inside as most sedans. Around town, the Grand Cherokee feels like a big SUV in tight quarters, but a high driving position provides a great vantage point for getting through small spaces. Really, the Grand Cherokee is a dream to drive with any engine and the addition of the EcoDiesel with so much capability and such great fuel economy makes this one of the best all around SUVs on the road today.

The Final Word
If you want a full size SUV that can tow or haul as much as most big V8s but with the fuel efficiency of a compact car – the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel is clearly the ideal new vehicle for you. The EcoDiesel engine allows the Grand Cherokee to do all of the work of the 5.7L Hemi and while the new 3.0L diesel doesn’t pack the raw acceleration of the mighty Hemi, the massive advantage in fuel economy makes up for the slight difference in horsepower. The Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel doesn’t offer quite as much go fast fun or the V8 grunt of the Hemi, but there is no other area in which the diesel mill falls short. In fact, with much better fuel economy than the Hemi, those who are willing to spend a little more now will save a bundle at the pump in the long run – all while being able to perform the same tasks.

grand cherokee diesel rear

Drivetrain aside, the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 offers an impressive level of luxury in a midlevel trimline so those folks who buy a Limited to save a few dollars, won’t have to drive a base looking SUV. Realistically, it is a Grand Cherokee – it’s good enough off road, very comfortable on the road, awesome in any weather condition and roomy enough to easily seat four tall adults and carry a ton of cargo. Spending a few minutes driving the 2014 Grand Cherokee makes it very clear as to why this is the bestselling and most awarded vehicle in the history of the SUV segment. You can get more luxury from the pricier trimlines, but those who want to keep the price under $50k can get a whole lot for their money with the Limited trimline and the Luxury Group II package.

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Comments

John Dinich (not verified)    July 11, 2014 - 10:21AM

My two cents........these vehicles are incredible, there truly is nothing else like this Jeep available. I am infinitely pleased with mine. I had a 2012 RAM 1500 ST that I traded in for this; I thought the RAM was near flawless and I would be equally impressed with the Jeep. Not only do I have warm memories of the RAM (in hindsight I should have kept it just because it was so fine, and sexy), but my Jeep has blown my mind in every metric I can think of. I am astounded with how far Chrysler has come since the dark days of Daimler, and the catastrophe of Cerberus, they truly have managed to pull their heads out of their a***s, put the past behind them and move on to building vehicles no other maker can produce. If things stay like they are now, I am a lifer, I have never been as pleased with a vehicle as I am.

Yevy (not verified)    September 13, 2015 - 2:25PM

In reply to by John Dinich (not verified)

You must have gotten one of the good ones. Many people complain reliability after first year tanks, and people get to know their Jeep mechanics so much they get invited to thanksgiving dinners.

john siford (not verified)    July 12, 2014 - 3:07PM

I sale them I recently had a customer come in and purchase one and making their way to Florida the next day (I am from PA) they came back about a week ago and to my surprise they said on the way down they got 28.6 and on their way back 29.8. Also to they only had clothes and stuff and they didn't have a trailer but I've been hearing a lot better numbers than what you guys tested.

Steve (not verified)    July 27, 2014 - 6:28PM

In reply to by john siford (not verified)

Recently purchased the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 3.0 diesel . a week later drove from Roanoke , VA to Lake Placid , NY . Round trip was 1550 miles . Mpg was an unexpected 31.5 .My wife watched Nrtflix on her tablet thru the Uconnect Hot Spot which can be rented daily , weekly or monthly for a small charge . ( She used head phones .) I drove the 13 hours each way with about 4 hours additionally on local very hilly winding local Adirondack two lane roads . Most of the trip ( 13 hours each way ) was on Rts. 81 Roanoke ,VA to Binghamton NY , 88 to Albany , NY anthem to Keene Valley NY before taking local roads to Lake Placid ,NY . We returned using the same routes . I don't have a feel for for what the mileage will be driving locally yet . My wife has a " lead foot " so.....

Fernando Gadal… (not verified)    February 15, 2019 - 11:28PM

In reply to by Steve (not verified)

I bought a 2014 Jeep Ecodiesel recently, it is a real pleasure to drive, I drive moslty in stop and go traffic in slow bumper to bumper traffic. This is not normal city driving, it is on average 10 miles per hour all day. I get 22 miles per gallon even though the traffic is abnormally slow
The Jeep Ecodiesel has so much torque it is ridiculous. So Happy !!!

Bob Janney (not verified)    September 10, 2014 - 11:38PM

I was really excited about the Jeep Diesel. I purchased mine new May 30th 2014 from a northern NJ Jeep Dealer. I am disappointed! The turbo lag is very frustrating. It's about 2-3 seconds before you get the power you called for, The bigger complaint is the transmission. It shift is not smooth. Noticeable jerk when coming to a stop. Shifting during moderate speeds appears as if the transmission is hunting for the correct gear to shift to resulting in a feel or sound as if you were having a flat tire. Another big concern is the shifter itself. Shifter is actually dangerous. I suspect that eventually this will end up as part of a recall or possible law suit. When shifting from drive to park you can actually end up in reverse. The shift system appears to be an electronic type shifter. When shifting from park too drive you end up shifting to reverse or neutral. Happened a few times that when I shifted from drive and thought I was in park I actually ended up in reverse. On one occasion I thought I was in park, started to exit the vehicle, foot on the ground, door open & started to feel the door pushing against me pushing me back. I realized the vehicle was in reverse and not park.
I hope this is an isolated incident with the Grand Cherokee. Perhaps only mine. If other have noticed these problems it would be interesting to read the comments and also note any fixes for these problems.
By the way this is my third diesel. I had a VW Jetta TDI & presently also have a 2012 VW Touareg TDI. What a rocket ship, nice ride, no problems with 55K miles and still rides great!!

James (not verified)    October 5, 2014 - 1:31PM

We have almost the exact same one reviewed here. It's a great vehicle and I know it gets compared to all the German SUVs, but really it costs quite a bit less and I think you have to expect that the money comes from somewhere. VW/Audi does some of the best interiors in the business I didn't really expect the Grand Cherokee to be Touareg-nice. This is our 5th diesel vehicle too, all others have been VW 4/6cyl TDIs. I do agree about the engine and transmission. There does seem to be too much lag from a dead stop, but I think that may actually be ecu programming to keep you from dumping 420ftlb of torque violently into the transmission. I think a good aftermarket tune (when they eventually come) will improve the lag issue as well as make more power and probably provide better fuel efficiency. The transmission isn't too bad, but I'm not a huge fan of the 8 speeds - it's always shifting and doesn't feel like it pulls for long enough. We took a weekend trip from Houston to Dallas and drove around town all weekend and averaged 31.5 mpg while still having some torque-laden fun. The ride was great, seats very comfortable and ventilated, nav and infotainment useful, and we really enjoy the reclining back seats and panoramic sunroof. Overall, I recommend this vehicle to anyone interested - but if your reading this you probably already want a diesel suv. Do it! Get it! I don't think you'll regret it.

Pedro Chavez (not verified)    October 18, 2014 - 4:34PM

I purchased my 2014 grand Cherokee eco diesel about 2 months ago. Since then I have put a total of 7800 miles on the Jeep. I chose the Eco diesel for the simple reason that I drive over 200 miles a day. I knew I would get great mileage from the vehicle but I was not expecting what I actually got. On my daily commute in Southern California traffic, I average 26.8 MPG, while in the really bad stop and go traffic I average 24.4 MPG. On some of my longer trips, such as to Las Vegas, San Fransisco, and other cities a average 32.8 MPG. The worst I have seen on mine so far is 23.6, while the best I've seen is 36.2. This is all according to the trip computer. My actual single tank average during my normal commute is 27.561 MPG starting at full and refilling when the light comes on. Aside from the great mileage the overall vehicle is great in every way. I have a limited, equipped as the test vehicle, minus the 4x4. I looked at other's, like BMW, Audi, but the jeep looked the best and had the best numbers.

Artback (not verified)    January 18, 2015 - 10:45AM

My similarly equipped GC Limited with 15,000 miles has been, for the most part, a gem. Watch out for DEF injector problems as the DEF injector is mounted in a vulnerable location beneath the vehicle. If your plans include off-roading, there is an aftermarket guard available (see Jeep Garage) that helps a lot.

Highway mIleage has been as high as 32 MPG, and a recent 3,400 mile road trip yielded 26.2 MPG in mixed driving...much on highways with 70 MPH limits. This trip included some mild off roading, where he the diesel's torque made for a stress free experience.

Despite the luxury attributes of the GC, the dealership experience is sub par. My former Honda dealers were vastly superior to my Jeep experences, and Lexus is on another planet in comparison. Can't seem to get a Jeep dealer appointment without a 2 week lead time, for example, and a full software flash update, including entertainment system, resulted in a UConnect software version several generations old.

Overall, the GC Limited Ecodiesel with Luxury II package is a great set up. I wish Jeep dealerships were on par with the hardware.

dvj2012 (not verified)    March 14, 2015 - 12:50PM

I purchased a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Eco-Diesel about a year ago and have been in and out of the shop once a moth over this last year getting the CEL reset and parts replaced and DEF fluids drained and refilled half way. At this point I would tell anyone who thinks that they want a Jeep Eco-Diesel to take their money elsewhere. Not worth the $$$