Chrysler continues to miss the mark(et)

Diesel powered vehicles do get better mileage. But not that much better as mentioned by the previous post.

Vehicle mileage has more to do with the specific vehicle, than the specific engine.

It seems to be a common idea among diesel advocates that there is good ecomomic sense behind the diesel option. But the data they use is usually fictitious, and not all the variables get accounted for in the economic math.

Diesels do make sense in situations where a lot of low end torque is needed and desirable. But economic sense?

The diesel option on vehicles is usually a significant up-charge. In the case of the Grand Cherokee it is $3,235.

And the mileage for the Grand Cherokee...

The CRD version of the Grand Cherokee 4x4 is EPA-rated at 17 mpg city/22 mpg highway, compared to a Grand Cherokee equipped with Chrysler's 3.7-liter V6, which delivers 210 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque is rated at 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway. The 4.7-liter V8, which has 305 hp and 334 lb-ft of torque and 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway.

And then add in the price difference of diesel at the pump.

So, how many years at 15,000 miles per year would it take to just break even?  

The answer is... Never!

Today in Phoenix, Unleaded is $1.89 and Diesel is $2.35.

The CRD average is 19 for both city and highway. 15000/19*2.35 = $1855.26 yearly fuel cost. That's 12.4 cents a mile.

The Gasoline V6 average is 17 for both city and highway.
15000/17*1.89 = $1667.65 yearly fuel cost. That's 11 cents a mile.

The Gasoline V8 average is 16 for both city and highway.
15000/16*1.89 = $1771.88 yearly fuel cost. That's 11.8 cents a mile.

Then a 5 year average length of time that the vehicle is owned and the diesel option cost per year is $647.

So, cost per mile for the diesel option Grand Cherokee and fuel cost is 15.4 cents per mile vs 11 cents per mile with the V6 Grand Cherokee.

It would seem one would be happiest economically with the gasoline V6, not the diesel.  

good God man!  You spent some time on that.   Your the kid I cheated from in math class.  

I guess you need to be a diesel head to understand this. Guys, how many years has the auto industry been teaching us the purchase of a car is an emotional event, not a business Return on Investment decision ? On the question of how many Rams are sold with Hemi VS. Cummins diesel - Over 70% of the 2500 / 3500 are sold with the diesel. GM and Ford have a similar trend. There are many reasons, part of it is, for many people like me, If it cost me a little more to go 450 miles before stopping for fuel rather than the 230 miles my Rubi goes, its well worth it !

But hey, the fact is, Jeep has been selling the 2.8L VM Motori CRD in the TJ-D since 2001 (not here) and the TJ / JK after 2005, again, they already make them, but just don't think we want them. I want 2 of them ;-)