Jeep Commander test drive since 2008 SUV

Jeep Commander with a "Daimler" three -liter diesel

Jeep with a Mercedes motor is better than just Mercedes ... The annoyed Jeep fan once told me: Chrysler received nothing from the Union with Daimler. The Germans cynically took what they wanted, and left. They needed only the American market ...

And I thought so until I traveled to the diesel three -liter jeep. Diesel is the main German inheritance for Jeep. He is worth it.

One unhappy
As Tolstoy would say, all modern motors are similar to each other, and all the old units are unhappy in their own way. By and large, there are no serious differences in the dynamics between 3-liter VW, Land Rover, Mercedes and Jeep. Happy accelerates to a hundred in the range of 8.610 seconds and have a torque from 500 Newton meters. Only the unfortunate Mitsubishi shows acceleration to 100 km/h in 14.5 seconds and an archaic moment at 225 nm.

But I will never exchange the Daimler motor for heavy fuel for engines of a similar volume in VW, Mitsubishi and Land Rover. I do not want to talk about this motor in relation to Mercedes ML and GL. It was Chrysler who revealed all the possibilities of this excellent unit in the SUV. The Americans did not bet on fuel saving or on high -speed characteristics. Roughly married their body with a European diesel engine, not taking care of removing extra vibrations. Stupidly added an ancient five -speed transmission to the dish. It turned out well.

Ashamed, brother
Thinking for a moment, what did the buyer of the diesel GL do? He saved a corny. In a decent society to the question, what is the equipment? He will try not to answer. Perhaps he will even turn red. And the owner of the three -liter Commander will immediately be in the spotlight. He boasts that the diesel Commander sways less than gasoline (as in the case of Cherokee). And without a shadow of embarrassment, he will mention that he loses the option with a 4.7-liter eight one second in acceleration to 100 kilometers per hour.

Then it will pass to save fuel, reporting on a consumption of 12.5 liters per hundred. It will ironically drop that its equipment is $ 1,500 more than gasoline, and, finally, will move on to the Quadra-Drive II transmission. The key component of the system is the trio of electronic-controlled differentials of high friction. Redistribution of traction is almost instantaneous, and up to 100% is transmitted to any of the wheels. A great alternative to hard locks. And a much more preferred option than self -block or LSD installed in the rear bridge on some SUV.

Yes, diesel jeep is perhaps the most successful combination of European and American values. So the Daimler and Chrysler union were definitely not useless.


Author: Dmitry Leontyev, photo of Alexander Ortnova-Baranov


 

Source: Magazine 4x4 [February /2010]