For consumers to accept an alternative fuel technology, auto executives believe, it has to be transparent in the product. That is to say, the technology's there in the car, or SUV or whatever, but the consumers don't see it making the vehicle behave differently in any way.
That doesn't quite work with the 2005 Jeep Liberty with the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel inline-four, since there are a few significant changes from a normal Liberty to notice. Most of the changes drivers will welcome, but there's one that could trump the positives.
The positive changes include improved fuel economy, superior launch ability and greater range, which means you don't need to go to the gas station as often. We'll come back to these things in a minute, but first we must consider the primary negative.
That primary negative would be the extra noise associated with a diesel engine, and it seems to be almost as obvious now as it's ever been. The clatter starts the moment you turn the ignition key, and it's noticeable most of the time you're in the Liberty sport-cute. It does tend to fade or get drowned out when you're cruising along, though that would not be the case for people beside you on the road or the sidewalk, and it always comes back again at some point.
The diesel clatter's not conversation-drowning or anything, but it's considerably more obtrusive than the noise from any gasoline-powered engine.
If the prospect of that doesn't bother you and if you do enough driving to recover the surcharge Chrysler has levied on this model through reduced fuel costs, then the Jeep Liberty diesel should be of interest to you.
As is the way of these things, the 2005 Jeep Liberty Common Rail Diesel (CRD) model is more expensive than a comparable model with a gasoline engine, reportedly because of the extra costs associated with building a diesel engine.
According to LouAnn Barrette of DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group office in Windsor, a diesel version of the Liberty will cost you approximately $2,500 more than a gas-powered model.
Jeep Liberty CRD Sport 4x4 carries an MSRP of $32,440, while a Jeep Liberty CRD Limited 4x4 lists for $34,705. It must be pointed out, however, that MSRPs are really nothing more than starting points for discussion with the dealer, that the price you pay is the price you negotiate.
If you do agree to pay $2,500 more for the diesel engine, you will certainly get better fuel economy levels than you will with either of the gasoline engines available in Liberty -- the 2.4-litre inline-four and the 3.7-litre V-6.
On Transport Canada's fuel economy test, the 2.8-litre diesel with its five-speed automatic transmission needs 10.5 litres of fuel to cover 100 city km and 8.0 litres for every 100 highway km.
With the inline-four and its five-speed manual, the comparable figures are 11.9 and 9.0 litres/100km, and with the 3.7-litre V-6 the comparable figures are 14.2 and 10.1 with the four-speed automatic, and 15.1 and 9.9 with the five-speed manual.
Those are significant savings in fuel consumption, but any added benefit from the cost of diesel versus gasoline has essentially disappeared.
According to the November 30 recap of fuel prices across Canada by MJ Ervin and Associates, diesel fuel was 83.1 cents a litre and regular gasoline was 81.6.
Because of individual driving habits and local fuel prices and other issues, it's impossible to estimate how many kilometers a Liberty will have to be driven to recover the stated premium, but it will probably take most drivers four or five years.
It must be noted immediately, however, that those drivers might also enjoy the experience more than if they were at the wheel of a gasoline-powered Liberty.
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The positive changes include improved fuel economy, superior launch ability and greater range, which means you don't need to go to the gas station as often. We'll come back to these things in a minute, but first we must consider the primary negative.
That primary negative would be the extra noise associated with a diesel engine, and it seems to be almost as obvious now as it's ever been. The clatter starts the moment you turn the ignition key, and it's noticeable most of the time you're in the Liberty sport-cute. It does tend to fade or get drowned out when you're cruising along, though that would not be the case for people beside you on the road or the sidewalk, and it always comes back again at some point.
The diesel clatter's not conversation-drowning or anything, but it's considerably more obtrusive than the noise from any gasoline-powered engine.
If the prospect of that doesn't bother you and if you do enough driving to recover the surcharge Chrysler has levied on this model through reduced fuel costs, then the Jeep Liberty diesel should be of interest to you.
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According to LouAnn Barrette of DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group office in Windsor, a diesel version of the Liberty will cost you approximately $2,500 more than a gas-powered model.
Jeep Liberty CRD Sport 4x4 carries an MSRP of $32,440, while a Jeep Liberty CRD Limited 4x4 lists for $34,705. It must be pointed out, however, that MSRPs are really nothing more than starting points for discussion with the dealer, that the price you pay is the price you negotiate.
If you do agree to pay $2,500 more for the diesel engine, you will certainly get better fuel economy levels than you will with either of the gasoline engines available in Liberty -- the 2.4-litre inline-four and the 3.7-litre V-6.
On Transport Canada's fuel economy test, the 2.8-litre diesel with its five-speed automatic transmission needs 10.5 litres of fuel to cover 100 city km and 8.0 litres for every 100 highway km.
With the inline-four and its five-speed manual, the comparable figures are 11.9 and 9.0 litres/100km, and with the 3.7-litre V-6 the comparable figures are 14.2 and 10.1 with the four-speed automatic, and 15.1 and 9.9 with the five-speed manual.
Those are significant savings in fuel consumption, but any added benefit from the cost of diesel versus gasoline has essentially disappeared.
According to the November 30 recap of fuel prices across Canada by MJ Ervin and Associates, diesel fuel was 83.1 cents a litre and regular gasoline was 81.6.
Because of individual driving habits and local fuel prices and other issues, it's impossible to estimate how many kilometers a Liberty will have to be driven to recover the stated premium, but it will probably take most drivers four or five years.
It must be noted immediately, however, that those drivers might also enjoy the experience more than if they were at the wheel of a gasoline-powered Liberty.