Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel (2014)

Pros
Improved mileage. Mostly noticeable to us in highway driving, where the Grand Cherokee got high twenties. We still got lousy city mileage during our winter test, no better than 14-15 mpg. But the EPA rates the Cherokee Diesel at 21/28 with 24 combined, which is a big improvement over the other Grand Cherokee engine options.
Diesel noise and vibration are non-existent once you’re cruising at speed.
Plenty of power, and even more torque.
Solid, tight-feeling handling. Grand Cherokee’s previous problem with lateral motion is much improved.
Seats and the ride are both very comfortable.
Nice, upscale exterior appearance.
Upscale interior. Appears to be well made.
Very good U-connect Infotainment system, easy to understand and operate.
Lots of convenient controls for all kinds of things.
Additional controls for radio volume and tuning are located on the backside of the steering wheel. We find that to be a perfect place for them…exactly where your fingers rest. However, there’s a rocker switch that’s easy to hit. If that happens, you’ll accidentally change radio bands.
The higher-end model includes adaptive cruise control, which adjusts your speed to maintain a safe distance between with the car in front of you. It’s a very nice feature. We used it for several hours, and it worked well.

Cons
Diesel engine is a $5,000 option. It’ll take many years to recoup that in improved gas mileage, unless you do 40,000 miles a year of highway driving.
Diesel engine is noisy on start-up, at idle, and whenever you step on the gas. Once you’re cruising, you won’t notice it. But around town, every time you punch the gas pedal, it sounds like a Mack truck.
We only got 14-15 MPG in winter stop-and-go city traffic—admittedly, the worst kind of driving for mileage. But if that’s the kind of driving you do, don’t expect the EPA rated 24 MPG.
While handling was generally good, the new electric power steering was both light and a bit sensitive. As a result, we found ourselves making frequent adjustments while driving to keep it pointed where we wanted it – especially on windy roads.
No third row of seats, which is not an issue unless you’re often toting around a posse of kids.