AFTER nearly two years, Jeep reintroduced its Cherokee to Australia in June this year offering a choice of either 2.4-litre or 3.2-litre petrol engine options, but with only spark-ignition power-plants, combined cycle fuel economy stood at 8.3-litres per 100km at best.

The introduction of a four-cylinder 2.0-litre diesel has not only slashed consumption to 5.8L/100km but also brought more torque than even the larger V6 petrol and almost as much power as the 2.4-litre petrol.

Sharing the kit and four-wheel drive transmission of the generously appointed Limited V6, the Cherokee Limited Diesel has plenty of gear in addition to its frugal engine, but the comfort and efficiency advantages come at a cost, putting the Diesel at the top of the pile priced at $49,000 before on-road costs.

That ticket puts the flagship Cherokee towards the weightier end of the fiercely competitive medium SUV segment and amongst a lot of choice, so it cannot afford to put a tyre wrong if it is to survive against the popular Mazda CX5, Toyota RAV4 and Ford's Kuga to name just a handful.

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