Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) is the identifier used for small, medium, and large pickup/van/station wagon mashups that have been around since the term was officially assigned to Jeep’s Cherokee (XJ) in 1984. Informally, the aforementioned station wagon is the original SUV, dating back to 1935, when Chevrolet’s Carryall Suburban pioneered the segment.

First and foremost, size, especially in the heavy-duty segment, is the #1 endearing quality of an SUV. They are capable of carrying up to nine passengers (see 2022 Chevrolet Suburban) and large amounts of cargo, a versatility that places SUVs in the top 10% of vehicles on American roads today. An SUV is a great investment because, in addition to their space and ability to transport people and cargo, today’s rigs are safer, have dynamic suspension systems that provide ride quality similar to that of a car and can be equipped with a wide variety of comforts and equipment included in the standard equipment or available as an option at an additional cost. The ability of full-size SUVs to tow large boats, RVs, trailers, etc., is another major criteria that puts them at the top of the desirability scale.

Although SUVs sold in the United States come with gasoline engines as standard equipment, the performance benefits actually lie in the optional diesel engines available. With a diesel-powered SUV, consumers can expect higher towing and cargo capacities and much better fuel economy than a gazer.

Unfortunately, most European manufacturers, such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, no longer offer diesel engines for their commercial vehicles sold on American soil. The Volkswagen “Dieselgate” scandal of 2015 is largely responsible for this; many of the offerings from these oil companies are impressive platforms. Until 2021, Land Rover was the only surviving European-branded diesel SUV in the United States

In this report, we highlight six of the best diesel SUVs available in the United States today (including last year’s 2021 Range Rover HSE Sport, if there is one). With manufacturers’ agendas increasingly focused on electric vehicles, the question is how long will diesel SUVs continue to be produced and offered (mainly by GM and Stellantis)? With 2035 noted as GM’s potential stopping point for production of all diesel-powered (and gas-powered, for that matter) platforms in the United States, we believe stopping any string of mounting diesel trucks/SUVs would be a travesty of unfathomable proportions.

The legendary Jeep brand has long cemented its place in the sport utility vehicle segment. For years, Jeep owners have learned that “Go Anywhere, Do Anything” is a way of life, not just a slogan. In 1961, Jeep implemented its first diesel engines in the CJ-5. This 58 horsepower Perkins I-4 engine was small but mighty.

Fast forward six decades, and a diesel option is available again, but things have changed a lot. A 2022 Wrangler, Jeep’s most capable model to date, can be purchased with the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine rated at 260 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. So, in addition to the Wrangler’s cargo space and off-road capabilities, the optional powertrain gives the SUV the great fuel economy and reliability that diesel engines are known for.

Impressive performance and exceptional low-end torque make this Wrangler one of today’s most impressive SUVs. Backed by a fully electronic 8HP75 eight-speed automatic transmission and a wide range of gear ratio options, these Wranglers can be configured for any on-road or off-road adventure.

From a fuel economy standpoint, Wranglers (with either 3.45 or 3.73 rear gear ratios) are rated at 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. When properly equipped, four-door diesel-powered models have a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.

Although the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine adds $6,010 to the Wrangler’s MSRP, it pays off with impressive towing capacity and fuel economy. And that’s why we believe it deserves to be included as one of the best diesel SUVs available.

Since its inception, the GMC Yukon has been a popular platform. When it debuted in 1992, the Yukon was just a two-door with SL and SLE trim options. Powered by a 210-horsepower, 5.7-liter V-8 gas engine, it was the bee’s knee at the time. Now this large SUV is one of the most powerful and luxurious models available.

Joining many other manufacturers, the GMC Yukon Diesel features the 3.0-liter Duramax I-6 engine. With a diesel-powered, Denali-trimmed Yukon at just over $70,000, what can buyers expect for their money? A full-size utility powered by a 277 horsepower, 460 lb-ft turbodiesel engine that can easily tow an RV or side-by-side, and has plenty of cargo space to boot.

With enough seating to accommodate a small group and their gear, a diesel-powered Yukon does so much more, too. Need to tow a caravan or a boat? Two-wheel-drive Yukons offer up to 8,100 pounds of towing capacity and can haul 1,671 pounds of payload. The four-wheel-drive option on non-XL models has a slightly lower maximum towing (7,800 pounds) and payload limit of 1,581 pounds. This SUV offers 122.9 cubic feet of cargo space (with the second and third rows folded down) and also has safety features such as trailer sway control, hill start assist and crash control. trailer brakes. At the end of the line ? A 2022 GMC Yukon Duramax 3.0-liter is rock solid.

With the same 3.23 gear ratio, turbodiesel Tahoes have great fuel economy, thanks to an Active Fuel Management system that includes 12 cylinder deactivation modes, ensuring the engine is always optimized for the job. load it is under.

The 13 available camera views, which include rear trailer and transparent trailer modes, help drivers back a trailer like a pro and see what’s behind the SUV at all times. For an enclosed trailer, the Tahoe’s camera system also allows drivers to see inside a trailer and monitor the load.

The 2022 Chevy Tahoe RST features a jet black interior, monochromatic grille and accents, RST-specific badging, 22-inch high-gloss wheels and more. The RST seats between seven and nine people and has 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row of seats. With the third row folded down, the RST has an impressive 72.6 cubic feet of space.

The Suburban is the largest SUV currently offered by Chevrolet. Tahoe’s big brother, this SUV is the OG of travel vehicles. For many years, families would pack their entire homes inside a Suburban and go camping or take a cross-country trip. In 2022, nothing has changed.

The latest Suburban comes in several different versions, but they all have one thing in common: cargo space. Depending on the seating configuration of the second and third rows, a Suburban can accommodate up to nine passengers. Behind the third row (with the seats up), there’s 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space, which rises to 93.8 cubic feet with the third row down. Folding down all the rear seats yields an impressive 144.7 cubic feet of cargo space.

Cadillac is one of the most popular brands of General Motors. The Escalade, Caddy’s luxury flagship, has been available since its debut in 1999. More than twenty years after that introduction, the Escalade has improved in every way. Because General Motors already offers the 3.0-liter Duramax I-6 in the rest of its SUV lineup, of course the turbodiesel engine and ten-speed automatic transmission can also be fitted in the Cadillac.

With a sleek, modern look, plush leather seats, a ton of cargo space and a long list of modern tech on board, the new Escalade is a badass. It features state-of-the-art entertainment, comfort, safety and driver assistance technology that includes a trailer integration package that provides blind-spot vision while towing and cameras that help connect to trailers.

Sadly, Range Rover no longer offers a diesel engine in its US lineup, but in 2021 they certainly did. The Range Rover with the 3.0-liter TD6 V6 turbodiesel engine is small but mighty. And, like the 3.0-litre Duramax, this powertrain is quiet, efficient and packs an impressive punch of torque.

Land Rover is known as a luxury brand, and efficiency is not a word usually associated with it. However, its smaller SUV models are extremely efficient. Developing 254 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque, the Range Rover HSE Sport recorded fuel economy of 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

Seating five passengers and with a maximum towing capacity of 7,716 pounds, the TD6-powered 2021 Land Rover Range Rover HSE Sport is definitely among the best diesels of them all.

HSEs are full-time four-wheel drive and have a maximum of 59.5 cubic feet of cargo space. Like the Jeep Wranglers, they’re sportier than the other SUVs in our group. The Range Rover’s towing capacity and impressive fuel economy put it on our list.

The optional 3.0-liter diesel doesn’t produce nearly the power of gasoline engines, but it has 20 percent better fuel economy, which ultimately translates to fewer stops at the pump. For buyers looking for luxury but with serious towing requirements, a TD6-powered Range Rover HSE Sport could be the one.