What happened to the diesel SUV? Only 2 companies are selling diesel SUVs in 2022
Diesels were once common in SUVs. And why not? They produce tons of power, get better mileage, and can help you haul tons and tons of stuff. But they should be on the endangered species list. Jaguar, BMW, Land Rover and BMW have stopped selling diesels in the US Today, if you’re looking for a diesel, only two manufacturers sell diesel SUVs in the US, GM with its full-size 2022 Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade SUV and Jeep with its 2022 Wrangler EcoDiesel.
Diesels are disappearing from SUVs in the United States
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A decade ago, diesels seemed like a great option for a fuel-efficient, yet powerful, engine option for an SUV. BMW, for example, made the X5 xDrive35d which combined sporty handling with up to 26 mpg on the highway and an impressive towing rating. Jaguar put a diesel in its F-Pace 20d, making it an efficient, if not very fast, sports crossover. We shouldn’t have to remind you of what happened to diesel engines from Audi and VW. Since then, even Jeep has ditched diesels in its large SUVs.
GM puts diesel in its biggest SUVs
The 2022 Chevy Tahoe and its more luxurious and expensive version the GMC Yukon, and the much more expensive Escalade, can all be ordered with a 3.0-liter Duramax diesel engine. It comes with a 10-speed automatic and is an $895 option on the LS, or base, version of the Tahoe and, oddly enough, a $2,445 option on the base SLE Yukon. A 2022 Cadillac Escalade with a diesel starts at $79,540. It is available on all trims except the Z71 and AT4 off-road packages. The Duramax produces 277 horsepower, but weighs 460 lb-ft. of torque that gives one of these SUVs a towing capacity of 7,000 to 8,200 pounds, depending on the package.
Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade are similar, but not identical.
Tahoe and Yukon are very similar, but they are not identical. The Tahoe offers more luxury items, such as leather and wood trim. Of course, neither is as luxurious as the Escalade, which is also taller and longer than the Tahoe and Yukon. Big SUVs all drive the same, but the options available are what set these full-size SUVs apart. While the Chevy and GMC have a hard plastic console and the touchscreen sits high in the middle of the dash, the Cadillac has sculpted (and cooled!) a wooden console and display integrated into the gauge cluster.
Of course the diesel can also be ordered on the Giant commuter SUV and the extra-long 2022 GMC Yukon XL as well.
2022 Wrangler EcoDiesel troopers on
The diesel is the most fuel-efficient version of the Wrangler, and it’s also the fastest. It gets 29 mpg on the highway and hits 60 mph in 6.8 seconds. But in an SUV like the Wrangler, you buy the 3.0-liter diesel V6 for other reasons. The 442 lb-ft. of torque can help get you and a friend out of even the trickiest of situations or tow a giant trailer through the woods.
It’s an expensive option, however. The diesel costs $3,510 more than the standard gasoline V6. And, the diesel requires you to add an eight-speed automatic, so say goodbye to the fun six-speed manual. The same diesel is also available in the truck version of the Wrangler, the 2022 Jeep Gladiator.
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