The 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee with Mercedes 3.0L diesel is included in Chrysler's recent "employee pricing" discount plan. If you specify the Laredo X trim package with diesel engine, the price today is about $31,000. Add $2000 more if you want to upgrade to the Limited model, with leather trim and MiGiG system.
That's about $8000 less than last Fall.
For this money, you get a mid-size SUV with 3.0L diesel, 5 speed auto trans, Quadra Drive II full-time 4x4, low range, limited slip diffs front and rear, traction control, hill descent control and hill start assist. Plus you have Jeep's limited lifetime powertrain warranty.
[Edit: Unfortunately, Jeep doesn't offer the lifetime warranty on diesel engine vehicles.]
The EPA rates the 3.0L diesel at 22 mpg highway with the 5 speed auto trans. Real world mpg reports I see online have the diesel highway mpg closer to 25. That's not bad for a full time AWD vehicle with 375 ft-lbs of torque, and rated to tow 7400 lbs. Using the EPA 22 mpg and the 21 gallon fuel tank, you've got a very useful 460 mile range.
Jeep is not offering the diesel engine in the 2009 Grand Cherokee, so you have to purchase a 2008 if you want the diesel. The 2008 diesel requires ULSD fuel, but does not use urea injection (AdBlue, Bluetec, and so on) to improve emissions.
Chip Haven

That's about $8000 less than last Fall.
For this money, you get a mid-size SUV with 3.0L diesel, 5 speed auto trans, Quadra Drive II full-time 4x4, low range, limited slip diffs front and rear, traction control, hill descent control and hill start assist. Plus you have Jeep's limited lifetime powertrain warranty.
[Edit: Unfortunately, Jeep doesn't offer the lifetime warranty on diesel engine vehicles.]
The EPA rates the 3.0L diesel at 22 mpg highway with the 5 speed auto trans. Real world mpg reports I see online have the diesel highway mpg closer to 25. That's not bad for a full time AWD vehicle with 375 ft-lbs of torque, and rated to tow 7400 lbs. Using the EPA 22 mpg and the 21 gallon fuel tank, you've got a very useful 460 mile range.
Jeep is not offering the diesel engine in the 2009 Grand Cherokee, so you have to purchase a 2008 if you want the diesel. The 2008 diesel requires ULSD fuel, but does not use urea injection (AdBlue, Bluetec, and so on) to improve emissions.
Chip Haven