ib516 bought a new vehicle today

I don't think the 4 cyl version would ever see 9th, unless it was going down hill. The V6 and 4 cyl models have different final drive ratios, and the tow package has a different ratio than the non-tow pkg models.

The V6 we test drove loafed along at 70 mph at about 1600 RPM in 8th gear into a slight head wind. I'd be willing to bet, that under ideal conditions it would find 9th. Even if it doesn't see 9th much, 8th is still plenty good for low RPM highway cruising.

The non-Trailhawk versions are better than other small SUVs off road (maybe a Subaru might give them a run), but the Trailhawk version (with real 4 low, a higher ride height, off road tires, traction aids, and a rear e-locker) can't be beat off road in it's class. At least not based my my shopping and research.

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:

wilber1 wrote:
Don't think any of it's competition has more than a six speed. The eight speed already has them beat by two gears.

Ford and GM are working on a 9 and 10 speed in a joint venture, due out some time late next year?

Don

I still don't see the point. It just seems strange to me that they would give up one underdrive ratio and add two more overdrive ratios to a vehicle like a Jeep which has such off road aspirations. There must be a reason for choosing the ratios they did and I would like to know the reasoning behind it.

wilber1 wrote:
Don't think any of it's competition has more than a six speed. The eight speed already has them beat by two gears.

Ford and GM are working on a 9 and 10 speed in a joint venture, due out some time late next year?

Don

Don't think any of it's competition has more than a six speed. The eight speed already has them beat by two gears.

To say they have one more gear than the competition.

RedRocket204 wrote:
The review of the Trailhawk version by C&D mentioned that in all their testing of the vehicle, it was noted to have never reached the 9th gear. The only way they were able to get it in 9th was to force it in...sounds like leaving that 9th gear open as a manual option (???) if out on the open flat lands with light winds in cruise. Interesting.

Seems kind of pointless to redesign a transmission just to add a gear that will hardly ever be used. Must be some reason. Wonder what it was.

The review of the Trailhawk version by C&D mentioned that in all their testing of the vehicle, it was noted to have never reached the 9th gear. The only way they were able to get it in 9th was to force it in...sounds like leaving that 9th gear open as a manual option (???) if out on the open flat lands with light winds in cruise. Interesting.

ib516 wrote:
9 speed auto ratios:

Ya, I looked that up after I read your post. Wonder what the logic was.

On Edit:

Have to wonder how much use 9th would be if you are only turning 1600 at 70 MPH in 8th.

9 speed auto ratios:

Bionic Man wrote:
Going a little off subject, but since IB brought it up, I think it is ok.

I have been reading about some of those adaptive cruise controls. With the crash mitigation and lane departure systems, there are many vehicles out today that are for all intents and purposes, self driving. The technological advancements that are happening are just astonishing.

This has been on my mind too; I know it's silly to be "afraid" of new tech but my question is this:

What safeguards are built in to protect from a computer glitch, i.e. a sensor thinking in error that something stopped in front of you and slamming on the brakes when you're happily motoring along at 50mph?

I'm sure people about twice as smart as yours truly have thought of that so perhaps there are really good safeguards in place...in certainly hope so...