Proteus wrote:
I guess the question is, why haven't domestic car makers caught up? Jeep is putting a similar 3L TDI in the new Grand Cherokee (sourced from Fiat). Both can get 30mpg+ on the highway (I'm getting 28 now in my break-in period). I'm sure it drops in half with a heavy trailer though...
There have been many an article written on why small diesel engines aren't available in the US. My opinion is because the buying public here doesn't want to drive them. Diesels of the 70s and 80s were noisy smoky things and people may be soured on them. Plus, gas is cheap (relative to Europe) so there just hasn't been the demand. A few manifacturers are getting brave and releasing small diesels in passenger cars so well probably see an ever increasing demand over time as public acceptance grows.
