2009 Mahindra Truck

[4sarge]

When gas prices first soared, I had read that Cummins Diesel was looking at supplying diesels for smaller SUV's and pick up trucks but haven't heard any more about this.

 

[dgl24087]

Chrysler has a diesel powered Jeep, the Jeep Liberty CRD. If memory serves, it displaces 2.7 liters, is a common rail design, and is built in Italy. The same engine is offered in the large commercial Dodge van, the Sprinter. I talked to an owner of one of those who was getting 23 MPG.

Dodge could offer one in the Ram series, if they were on the ball, but they don't. They probably don't want to canabalize their Cummins sales.

Chrysler had a Liberty diesel. It has been discontinued, however, the Grand Cherokee is available with a 3.7 L (?) diesel.

 

[Builder]

I wish the US auto companies would also take a serious look at introducing a small diesel here. I did find this link on Mahindra's us auto website.

US automakers did introduce small diesels here as long as 20-25 years ago. The Ford Ranger was available with a small diesel. GM put diesels in K-5 Blazers & 1/2 ton pickups. I think even Dodge might have had a D-50 mini pickup with a small mitsubishi diesel in it back in the 80's.

Everyone gets a woody when a small diesel truck/suv rumor starts. We've been there & done that already guys.

 

[Builder]

Probably just as good as my local Ford dealer taking seven days to change the oil filter on my 2001 F-350 Dually with a check engine light blinking at me. Code was for fuel pressure out of range. They ran test after test and talked to Dearborn several times before deciding to change the fuel filter which was changed 2500 miles earlier at its proper service interval.

John
Just saying.

I've owned a dozen diesel pickups and a 1/2 dozen diesel medium & heavy trucks over the last 20 years and you could never convince me that a mahindra diesel pickup could get better parts/service than a major US brand.

 

[canoetrpr]

Can't wait for the Duramax diesel in the Silverado / Sierra. I've heard that Toyoto and Nissan are also planning diesels for the Tundra and Titan.

The new Sierra's look really nice. I've been a Japanese car guy for a while but I'm really liking GMs new designs all around these days. I can see myself in a Sierra with the new diesel.

 

[RobertN]

That was 25 years ago though. Markets change. I knew a guy with a 80's mini-truck with diesel(I think Datsun...). It got amazing mileage, but was a gutless non-turbo.

In a lot of area's the US has led in technology etc over the years. It's strange though, that the rest of the world has tons of small pickups/utes with little diesels. Maybe we're missing something here?

I'm sure a medium displacement diesel would get much better mileage, and pull better, than the 4.7L gasser in her RAM-1500.

US automakers did introduce small diesels here as long as 20-25 years ago. The Ford Ranger was available with a small diesel. GM put diesels in K-5 Blazers & 1/2 ton pickups. I think even Dodge might have had a D-50 mini pickup with a small mitsubishi diesel in it back in the 80's.

Everyone gets a woody when a small diesel truck/suv rumor starts. We've been there & done that already guys.

 

[Builder]

That was 25 years ago though. Markets change. I knew a guy with a 80's mini-truck with diesel(I think Datsun...). It got amazing mileage, but was a gutless non-turbo.

In a lot of area's the US has led in technology etc over the years. It's strange though, that the rest of the world has tons of small pickups/utes with little diesels. Maybe we're missing something here?

I'm sure a medium displacement diesel would get much better mileage, and pull better, than the 4.7L gasser in her RAM-1500.

What we're missing is the burning desire other countries have for higher fuel economy vehicles combined with $5 +/ gallon fuel prices. That's why the rest of the world embraces small diesel powered vehicles, and we don't.

America is hooked on their 11MPG gas guzzling suburbans. We also have a negative perception of diesels in America. Let's face it, most of us see a diesel engine as the powerplant that makes all that black smoke in those old MACK trucks rolling down the highway. The diesel has a "dirty" image here, even when really that's really not true, especially in the new low emissions diesels.