Seems like you really have already made your choice since you did not go right into another Touareg. Very Sad. Haha

 

I haven't had a chance to drive the JGC crd. But when I did my research, the fuel mileage of that and the dodge ram 1500 crd. Just didn't come close to the Touareg TDI realworld fuel mileage numbers. They look like nice vehicles but for me highway mileage is the #1 selling point for me as I drive over 60,000km/yr.
I drive by 11 dodge dealerships and 175miles to get to a VW dealership. I honestly hate how for the last two decades, dodge will screw over the customer at any chance. Where as VW has gone out if their way to treat my really well.

What else do you like over the R-line? I am comparing to a '12 Exec.

 

I recently compared JGC vs TReg (not diesel) and felt that the JGC was noiser (road/wind noise) and it handled much more like a truck - even WITH the air suspension. After looking at several different options I decided to get a TReg Exec. I was NOT expecting it to work out that way but I'm very happy with my decision.

It looks like you put a lot of miles on it, choose the one you have the most fun driving. Good luck with your decision!

 

I test drove the JGC couple of times when the new body came out in 2011 and recently. It definitely drives more like a truck, it has a lot of features for the money but two concerns for me would be dealer support or lack of and reliability. Just hop over to the jeep forums and you will see new posts being created everyday with someone having a different problem.

 

I've learned from buying cars and bikes over the years that comparisons on paper (or Internet) are relatively meaningless when compared with actually seeing and driving the vehicle(s) in question.

I've driven a few vehicles that look great on paper and look and feel like cheap POS in real life. The JGC was one of them.

Touareg scores high here. Fit and finish are very solid. Design is not tacky. Drive feel is great.

Try both before making a choice.

Jason

 

For some drivers, handling more like a truck could be a good thing (to a certain point)...for a driver that usually drives pickups, would make the vehicle more predictable for their driving style.

For most if us we want the superb handling characteristics of the Treg.

 

If you aren't going to be off-roading, then definitely the Touareg is a better driving/handling vehicle.
If going off-road is a significant need, then don't get a T3. They aren't like the T1 with air suspension and lockers. You can get that on a Jeep GC.
Touareg still tows more though.

Other than the obvious big differences I mentioned, they can be equiped almost identically as far as features.

Drive them (20 minutes should be enough).

 

The one thing that pushes me away from jeep is their bankruptcy....they needed another company to bail them out and sure it looks good on the surface, its whats underneath that scares me. Also they just began using a crap load of new technologies such as air suspension, cooled seats, heated steering wheel....etc and not to mention their very iffy new transmission and a Mercedes suspension.....it seems like too much at the same time. How can a bankrupt company offer 10X the feature content and use high quality materials all at the same time...something has to give somewhere.

 

agree... agree... agree.....

however... I will add that my daily driver for the most part is a 98 Jeep Cherokee sport.... its beat to hell but I don't care where I park it a wally world, don't worry so much about idiots hitting me in the local shopping districts.... its been paid off for like 6 or 7 years. My treg goes out on the weekend or trips.

 

My Touareg TDI is a month old & loving it. Last fall, when the JGC diesel came out, I drove it & loved it & I was torn. Then I read the Edmunds comments from owners & thought better. Multiple complaints RE transmission. They might have gotten it worked out by now, maybe just the 1st batch off the line. Best of luck with your decision.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Consumer Reviews

 

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit EcoDiesel 4X4 vs. 2013 Volkswagen Touareg TDI, 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTec 4MATIC, 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel, 2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d – Comparison Test – Car and Driver

 

I believe the Italians did buy the American diesel manufacturing rights to the engine, and it sits on the old German MB ML platform until the next body style. And Fiats are flying off the shelf globally, or is it they are just sitting on the shelf globally? :-k

What could go wrong?

 

I believe the Italians did buy the American diesel manufacturing rights to the engine, and it sits on the old German MB ML platform until the next body style. And Fiats are flying off the shelf globally, or is it they are just sitting on the shelf globally? :-k What could go wrong?

The thing that i don't quite get is how you can take something so smooth riding like an ML and turn it into something so harsh and truck like. It just seems like such a mismatch to take a platform never intended for use off road, off road, and then stick a bunch of technologies that weren't intended for the platform by the Mercedes engineers......its just a very complicated set up.

 

I own a 13 T3 LUX - IMO, it a vastlty superior vehicle to the Jeep. The Jeep "looks" like it would be great with all of the options and features but the heart of the Jeep is unfortunately just "so so" in quality and what people are describing "truck like" in handling I find simply a mediocre and somewhat crude handling chassis - it "gets around" rather than offering the driver an awesome driving experience.

The R-Line's handling (via test drive I took 4 months back) is identical to the T3 LUX except it is firmer with quicker and tighter turn in - it has the same vault like solid feeling as the other TREGS, it just has a stiffer suspension, which I for one, really liked. A T3 R-Line is an elegantly designed vehicle. The diesel Jeep, although it probably does better off road, leaves much lacking compared to the T3 in every other category of comparison (which I could list but I won't).

 

thanks to all for you opinions. Just picked up 2014 Treg R-Line TDI. Going to pass my 04 on to son, but I can honestly say that V8 was a very fun vehicle to drive. The diesel has pep, lacks the nice engine sound of the V8 and isn't as quick. Huge improvement in mileage and nice, quietly stated interior features.

 

Congrats. Loved my V8, too. Love my TDI more.