JPFreek - Index

JPFreek - magazine - Index

Jeep® Compass & Patriot Trek Across Europe in Fuel
Economy Challenge
Courtesy of Chrysler Media Services
John and Helen Taylor, fuel economy enthusiasts, drove a Jeep ®
Compass and a Jeep Patriot, both standard production vehicles equipped
with 2.0-litre turbo diesel engines and carrying two people and their
luggage, from London to Berlin on less than a single tank of fuel each –
an unmatched achievement among SUVs.
“This new achievement helps to establish Jeep Compass and Patriot as
industry leaders and proves that it is possible to offer global customers
fuel efficiency and capability in the same package,” Jim Press, Vice
Chairman and President, Chrysler LLC said. “Jeep offers a full line of
vehicles powered by efficient diesel engines and we are committed to
furthering our efforts to reduce fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions. In
fact, at the new Chrysler, we are redesigning our business model with a
greater emphasis on fuel-efficient products with features that the
customers want and need.”
The husband and wife team of John and Helen Taylor first drove the
Jeep Compass and Patriot 1059 km (658 miles) between the two European capitals. Upon arrival in Berlin, there was sufficient fuel
remaining in both vehicles for them to continue the journey, crossing the border into Poland. In total, they travelled a total distance
of 1124.1 kilometers (698.4 miles) on their way to achieving their record.
During the 21-hour drive, passing through six countries, Helen Taylor with Miss Nina Domberger, of Munich, Germany, as passenger,
achieved a fuel consumption figure of 4.25 L/100 km (66.76 mpg) driving the Jeep Compass. John Taylor, performed even better,
achieving a fuel consumption figure of 4.18 L/100 km (67.46 mpg) in a Jeep Patriot.
The Taylors were observed during their marathon drive by an independent scrutineer, Police Constable Stephen Driver, of the UK’s
West Midlands Police Force. PC Driver, who travelled as the passenger in the Patriot, ensured that the fuel tanks of both vehicles
were sealed at the start of the journey and verified the odometer readings and all fuelling procedures at the start and conclusion of
the challenge.
“We already knew that the Compass and Patriot were among the most economical of all SUVs, but we were amazed by the fuel
efficiency that these two vehicles were capable of during this drive,” commented John Taylor.
“We drove on normal roads at realistic speeds with two people and their luggage on board and the traffic and weather conditions
weren’t favorable at all – cold with many traffic jams,” he said. “We used simple fuel economy driving techniques that any driver
could replicate.”
His wife Helen added, “This record achievement challenges the myth that all SUVs are gas guzzlers. We’ve proven, in everyday
driving conditions just how fuel efficient these two Jeep SUVs can be.”