With trucks, diesels are marveled at not for their speed and acceleration, but for their practical uses in hauling and towing. Jeep has long

The CRD is able to tow a class-leading 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs), more than any other compact sport utility vehicle on the market. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

fitted its Austrian-build Grand Cherokees with diesels for this very reason, not to mention helping owners ease their nightmarish fuel bills. As with the V6, the CRD is able to tow a class-leading 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs), more than any other compact sport utility vehicle on the market. But even if performance isn't first on Jeep's priorities, it can easily fend for itself on the open road. The diesel can scoot to 100 km/h as quickly as an automatic-equipped V6 model - somewhere in the 10 second range which is about average among compact SUVs. Passing is far more impressive and surprisingly easy: depress the gas to call up turbo boost and peak torque,

Likely to turn heads is the engine's clattery noise, one of the biggest issues which most people will have against the CRD motor. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

available from just 1,800 rpm - the CRD engine piles on speed quite quickly, which is certain to turn a few heads.

Equally likely to turn heads is the engine's clattery noise, one of the biggest issues which most people will have against the CRD motor. While most modern diesels are refined enough to make you forget about the fuel type difference under most conditions, the Liberty's beefy CRD is more reminiscent of chattery early model diesels. At stop lights, people will look over wondering if there's more fire-engine to this little 'ute than just its blaze-red paint. It chugs away with a characteristic rattly diesel noise. Letting off the gas, you get an earful of sounds that only a diesel could make, all of which vary in pitch and tone depending on the angle of the gas pedal. You also hear the turbo's hiss and whoosh when letting go of the gas. Surprisingly, the faster you go, the quieter it gets, becoming as refined as the gas motor at highway speeds. It's a bit of an antithesis considering SUVs and speed don't mix.