2.4 liter 4 cyl engines (Chattanooga, Murfreesboro: lease, buying, high school)

[vacation bound]

Okay, my great friends of the forum. I am thinking of buying a jeep vehicle with a 2.4 liter 4 cyl engine. My question is how will it do up in TN driving up and down hills and some mountain roads. (not really steep ones) Right now I drive a Ford f150 super crew and need to downsize and get better gas mileage since I make alot of trip back and forth from Florida. I have has suv's in the past but with 6 cyl engines, and I still need some cargo space to bring items back and forth. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[TomAshe]

I had two 4 cyl jeeps for the past 10 years and hated the lack of power!
I'm in western North Carolina and have the hills similar to eastern Tn.
The 4 cyl. engine is accompanied with gear ratios that cause it to eat gas!
I averaged 16-17 mpg with most of the miles on the interstate at 65 mph.
The 6 is a better choice in my opinion.

[knoxgarden]

If you're going to be using it mainly for highway driving, I'd go up to an 8 cylinder. It will get much better interstate mileage.
I've got personal experience with this. Several years ago I was doing a lot of traveling by car -- 3,000-5,000 miles a week. I had a Lincoln Mark VIII with the big V8. It would loaf along at 1200 RPMs on the Interstates and I got 25-26 miles per gallon. Even up and down hills, it would barely get up to 2,000 RPMs.
Around town, I was lucky to get 12 mpg, but that was only about 5 percent of my driving. When I stopped traveling, I traded it in -- with 200,000 miles on it and the engine still going strong.
It's about engine efficiency at high speeds and carrying heavy loads. An 8 doesn't have to work hard to maintain it's momentum and therefore uses less gas. A 4-cyl has to work hard all the way. Around town, the 8 uses more gas to get the car moving. A six is sort of in between.
Plus the 8s are a lot more fun to drive.
Look for a good deal on a Cadillac Escalade with the Northstar or a Lincoln Navigator. Both also make a real nice crossover vehicle. You can probably get a real good deal on a used one coming off lease.
The steep hills here aren't that bad, what kills cars are the long grades on the Interstates. I've driven a 4-cyl up from Chattanooga. Never again. Semis were flying by me.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by vacation bound

Okay, my great friends of the forum. I am thinking of buying a jeep vehicle with a 2.4 liter 4 cyl engine. My question is how will it do up in TN driving up and down hills and some mountain roads. (not really steep ones) Right now I drive a Ford f150 super crew and need to downsize and get better gas mileage since I make alot of trip back and forth from Florida. I have has suv's in the past but with 6 cyl engines, and I still need some cargo space to bring items back and forth. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I think a 4 cyl will be ok, but with hauling cargo as you mentioned a 6 cyl might be a better choice. My son just sold his 8 cyl Jeep Grand Cherokee as he hated the gas mileage. He did a lot of driving back and forth from Murfreesboro (interstate) but the g.m. on that vehicle still wasn't very good.

[goodbyehollywood]

I vote 6-- a 4 will be like driving a golf cart on the freeway and an 8 will guzzle the gas.

[cowhorse53]

We have 2 Honda CRVs, 2002 & 2004, 4 cyls, traveled a few times from FL to TN and more visits being planned, they are good on the highway in mpg 26-28 and power, both are EX so they have all wheel drive when needed. We have had several 4 cyl imports and they perform great! Our workhorses, F250Diesels sit in the yard unless needed to pull horse trailers, filling them w/ fuel gives me a stomach ache!

[Grizzlybear34]

The 4 cylinder Honda engine is a thing of beauty. My son owns a 92 Accord EX and it has more pep than any car we're currently driving. That being said, the Jeep engine is no Honda. I also own a Jeep Wrangler, and I wouldn't do the 4 cylinder model. The inline 6 is an excellent engine - check with you mechanic on his opinion as well.

[Beretta]

I agree Grizz on the 4 cyl Honda; they're nice. Another son has an 08 Civic and it is a really great car. That being said, when it is loaded down (and that doesn't take much - it's a small car) it does seems a bit sluggish. If he was hauling cargo back and forth from Fla I would have gotten him a 6 cyl but for going back and forth to high school and his after school job it's fine.

[vacation bound]

Thanks everyone for the responses. After the first two responses I started looking into the 6 cyl. models. Funny there are not many smaller suv's with options of 6 cyl. I did look at the Ford Escape which I can get a 6 in that. And just this morning I say a Honda cr-v in the parking lot. It looks like it would be big enough. I tell you, I have bought a couple of new vehicles and this decision has been the hardest. Looking for good gas mileage and enough room to pack things for a trip and also be able to tow a small trailer is difficult to find. I have a feeling I will end up with the Ford Escape since I can get a 3500 pound tow package on that with a 6 and 4x4 if I want.

[knoxgarden]

Originally Posted by vacation bound

Thanks everyone for the responses. After the first two responses I started looking into the 6 cyl. models. Funny there are not many smaller suv's with options of 6 cyl. I did look at the Ford Escape which I can get a 6 in that. And just this morning I say a Honda cr-v in the parking lot. It looks like it would be big enough. I tell you, I have bought a couple of new vehicles and this decision has been the hardest. Looking for good gas mileage and enough room to pack things for a trip and also be able to tow a small trailer is difficult to find. I have a feeling I will end up with the Ford Escape since I can get a 3500 pound tow package on that with a 6 and 4x4 if I want.

I've got a 2004 Escape with the 6 cyl. and 4-wheel drive that I bought used last year. I like it. get 22 mpg highway, newer ones are probably better. Comfy seats for long drives, seats are almost as good as the Saabs I had, which is saying a lot. Great visibility. Easy to get in and out of, even the back seat.
The 4X4 comes in very handy in the rain. The 6 cyl. handles the hills well and cruises fine on the interstate. Has been trouble free and I'm at 60,000 miles.
Also look at the Mazda Tribute. Same car, slightly different gearing and mechanicals.