Select 2015 Chrysler 200, Jeep Cherokee Models To Receive Stop-Start

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

A select group of 2015 Chrysler 200s and Jeep Cherokees will enter showrooms with stop-start technology on-board later this year.

Automotive News reports Chrysler Group will install the tech in Cherokees equipped with its 3.2-liter V6 in Q3 2014, while 200s with the 2.4-liter I4 will receive it in Q4 2014. Cherokees with the 2.4 and 200s with the 3.6 V6 will not have stop-start aboard.

With stop-start, the Cherokee will net 19 mpg in the city at its most fuel-efficient configuration. The 200 fares slightly better at 23 mpg for its most efficient model.

Both the sedan and crossover share the same platform and a number of components, including Chrysler’s new nine-speed automatic transmission.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • DrGastro997 DrGastro997 on Jun 25, 2014

    I've noticed the start-stop being widely used in Japan for almost 20 years. There are street signs encouraging taxis, cars, buses, and motorcycles to shut it down when sitting idle. I don't like it at all, so far. If it's a seamless transition then fine. The only car I drove that felt seamless was the Prius. The BMW 3-series wasn't seamless at all. It was rough stopping and restarting. I wonder what stress it puts on an engine.

  • Brandloyalty Brandloyalty on Jun 25, 2014

    There are thousands of Ford Escape Hybrids in service as taxis in major US cities. They're run for 300,000 miles or so, and are retired due to regulations, not because they're clapped out. I've heard of no reports of problems due to stop/start, and surely taxis in big cities would be doing this hundreds of times a day. That's as far as the ICE goes. Hybrids do use one of their electric motors and the big hybrid battery as a starting system, so I trust these non-hybrids with stop/start will have durable starters. And a good charging system for cold weather.

  • HotPotato HotPotato on Jun 26, 2014

    The biggest benefit may be refinement. The 2.5 liter 4-cyl in my rental Fusion, only one year old, had a noticeable amount of engine vibration at a stop. I shudder to think (teehee) what it would be like when the engine mounts start to wear out. And I suspect it's the same story for all these midsize family sedans powered by mammoth 2.4, 2.5 liter Fours. Of course, this assumes that the start-stop feature works smoothly. Hybrids like the Prius and C-Max do it seamlessly; some ICE-only cars not so much.

    • Danio3834 Danio3834 on Jun 26, 2014

      What's neat about the system when used with the MultiAir engine, is the valves can be commanded to reduce the effective compression ratio during cranking to make for smoother starts.

  • Shaker Shaker on Jun 26, 2014

    Hopefully soon, all cars will be some level of hybrid - at the lowest level using regen to restart the engine using a "pancake" motor and small supercapacitor/battery combo. That would save many millions of gallons per year, and the costs would be quickly recovered. The pancake motor wouldn't require the typical starter gearing and subsequent wear issues.

    • See 2 previous
    • INeon INeon on Jun 26, 2014

      @shaker D'oh! I knew that! Having stopped correcting everyone that thinks 'motor' and 'engine' are the same-- I've allowed my mind to relent that they are!

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