John and Helen Taylor, Australian 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.

"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 CO2 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 1,059 kms 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 1,124.1 kilometres on their way to achieving their record.

During the 21-hour drive, passing through six countries, Helen Taylor with Nina Domberger, of Munich, Germany, as passenger, achieved a fuel consumption figure of 4.25 L/100 km driving the Jeep Compass. John Taylor, performed even better, achieving a fuel consumption figure of 4.18 L/100 km 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. (That's correct, the passenger was a driver. Editor) 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 favourable 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.”

The Jeep Compass and Patriot have already been praised by the media for their fuel efficiency. 4X4 & MPV Driver Magazine in the UK ranked Jeep ahead of all other manufacturers of 4x4s and SUVs by presenting the brand with a Gold Award in its 2007 Green Awards scheme.

The publication praised the Jeep Compass and Patriot for being “the most economical 4x4s ever to wear the Jeep badge” and for being the least polluting with their CO2 emissions.

About the Jeep Brand

The Jeep brand led Chrysler LLC sales outside North America in 2007, accounting for 41 per cent of total sales. Jeep sales grew 13 per cent for the year, fueled by strong demand for new models such as Jeep Wrangler and Compass.