2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk First Gas-Powered American-Made Vehicle to Qualify for Japan Eco-Car Tax Incentive
The Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk has earned Japan’s eco-friendly tax incentive
The Jeep brand isn’t typically synonymous with eco-friendly. Off-road ready? Yes. Ruggedly handsome? I’m pretty sure I’ve used that term more in describing Jeep than I have checking out a hot lumberjack. But eco-friendly? Yeah, not likely.
But it looks like that might be changing—at least, in Japan. The 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk recently became the first gas-powered, American-made, American-brand passenger vehicle to qualify for Japan’s Eco-Car tax incentive when equipped with the 3.2-liter Pentastar V6.
“At Jeep, we don’t sacrifice operating efficiency for capability,” says Mike Manley, Head of Jeep Brand and Global Lead Executive for International Operations.”This achievement vindicates our efforts to deliver products that resonate in a highly complex industry climate.”
The Japanese tax incentive allows consumers who purchase a vehicle that meets fuel-efficiency and emissions-level requirements to receive a ¥58,000 (the equivalent of about $530 US) tax break. With a fuel-efficiency rating of 10.3 km/L (about 24 miles per gallon) in Japan, the Cherokee Trailhawk easily meets the fuel rating requirement of the incentive. Add its 4-Star emissions rating, and you have a Jeep that is now considered so fuel-efficient, you get to save money.
To help reduce emissions, the 3.2-liter Pentastar engine has two mini-oxidation, three-way catalytic converters and four heated oxygen sensors. It also has a standard stop-start functionality, which shuts the engine off whenever the vehicle comes to a complete stop.
Along with this milestone, the Jeep Cherokee was also the first-ever American vehicle to be listed among the 10 best cars in the 2014-2015 Japan Car of the Year award. Obviously, Japan loves Jeep just as much as we do.
A born-and-raised Jersey girl, Caitlin Moran has somehow found herself settled in Edinburgh, Scotland. When she’s not spending her days trying to remember which side of the road to drive on, Caitlin enjoys getting down and nerdy with English. She continues to combine her love of writing with her love of cars for The News Wheel, while also learning more about the European car market—including the fact that the Seat brand is pronounced “se-at” not “seat” as you might think. See more articles by Caitlin.