Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango Win SUV and Full-Size SUV of Texas Awards
During its annual Truck Rodeo in the city of San Antonio, the Texas Auto Writers’ Association, one of the largest such organizations in the country, declared two Chrysler products as winners in the SUV category.
The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, earned the prestigious title of “SUV of Texas,” while the bigger Dodge Durango garnered the “Full-size SUV of Texas” award.
For the Grand Cherokee, this represents the second year in a row that it has won the SUV of Texas title, the 57 journalists present at the rodeo deciding that among the vehicles tested in the category, the GC was the most worthy.
The award adds to a growing list of accolades, which currently makes the Jeep Grand Cherokee the most awarded SUV in history. Besides winning the SUV category overall, the new Overland Summit model also won the “Luxury SUV of Texas” accolade.
Mike Herzig, TAWA’s president declared that the “[Jeep Grand Cherokee] has once again demonstrated its superior levels of performance, quality, interior craftsmanship, and reliability that make it an award-winning SUV; Grand Cherokee is a tremendous value for consumers, and is clearly the ‘SUV of Texas.”
His words certainly seem to resonate with residents of the Lone Star State, for the current Grand Cherokee (introduced as a 2011 model), has seen sales increase by some 200 percent through September this year.
Besides the Grand Cherokee, another Jeep vehicle came home with an award, the 3.6-liter engined 2012 Wrangler Unlimited, which garnered “Mid-Size SUV of Texas” honors.
As for the Durango, it apparently made quite a splash at this year’s TAWA two-day evaluation, drawing favorable opinions for its seven-passenger seating, towing capability and more than 550 mile driving range among other things.
The 2012 Dodge Durango made quite an impression at this year’s TAWA Truck Rodeo,” said Mike Herzing, president of TAWA. “With its spacious and refined interior, impressive driving dynamics, and class-leading towing capability, it’s only fitting that the Dodge Durango is named the 2012 Full-Size SUV of Texas.”
Reid Bigland, the CEO of Dodge Brand, on hearing the news, remarked that, “it’s always an honor when opinion-leading journalists recognize the tremendous capability, style and value we’re offering with our all-new lineup of Dodge vehicles. The Dodge Durango offers a true no-compromise solution, blending capability and refinement into one stylish SUV.”
More by Huw Evans
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