Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler named 2012 Active Lifestyle Vehicles

A group of automotive journalists and elite athletes from a variety of sports gathered in Phoenix last week to choose the Active Lifestyle Vehicle (ALV) winners for 2012. The new 2012 Jeep Wrangler captured the “Best Value Off-Road” award, while the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee earned top honors in the “Luxury Off-Road” category.

“Both the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee beat out vehicles which had dominated their competitive segments for multiple seasons,” said Nina Russin, automotive journalist and ALV program founder. “The new, more powerful engine and the reconfigured cargo area make the Wrangler a very easy vehicle to live with on a daily basis, as well as a great choice for outdoor enthusiasts who like to get off the grid on the weekends.

“The tremendous improvements to the interior of the Grand Cherokee in terms of design, fit and finish, as well as the new engine were in my opinion both game changers. And of course, the Grand Cherokee remains capable of navigating the most extreme off-road trails,” Russin added.

The ALV evaluations took into consideration overall vehicle design, engine power, fuel efficiency, and cargo capability. In the final tally, the athletes’ votes and those of the journalist jury panel each accounted for 50 percent.

“Jeep vehicles offer the perfect blend of fun, performance and capability – and are built for any adventure – so Grand Cherokee and Wrangler were right at home in this unique competition,” said Mike Manley, Jeep brand CEO. “We are delighted to have earned awards in both the Value and Luxury categories with the two pillars of the Jeep brand.”