Jeeps, Durango dominate TAWA SUV awards

Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) Fall Truck Rodeo is over, the votes have been counted and the results are in: Chrysler Group vehicles took top honors in four “SUV of Texas” categories, including a second consecutive “SUV of Texas” for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the most-awarded sport-utility vehicle in history.

In addition to the overall category award, the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited was named “Mid-Size SUV of Texas” and the Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit beat several premium competitors to be selected as the “Luxury SUV of Texas.”

“Jeep Grand Cherokee has once again demonstrated its superior levels of performance, quality, interior craftsmanship, and reliability that make it an award-winning SUV,” said Mike Herzing, TAWA President. “Grand Cherokee is a tremendous value for consumers, and is clearly the ‘SUV of Texas.’”

“We are delighted that the influential journalists representing the Texas Auto Writers Association have once again recognized Jeep vehicles with several awards, and particularly the Jeep Grand Cherokee as the ‘SUV of Texas,’” said Jeep brand CEO Mike Manley. “Winning this award last year started a string of Grand Cherokee accolades that made it the most-awarded SUV of all-time. More importantly, we know that these TAWA awards translate directly into sales. Through September of this year, Grand Cherokee sales are up 78 percent in the U.S. In the same time period in Texas, sales are up nearly 200 percent.

“We thank the TAWA journalists for recognizing that Jeep is providing consumers a lineup of SUVs that deliver an unmatched combination of capability, refinement, craftsmanship and value,” Manley added.

Jeep wasn’t the only Chrysler brand to beat the competition; the Dodge Durango was chosen as the “Full-Size SUV of Texas.”

“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.”

“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,” said Reid Bigland, CEO of the Dodge brand. “With Durango’s standard seven-passenger seating, class-leading towing capacity and driving range, the Dodge Durango offers a true no-compromise solution, blending capability and refinement into one stylish SUV.”

Fifty-seven TAWA members spent two days evaluating a wide range of vehicles both on- and off-road, judging them on everything from exterior styling and off-road capability, to the vehicles’ overall utility, value and fuel efficiency.

Earlier this year, the Dodge Journey was named “Family Car of Texas.”