The all-new 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee has claimed the prestigious 4x4 of the Year title in the annual test held by 4x4 Australia magazine.
The flagship model for the Jeep brand proved unbeatable against some stiff competition. New from the ground up, the Grand Cherokee set the standard with its combination of on and off-road prowess, while still providing a luxurious ride for passengers with its refined interior and amenities.
The newest entrants to the Australian 4x4 scene were pushed to the limit over four days on a range of rigorous terrains including on- and off-road, dirt roads and mountain highlands. Each vehicle was judged on the following criteria: value for money, breaking ground (technology advances), toughness, doing the job and ‘bushability’. The new Grand Cherokee was outright or equal first in four of the five categories and rated second in the fifth. With an anticipated $50,000 price tag, the Grand Cherokee Laredo V6 scored top marks for value, quoted as being “a hell of a lot of 4x4 wagon for not a lot of money. It’s high-tech, high-spec, high-end at low buck price”. The new Jeep also received the highest score on the test for breaking ground, with the all-new Pentastar V6 engine being a hit with the judges due to its smooth, quiet power delivery and excellent fuel economy. Other exciting new technology advances also impressed, such as Selec-TerrainTM system, Quadra Lift® adjustable air suspension and class leading Hill Descent Control described as being “the best HDC system we’ve tried”. The Grand Cherokee also led the field in ‘toughness’, plus scored strongly in ‘bushability’, with unibody construction and suspension that has been “beefed up to suit the more off-road lifestyle of the Jeep”. However it also set the benchmark on sealed roads. Combined with the new V6, judges were impressed, stating that “its performance makes it rewarding on-road and it works well with the stiff chassis and adjustable suspension to provide a real driver’s car”. This contributed to the Jeep also receiving the highest score for ‘doing the job’.
This Australian award is sure to be the first of many local accolades for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, having already picked up a swag of honours in its home market in the USA, where it has been on sale since mid- 2010. The announcement was made on the Today Show this morning, and all the details of the Award are available in the February issue of 4x4 Australia, on sale today. See the Nine Today Show Clip Here
http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/winner-of-4x4-of-the-year/xt0f6yn
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