Jeep Rustles Up a Herd of Awards at the TAWA’s 2015 Truck Rodeo

By Derek Shiekhi - October 13, 2015

Jeep is a brand of traditions, such as making the adventures of dreams possible and creating rugged, off-road-capable vehicles. It does those things so well that it has a tradition of winning awards for its work. Jeep recently continued that victory streak at the Texas Auto Writers Association’s 2015 Truck Rodeo at the Knibbe Ranch in Spring Branch, Texas – with one exception.

Over the course of two days, 68 other automotive journalists and I jumped in and out of nearly 90 vehicles and drove them on the roads around the ranch and (some of them) through a lengthy off-road course to determine which ones would top their respective categories and take home trophies. As you can imagine, I didn’t have time to drive every vehicle there. Unfortunately, that meant I didn’t get any seat time in the 2016 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock or the 2016 Wrangler Unlimited Sahara (the 2015 model was a delight, though). However, I tested pretty much every other Jeep available.

I started with the 2016 Cherokee Limited 4X4 with Active Drive II. Jeep Grand Cherokee Brand Manager Collin Shaw rode shotgun and the two of us splashed through a creek, tore across a field, and descended a steep slope to cross a stream on our way to an ugly bitch of a rocky uphill section. Giant chunks of limestone stuck out of the dirt randomly and chaotically, their extremities hungry for axles and suspension components. I later learned moving in an S across the terrain would smooth out the short journey. My hindsight doesn’t upset me, though. I’m glad I threw the Cherokee into low range and took on the rock climb head-on. Shaw and I were rocked and bounced around on our way to the top – and it was a pleasure. I only would’ve been annoyed had we needed to back up and try the ascent again. We didn’t. Only the Cherokee’s trim line was Limited, not its capabilities in the rough. Given how well the lux Cherokee performed, the Trailhawk version of it seemed like overkill – badass, satisfying, rock-crawling overkill.

Out on the roads surrounding Knibbe Ranch, I found the Cherokee’s (revised) nine-speed automatic to be less nervous and more composed than it was in the 2014 Latitude. The 271 horsepower and 239 pound-feet of torque from the 3.2-liter Pentastar V6 were adequate for moving the Cherokee’s 3,953-pound curb weight, although they were delivered in a long, strained groan when the right pedal was held down.

After I parked the Cherokee Limited on the field near the other Truck Rodeo entries, Shaw and I jumped into an EcoDiesel-powered 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee High Altitude. Its lack of a “Trail Rated” badge did nothing to keep it from crossing the treacherous boulder-littered stretch the Cherokee conquered. However, I did become familiar with the sound of the GC’s suspension hitting its bump stops. I would like to say I also became acquainted with its suspension’s European tuning on smooth roads, but it’s going to take more than the short amount of time I had to really get a feel for it. (I’ll be sure to let you know if I can get ahold of a High Altitude to test for a week.) Last year, I experienced the power and responsiveness of the Grand Cherokee’s available 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 for the first time. I liked that engine then and I like it now.

I’m also a fan of the Jeep Renegade, especially its Trailhawk variant. Sure, its brakes were a little grabby and jerky at low speeds, but I was able to go full-speed up the ranch’s most difficult off-road section thanks to the Selec-Terrain system’s Rock mode and the Jeep Active Drive Low 4×4 set-up’s low-range gearing. I only had to steer while going down steep grades thanks to the Trailhawk’s handy Hill Descent Control.

One thing I told Shaw and one or two of his colleagues during my evaluations is that I believe Jeep sells as many vehicles as it does because no matter which model you buy, whether it’s the Renegade or the Wrangler, you can get a simple, two-wheel-drive machine or a capable off-road monster. It’s your choice.

At the end of the second day of the Truck Rodeo, the Texas Auto Writers Association made some choices of its own. Once we had all eaten a buffet dinner of Tex-Mex, the board of directors announced the following:

-The 2015 Renegade (Trailhawk) is the TAWA’s favorite Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle*

-The 2016 Jeep Cherokee (Trailhawk and Limited) is the #1 Compact Sport Utility Vehicle

-The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee (Overland 4×4 and High Altitude) is the top Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle

-The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee (Summit 4×4) is the best Mid-Size Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle

-The 2016 Jeep Wrangler (Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock and Wrangler Sahara Unlimited) is the superior Off-Road Utility Vehicle

You might’ve noticed a major absence in the list above: the Grand Cherokee being named the SUV of Texas – for the sixth year in a row. Ultimately, it came in second to the 2016 Ford Explorer, whose new Platinum model brings Blue Oval luxury and materials in the mid-size segment to a new level.

Don’t worry, though. The next-generation Grand Cherokee might be delayed, but it’s only because, according to Shaw, Jeep wants to get it just right. Doing that seems to be yet another tradition of the company.

*The Renegade is not a CUV, but it was entered in the CUV category.