Jeep Wins Five Awards at the Texas Auto Writers Association’s 2014 Truck Rodeo, including SUV of Texas
“Let’s go beat on it!” That’s what one of Jeep’s reps, Scott, said to me when I told him I was interested in driving the 2015 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock. It was the last day of the Texas Auto Writers Association’s annual Truck Rodeo and I had to evaluate/vote on vehicles to help determine which ones would take first place in a variety of categories and which rig would be named the SUV of Texas. In order to know which of them were worthy of getting my thumbs up, I had to rough them up a little. Knibbe Ranch in Spring Branch, Texas contained a short course that allowed me to do that.
In two-wheel drive, we charged through a shallow stream, making a splash as big as the smile that spread across my face. I opened up the 3.6-liter V6 on a flat grassy field so we could get to more challenging terrain as soon as possible. A few seconds later, my passenger and I easily climbed a muddy uphill stretch rutted by the tires of Yukon Denalis and Ford F-150s the day before.
We soon approached an incline formed by intimidatingly large chunks of rock. If we veered left, the ride up would be easier and smoother. If we tackled it head-on, things would be livelier. Although I knew the Jeep wouldn’t break a sweat getting to the top without being in four-wheel drive, I also knew it was my job to experience everything the Wrangler had to offer. Scott showed me exactly what to do. I threw the five-speed automatic into neutral, manhandled the Rock-Trac transfer case’s lever into low range, and pressed the appropriate buttons to the left of the steering wheel to lock the front and rear Dana 44s and disconnect the sway bars.
We bounced and shook in our seats the entire way straight to the top. Not once did we have to reverse and change our line of attack. The Wrangler just crushed nature with the might of its mechanical will. It wasn’t even fair. The vehicle was laughably overqualified for the job it had to do. Had we been in tougher country, the Jeep still would have been prepared. It’s “Trail Rated” and comes with aggressive BFGoodrich KM 255/75R17 rubber and factory rock rails. Its front bumper’s end caps are removable to aid in getting through tight spots. Despite my tester’s leather seats and navigation system, it still looked as though it were the perfect rig in which to enjoy the simple pleasures of the outdoors. The roof panels above me were removable, the doors had a minimum of electronics to make taking them off easier, the windshield could’ve been folded down, and the nine-speaker Premium Alpine audio system’s subwoofer was waterproof.
Later that afternoon, I drove the first of a pair of Grand Cherokees: a four-wheel-drive Overland with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. Of course, I took it through the off-road section – as Collin Shaw, Grand Cherokee brand manager, rode shotgun. (He’s pictured below accepting one of five trophies from Michael Marrs, TAWA president, on behalf of Jeep.) I also drove it out on the roads beyond the ranch, where I discovered the engine’s 290 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque was the perfect amount of power for the 4,984-pound curb weight it had to move. The vehicle didn’t feel like an SRT, but it also didn’t feel like a tired dog. I was long before sold on the exterior’s handsome lines, tasteful chrome accents, and rich Deep Cherry Red paint. I was almost as pleased with the interior. While I appreciated the wood-grain top section of the steering wheel, it was obnoxiously thick. Also, putting the shifter for the eight-speed automatic into the right gear on the first attempt was a tricky and unintuitive process.
One of the last vehicles I drove at the rodeo was the Grand Cherokee Summit with the 3-liter EcoDiesel V6. For months, I had heard many great things about the engine without getting a chance to experience it for myself. I’m happy to report that it was worth the wait. A subdued diesel clatter was the only indication that I was behind the wheel of an oil-burner. The six behaved more like a gas motor. It was so willing to rev and delivered its 240/420 nice and low in the rev range. I was stunned.
Every time I returned to the vehicle lot, I passed a Renegade Trailhawk on display. My fellow writers and I were able to drive dozens of trucks and SUVs, but not that one. The Cherokee Trailhawk, on the other hand, was constantly on the move. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to take it out. However, some of my colleagues in the TAWA did, and they voted it the best of the Compact SUV segment. The Grand Cherokee Overland beat out a domestic competitor to be the top midsize SUV. Although I had only previously tested one of the Summit EcoDiesel’s two rivals, I was confident it would take home the trophy for midsize Luxury SUV — and I was proven right.
Jeep brought two Wranglers, the Willys Wheeler and the Hard Rock, to the contest. My fellow writers and I voted the Wrangler (as one vehicle) a better off-road utility vehicle than a certain Japanese challenger.
The field of contestants for the most coveted title (for a sport-utility vehicle) of awards night was much broader. Sixteen vehicles from 11 manufacturers received votes. Ultimately, the GC (regardless of trim) racked up the most. As a result, the Jeep Grand Cherokee was named the Texas Auto Writers Association’s SUV of Texas for the fifth year in a row. It may have been crowned at the Truck Rodeo, but it made it clear that we Texans sure love Jeeps, too.
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via [Texas Auto Writers Association], [Chrysler], and [Jeep] || Most photos via [Raven Studios Photography]
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