2014 Jeep® Grand Cherokee and 2014 Ram 1500 Earn SUV and Pickup Truck Of The Year awards from Autobytel.com

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Autobytel.com has named the 2014 Jeep® Grand Cherokee "SUV of the Year," while the 2014 Ram 1500 won the "Pickup Truck of the Year" award.

"For 2014, the Jeep Grand Cherokee embodies a readiness to head off into the hills as an affordable family hauler wrapped around class-leading interiors chockfull of the safety, technology and comfort features that set the Grand Cherokee at the top of the heap," said Michelle Naranjo, editor-in-chief, Autobytel. "For the second year in a row, the award winning Ram 1500 continues to bring fuel efficiency and tech in a bold package to the value shoppers and accomplishment seekers who want to get the job done right."

The Jeep Grand Cherokee was praised for its extensive model lineup, refinement and legendary off-road capability, while the Ram 1500 was praised for its new EcoDiesel V-6 engine, new eight-speed automatic transmission and standard rear coil suspension.

"Receiving these two awards from Autobytel for the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 is a great honor," said Doug Betts, Senior Vice President – Quality, Chrysler Group LLC. "Our extensive efforts to build world-class vehicles are resonating in the marketplace, and these awards from Autobytel validate this to our customers."

The editorial group at Autobytel.com has more than 80 years of experience and has driven hundreds of vehicles. This year's "Car and Truck of the Year" winners were chosen based on innovation, design and features.

Autobytel is dedicated to helping consumers research and find the information they need to purchase new and used cars and connect to dealers online.

Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee completely redefines the premium SUV, delivering an unprecedented combination of best-in-class fuel economy and driving range, available clean-diesel technology, legendary benchmark capability, world-class craftsmanship, and a host of advanced user-friendly technology and safety features. For 2014, Grand Cherokee offers a new EcoDiesel engine with best-in-class 30 mpg highway and an unmatched driving range of more than 730 miles.  A new eight-speed transmission drives all Grand Cherokee engines, including the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 - achieving up to 25 mpg and more than 600 miles driving range - and the 5.7-liter V-8, now achieving up to 22 mpg.

Ram 1500
Ram 1500 - the most recognizable pickup on the road - delivers best-in-class fuel economy of 18 MPG city and 25 MPG highway with a truckload of pioneering, fuel-saving systems including a fuel efficient and powerful 3.6-liter V-6 engine and first-in-segment technologies: TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission, stop-start system, thermal management system, pulse-width modulation and active aerodynamics, including grille shutters and air suspension. For 2014, the Ram 1500 offers a new, 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine that delivers an outstanding combination of best-in-class fuel efficiency - greater than 25 mile per gallon (mpg) - unsurpassed torque and up to 9,200 pounds of towing capability.

About Jeep Brand
Built on more than 70 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.

The Jeep vehicle lineup consists of the Cherokee, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Patriot, Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. To meet consumer demand around the world, all Jeep models sold outside North America are available in both left and right-hand drive configurations and with gasoline and diesel powertrain options. Chrysler Group LLC products are available in more than 150 countries around the world.

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SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC