Jeep® Cleans up at 10th Annual Carspondent.com Active Lifestyle Vehicle Awards Competition

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- 

• Jeep wins three 2013 Active Lifestyle Vehicle (ALV) awards, the most of any auto brand
• All-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee wins "Best Value On-Road"
• New 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel wins "Green" category
• 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee named "Luxury Off-Road" winner
• More than 100 athletes and outdoor enthusiasts evaluated the vehicles and voted for the winners

The all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee and the new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee – the most awarded SUV ever – continue their winning ways with three more accolades from the Active Lifestyle Vehicle (ALV) awards.

The 10^th annual Carspondent.com "Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year" awards competition took place in Chandler, Arizona, on Saturday, Oct. 19.  More than 100 athletes and outdoor enthusiasts from around the country who participate in sports such as marathon running, bicycling, soccer and kayaking, evaluated and judged new vehicles in the 10 award categories in this unique competition.

Jeep vehicles were the biggest winners in the ALV event, taking three of the 10 categories:

• Best Value On-Road (MSRP at or below $35,000) – 2014 Jeep Cherokee
• Luxury Off-Road (MSRP over $35,000 with true off-road capability) – 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Green (alternative fuel and hybrid powertrains) – Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel

"We are thrilled to have won these important Active Lifestyle Vehicle awards for the Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee," said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC.  "They are especially rewarding as Jeep vehicles more than any others represent a true active lifestyle.  The athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who served as jurors clearly recognized these Jeep vehicles as being perfect for their active lifestyles." 

The ALV awards are the only annual vehicle awards in which active, outdoor enthusiasts choose the winners, along with a small contingent of automotive journalists who accompany them in the ride-and-drive tests. Testing includes a challenging off-road course as well as on-road driving. 

"The 10th annual ALV program was our most competitive ever, with more athletes and manufacturers participating. Athletes have always responded to the Jeep brand because of the products' 'go-anywhere, do-anything' orientation," said Nina Russin, a co-founder of the Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year awards. "In addition, clean diesel technology has made the Jeep Grand Cherokee more environmentally friendly. As athletes, we are all mindful of preserving the planet for future generations." 

The ALV awards were co-founded by Bob Babbitt, a member of the Ironman Hall of Fame, and Jim Woodman, longtime journalist, triathlete and founder of Active.com as well as Nina Russin, longtime distance runner and auto journalist.

All-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee
There is a new king of the hill in the mid-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV) segment: the all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee. The renowned Cherokee name returns to the Jeep vehicle lineup for the 2014 model year. The result - the all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee completely redefines the mid-size SUV segment, delivering legendary Jeep 4x4 capability, a segment-first nine-speed automatic transmission, fuel economy improvements of more than 45 percent (versus the outgoing Liberty model), superior on-road ride and handling, a modern, revolutionary design, world-class craftsmanship, class-exclusive technology and more than 70 advanced safety and security features. The Jeep Cherokee is set to delight consumers both on the road and on the trail.

Powered by two new engines, three innovative new 4x4 systems that feature the first use of a fully-automated disconnecting rear axle, the Jeep Cherokee revolutionizes the mid-size SUV segment. The Cherokee delivers leading-edge technology customers will value, world-class craftsmanship and clever features like the available 8.4-inch touch screen media center, the seven-inch full color instrument cluster display, inventive storage solutions and cargo flexibility not found elsewhere in the segment with the Jeep Cargo Management system.

The all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee is available in four different models in the United States: Cherokee Sport, Cherokee Latitude, Cherokee Limited and Cherokee Trailhawk, and has a starting U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $22,995 (excluding $995 destination).  

2014 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.

Legendary Jeep capability comes courtesy of three 4x4 systems, Jeep's Quadra-Lift air suspension, Selec-Terrain traction management and an improved crawl ratio of 44.1:1.

A refined exterior design - complete with signature LED running lamps - provides a premium appearance. Premium interior amenities include Natura leather, exotic open-pore wood and new color offerings. The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee is available in four trim levels, including the new top-line Summit, with pricing starting at $29,790.

SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC