Jeep® Grand Cherokee, Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Challenger Win AutoPacific 2013 Best-In-Class Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

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Jun 11, 2013, 09:00 ET

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The automotive research group AutoPacific has for the third year in a row named the Jeep® Grand Cherokee Best-In-Class Mid-Size SUV in its 17th-annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA).

In addition, for the second time in the last three years, AutoPacific named the Chrysler Town & Country Best-In-Class Minivan, while the Dodge Challenger tied for Best-In-Class Sporty Car. It was the Challenger's first VSA.

"Having three Chrysler Group vehicles earn Best-In-Class Vehicle Satisfaction Awards from AutoPacific is a terrific honor," said Reid Bigland, Chrysler Group's Head of U.S. Sales. "It's even more meaningful to us as these awards represent the voice of our customers, who continue to acknowledge the quality of and satisfaction with our vehicles."

AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Awards objectively measure owner satisfaction with 51 vehicle attributes ranging from interior comfort and convenience to fuel economy and performance.

"Vehicles that score highest in the Vehicle Satisfaction Awards are delivering value and satisfaction across a wide range of attributes," says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. "The winners perform well in 51 separate categories that objectively measure the ownership experience."

An industry benchmark for measuring how satisfied an owner is with his/her new vehicle, AutoPacific's VSA are based on the results of responses from over 52,000 new vehicle owners.

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.

2013 Chrysler Town & Country

Chrysler Town & Country is the Most Awarded Minivan, with the highest owner loyalty in the segment, and the most innovative seating and storage system with Standard Stow 'n Go Seats. Town & Country's award-winning powertrain delivers best-in-class horsepower without sacrificing fuel efficiency. The 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine is a two-time "Ward's 10 Best Engine" winner and produces 283 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. The V-6 is mated to the 62TE six-speed automatic transmission. A fuel economizer mode helps the driver maximize fuel efficiency, and premium, lower-rolling-resistance tires, and low-drag brake calipers and rear bearings make great fuel economy possible. Town & Country achieves 17 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city, 25 on the highway.

The 2013 Chrysler Town & Country is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick and offers over 40 available safety, security and technology features, providing customers the safety they expect to ensure peace of mind when traveling. Standard safety features include ParkView rear back up camera, front seat-mounted air bags, a driver-side inflatable knee blocker, advanced multi-stage driver and front passenger air bags, side-curtain air bags for all three rows, and electronic stability control, including Brake Assist and all-speed traction control. Optional on Touring and standard on Touring L and Limited models is the SafetyTec Group consisting of rain-sensitive windshield wipers, Smartbeam headlamps, ParkSense rear park assist system, Blind-spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection.

Town & Country's latest minivan innovation is the new dual-screen Blu-ray DVD rear-seat entertainment system; a system that plays both Blu-ray and standard DVDs, and has High Definition Media Input (HDMI) connectivity and standard higher-resolution second-row and third-row screens.

Dodge Challenger

The 2013 Dodge Challenger delivers a powerful and efficient engine lineup, maximum grip with a performance suspension design and athletic styling — all executed with quality and precision. It's unlike any other car in the way that it allows customers to customize their classic American muscle car.

The 2013 Dodge Challenger combines world-class ride, refinement and braking performance with more power and a track-tuned suspension to deliver a thrilling driving experience. With its award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine producing 305 horsepower, the 2013 Dodge Challenger is the most powerful, refined and technologically advanced entry-level Challenger ever. And to top it off, it gets 27 mpg on the highway and comfortably seats five. The Challenger R/T features a standard HEMI V-8, delivers 375 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. of torque and an impressive 25 mpg highway.

For 2013, Dodge turns up the heat with the Challenger Rallye Redline with unique red-hot exterior accents, 305 horsepower, black chrome 20-inch wheels with a Redline Red accent, performance suspension and brakes and 3.06 rear-axle ratio. Challenger also features an enhanced Uconnect 430N handsfree communications system and an improved Garmin navigation.

Also new for 2013 is a new ParkSense rear park assist system, standard on SXT Plus, Rallye Redline, R/T Plus and R/T Classic and available on SXT and R/T models. Radar Red Leather seating is also now available at no charge on SXT Plus, R/T Plus and R/T Classic to allow further personalization of this driving machine.

About Chrysler Group LLC
Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 to establish a global strategic alliance with Fiat S.p.A., produces Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge, Ram, Mopar®, SRT and Fiat vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler Group's culture of innovation, first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925, and Fiat's complementary technology that dates back to its founding in 1899.

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group's product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300 and Town & Country, Jeep Wrangler, all-new Dodge Dart, Ram 1500, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and Fiat 500. Fiat contributes world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-size cars, allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.