2001 Jeep® Grand Cherokee Laredo

Photo: DaimlerChrysler

Auburn Hills, Mich. - The Chrysler Group announced that its 2001 Jeep® Grand Cherokee has won one of the most prestigious awards in the popular sport-utility vehicle market segment, 4-Wheel & Off-Road's "4x4 of the Year" award.

"The 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee is designed, engineered and built upon the combination of heritage and capability that has made the Jeep brand the most highly regarded name in the sport-utility segment," said Tom Marinelli, Vice President, Chrysler/Jeep Division Global Brand Center, DaimlerChrysler Corporation.

This is the eighth time a Jeep vehicle has been awarded Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road's "4x4 of the Year" -- more than any other manufacturer.

Initiated in 1983, the 4-Wheel & Off-Road's "4x4 of the Year" competition is open to all four-wheel drive vehicles with significant updates and performance differences from the previous year. The vehicles are tested for a full month, both in various on-road conditions and in severe off-road use. Vehicles are evaluated and scored on ride & drive, as well as empirical, mechanical, interior and exterior measurements.

The Grand Cherokee upstaged six rivals to clinch the award. The competition included the Chevrolet Silverado LT 2500HD, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac, the Ford F-150 Super Crew, the GMC Sierra 2500HD, the Mitsubishi Montero and the Nissan Frontier Crew Cab SC.

(November 21, 2000)