Experts and a family of four representing the average mid-size SUV buyer have named the new 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee as the winner of the 2013 Car.com/USA Today Midsize SUV Challenge.

The experts were from media outlets Car.com, USA Today and Motorweek and together they judged the vehicle for fuel efficiency, practicality, driving ability, comfort and features.

“Winning this award is especially gratifying since the judges included a typical family of four, in addition to experts from three prestigious media outlets,” said Jack Rodencal, managing director of Chrysler Group Middle East.

“We are delighted that the judges recognised the improvements we’ve made to the Jeep Grand Cherokee that make it even better. No other SUV offers Grand Cherokee’s combination of legendary Jeep 4x4 capability, fuel economy, advanced user-friendly technology, world-class craftsmanship and on-road refinement.”

The Cars.com/USA Today Midsize SUV Challenge included 200 miles of driving on varying roads to test each SUV for real-world fuel economy; one day of round-robin driving where each expert tested each SUV on the same route back-to-back to gather impressions; and a day of family testing where a family of four evaluated each of the six SUVs for comfort, family-friendly features, styling and ride quality.

“Jeep Grand Cherokee has long been considered a true, off-roading SUV, and thanks to some serious refinement, today’s incarnation of the Grand Cherokee edges out the other, very worthy, midsize SUV options available to shoppers thanks to its luxurious interior, impressive multimedia system and overall driving capability,” said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com’s editor-in-chief. - TradeArabia News Service