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Third Party Reviews

    Jeep® Grand Cherokee perfect blend of luxury, off-road prowess, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Oct. 21
    o The 2011 Grand Cherokee may just be the best of both worlds for Jeep®, a vehicle that blends off-road prowess with luxurious touches, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review said. The revamp it got for the 2011 model year really does make this feel like an upscale product that can compete with the best of what's out there, the paper said. And the newest version of the Grand Cherokee is easy on the eyes, ears and tush, the article said. The Grand Cherokee now features soft, rounded lines on the outside and an interior that would not seem out of place in a vehicle costing tens of thousands of dollars more, the article said.
    Three Chrysler models that stand out, Globe and Mail (Toronto), Oct. 21
    o The Globe and Mail in Toronto said three Chrysler Group vehicles stand out.
      2011 Dodge Durango: The 2011 Dodge Durango is an excellent SUV, selling for about half the price of a comparable Mercedes-Benz GL. The 2011 is refined, comfortable and pleasant to drive. The least expensive Durango has all the features and capabilities you'd expect in a rig this size and for this money. I'd put this one on my shopping list if I were looking for a large crossover SUV.
      2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8®: This is the Jeep with a 2,268-kilogram tow rating and a fire-breathing, 470-horsepower, 6.4-litre, Hemi V-8 under the hood. Here we have one fine and very fast Jeep.
      2011 Dodge Journey R/T: The improvements made to the 2011 Journey in the last year have been real and noteworthy. This five- or seven-passenger crossover is a family-friendly size and it's affordable. Dodge buffed up the 2011 Journey with a sophisticated interior and many useful features. Dollar for dollar, the R/T is the most rewarding Journey in the lineup.

    Ram creates camouflaged pickup for hunters    , USA Today, Oct. 22
    o Chrysler's Ram division is going to produce an edition of its 1500 pickup truck aimed at hunters, USA Today said. The 2012 Ram 1500 "Mossy Oak" edition will come in an olive-drab camouflage; we don't expect it will fool the deer, but at least it will let the owners' neighbors know how much they care about hunting, the paper said. Ram 1500 owner demographics illustrate a love for the outdoors: 30 percent hunt, 44 percent fish, 27 percent are boaters and 42 percent are campers, Chrysler says, the article said.
    2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara on the road to mainstream, Edmunds Inside Line, Oct. 21
    o The 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara has an all-new engine, redesigned interior and a new five-speed automatic transmission, and it can still do all those great things off road, but this time it promises good things on the road, too, Edmunds Inside Line said. On the road, the new engine and tranny offer big improvements in terms of refinement: The engine is smooth, reasonably quiet and has a nice surge of power; the automatic offers supple shifts, the article said. You can't do the Wrangler justice without taking it off-road: On rough fire roads, rock-filled ascents and steep downhills, everything worked as advertised - in fact, it felt almost too easy sometimes, the website said. The Wrangler now looks like a modern SUV inside - the materials quality has drastically improved, there are modern electronics and the cabin is relatively quiet with the hardtop in place, the article said. Even though the level of refinement has been raised yet again, the Wrangler is still authentic - perfect for nontraditional SUV buyers and a stretch for typical SUV buyers, the article said.
    2012 Dodge Charger: Dodge gives its brawny muscle car some brains, Men's Journal, Oct. 17
    o For 2012, Dodge has added a load of tech to the only real full-sized, five seat muscle car on the market, with brains to match the brawn, Men's Journal said. The most important of the innovations is a market-first eight-speed automatic transmission, which allows for three overdrive gears to boost fuel economy on the highway while imparting the lower gears with boosted torque, the Journal said. What this means is more fun in town off the stop line and a bunch more miles between fill ups, the article said. You might think that gear-switches with an eight speed would be annoyingly ever-present, but it's just the opposite - the ride is ultra-smooth, with very little drop in torque as you pick up speed, the Journal said. The 2012 Charger offers enough gadgetry to satisfy even the geekiest driver: an 8-inch touchscreen controls climate, nav, sound, and communication that includes hands-free texting, the review said. Pretty smart for a dumb old muscle car, the article said. It has the looks of a big American brawler, but the brains ? and ride ? of a smart German sedan, Men's Journal said.
    Coming to NBC Sports Network in 2012: Ram Outdoorsman, Muncie (Ind.) Free Press, Oct. 17
    o The new Ram Outdoorsman series will launch on NBC Sports Network in the fall of 2012 (VERSUS will become NBC Sports Network in January 2012), the Muncie (Ind.) Free Press said. Ram Outdoorsman is produced by Denver-based Orion Entertainment, the world's largest independent producer of outdoor adventure programming, the paper said. The new series will focus on North America's finest hunting and angling destinations from Alaska to Texas, the article said. The series coincides with the highly successful launch of the Ram Outdoorsman pickup, a complete, ready-to-go solution to an outdoor enthusiast's demanding needs, the paper said.
    Jeep® Grand Cherokee SRT8® review, Whatcar.com, Oct. 18
    o The new SRT8® model, the high-performance flagship of the range, gets a dramatic exterior makeover and a 6.4-litre V8 engine - it's the most powerful car ever to wear a Jeep badge, Whatcar.com said. Despite its considerable size and weight, the SRT8 is seriously quick, the article said. The big Jeep handles itself well when you start to drive more enthusiastically; it feels planted, giving the driver plenty of confidence to push on through corners at noticeably higher speeds, the article said. There is little road or wind noise, and the ride is good, the report said. With mean looks, acres of road presence and guaranteed exclusivity, there's lots to recommend the Jeep® Grand Cherokee SRT8, before you even get to see how it drives and that superb engine, the website said.
    Wrangler stays relevant, Scripps News Service, Oct. 13
    o The Wrangler is the most authentic and rugged off-roader in the Jeep fleet, and to keep it relevant, the current brand custodians at Chrysler are making some significant improvements to the 2012 model, Scripps News Service said. The most noticeable improvement in the 2012 model is performance. The new, 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine cranks 285 horsepower, an increase of 40 percent over the 3.8-liter V6, while delivering greater fuel efficiency, the article said. Wrangler competes nicely in its design; the interior features upgraded materials, automatic temperature controls, heated seats, power mirrors and steering wheel controls for vehicle systems, the article said.
    Dodge Charger a racy brute, The Republic, Oct. 14
    o The new 2011 Charger's sophisticated muscularity channels the spirit of the 1968 to 1970 Dodge Charger, the Republic in Columbus, Ind., said. The new car adapts the old car's most pleasing attributes: the scallops on the hood and body sides, the graceful Coke-bottle shape of its beltline, the rear roof pillar offset from the fender line and the rear full-width tail lamps, the paper said. The design smarts continue inside: The seats are wide and comfortable, the interior is quiet, the storage bins are lined and interior space is generous, the article said. The car proved to be remarkably poised over the rough roads; body motions were very well controlled, and the car had a well-bred persona, the article said. It rides comfortably, but gets down to business when it's time to have fun, the article said. For a car that starts at the same price as smaller sedans whose strongest flavor is vanilla, it's an impressive feat and quite a transformation, the Republic said. The Charger captures the essence of classic American full-size sedans: It has space, it performs well, it has bold style and it's sold at a price mere mortals can afford, the article said.
    2012 Wrangler works on- and off-road, Car Review Soup
    Jeep® has lifted the rugged Wrangler from the rock-climbing demon it's been since World War II into a remarkably sophisticated family vehicle that is equally satisfying on the road as it always has been off the road, Car Review Soup said. Among the more enormous improvements in the new Wrangler is the insertion of Chrysler's impressive new Pentastar V6, a 3.6-liter jewel, the article said. Smoothness and the pleasant, quiet interior amenities make the new Wrangler outstanding on the highways and roadways, the article said. The Wrangler loses none of its ruggedness or capability by suddenly becoming smooth and comfortable on the road, the article said. For 2012, you can have your off-road superstar and now get it with all the safety and comfort goodies, the article said.
    2012 Sport/Utility of the Year contender: Dodge Journey, Motor Trend, Oct. 13
    o The Dodge Journey is now a contender for Sport/Utility of the Year, thanks to its redesigned interior, retuned suspension, and new powertrain, Motor Trend magazine said. The interior puts its stablemates to shame: The eye-pleasing design makes excellent use of materials, and touch points feel soft and plush, Motor Trend said. The now-intelligent interior packaging offers a storage compartment underneath the passenger seat and kid boosters in the middle row, the article said. Chrysler's vaunted 3.6-liter V-6 returns satisfactory straight-line acceleration test numbers, the article said.
    A clean girl's guide to off-roading in the 2012 Jeep® Wrangler, Consumer Guide Automotive
    o Function has always come before form with the Wrangler, but now functional is no longer synonymous with uncomfortable, Consumer Guide Automotive said. Wrangler accommodates a shifting audience, evolving from the single male, off-road enthusiast to families looking for a daily driver with an adventuresome side, the article said. In the mountains, Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, the most off-road oriented model, conquered the trail, easily besting deep earth ruts, a five-foot crater, rock bridges and steep grades - sideways, the article said.
    2012 Jeep® Wrangler delivers better engine, better performance, Vehix.com
    o The Wranglers are as capable as ever, they're the most comfortable Wranglers you've ever bounced around inside and they're still the coolest and only convertible four-wheel drive vehicle you can buy, Vehix.com said. But it's the performance improvement you'll immediately notice, the article said. Whether it's digging itself out of a deep hole, traversing boulders and dirt that sometimes suspend one or two wheels in the air or leaning precariously to one side without tipping, the Wrangler comes about its Trail Rated badge the honest way: it earns it, the article said. Considering all the improvements in the 2012 Wrangler ? the new engine, the new transmission, and the improved off-road and on-road capability ? this is a better Jeep in every way, Vehix.com said.
    2012 Jeep Wrangler brings refinement to its go-anywhere ability, fyidriving.com
    o The Wrangler isn't a car that looks like a truck - it's a truck, and if you don't believe it, just turn left and head for the hills, fhyidriving.com said. The primary change for 2012 is the powertrain, aimed at making performance more efficient, the article said. The new engine design maintains the Jeep's ability to ford 30-inch deep water, the article noted. Perhaps the best part of the new refinement is that the Jeep old guard loses nothing of what they want in a Wrangler: It's still better off road than most people who drive them there, the article said. It's a safe and moderately simple vehicle, retaining its go "anywhere, anytime" attitude - but now it does it with a bit more sophistication, fyidriving.com said.
    2012 Jeep® Wrangler - 'A new heart, the same soul,' The Epoch Times.com, Oct. 12
    o Jeep® has increased its share of the SUV market to a commanding 15.8 percent and there are several reasons for the increase, The Epoch Times said. Horsepower is up to 285, an improvement of 40 percent; torque has increased 10 percent to 260 lb-ft of thrust; the engine roars from a stand-still to 60 mph in only 8.4 seconds, the article said. To drive the heavy-duty Rubicon model up cliffs where goats feared to tread was an exuberating experience, the article said.

    Ram Outdoorsman among amazing gadgets for fall hunting    , Fox News.com, Oct. 13
    o Fox News listed the latest advancements in hunting technology that will help hunters this fall. The 2012 Ram Outdoorsman is meant specifically for hunting -- there's a minimal amount of chrome siding to reduce glare that can scare animals away, the tires and 4x4 features are designed for pushing through deep mud, and there's a side box specifically for storing rifles and other hunting gear, the article said. Tow hooks are available for pulling logs and debris out of the way or retrieving a stuck ATV, and the Outdoorsman can tow a large duck boat, dual-ATVs on a trailer or a full camper, Fox News said.

    2012 JK Wrangler, 4 Wheel Drive and Sport Utility, Oct. 11
    o The 2012 JK Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon is a great improvement over earlier models, 4 Wheel Drive and Sport Utility said. The real star is the W5A580 5-speed automatic - the transmission is a gem, the article said. The new Wrangler never has a problem finding the right gear; manual shifting is easy; ledge climbing and crawling is accomplished without a whimper, the article said.