Two Chrysler SUVs were named as the most outstanding cars and trucks of the year, according to a panel of the nation's top automotive journalists who are voting on this year's North American Car and Truck of the Year.
The Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee, both built in Detroit off the same truck platform, as well as the extended-range electric Chevrolet Volt and all-electric Nissan Leaf were among six finalists for the award.
The North American Car and Truck of the Year awards are different from other industry awards because they are given by a jury of 49 veteran automotive journalists from Canada and the United States.
Winners of the contest will be announced Jan. 10 at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
This year, the jury considered more than 50 vehicles. Of those, the jurors voted to put 14 cars and 14 trucks on the ballot.
Here is a closer look at the two Chrysler finalists:
—Dodge Durango: While the Durango is built on a unibody platform, rather than a SUV's traditional body-on-frame platform, the stout truck pulls 6,200 pounds with a V-6 engine and 7,200 pounds with a V-8.
Pricing for the three-row SUV starts at $30,045 for the Express model with rear-wheel-drive and at $32,045 for the all-wheel-drive version, including an $850 destination charge.
—Jeep Grand Cherokee: Introduced in July, sales of the redesigned Grand Cherokee have surged. In November, for example, sales increased 256 percent compared with the same month a year ago. Critics have applauded the Grand Cherokee for its vastly improved interior and new engine.
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