Awards Season: Dodge Adds Five Trophies to the Shelf

Posted on September 11, 2009 by RLD

We’re proud to announce new awards for five Dodge vehicles: Avenger, Challenger, Grand Caravan, Journey and Ram 1500. Here’s the full list of high honors in no particular order.

The 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan was named “Most Dependable Van” by J.D. Power and Associates.^[1]

“Overall dependability is determined by the level of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality,” wrote J.D. Power. “The study is used extensively by vehicle manufacturers worldwide to help design and build better vehicles—which typically retain higher resale values—and by consumers to help them make more-informed choices for both new and used vehicles.”

J.D. Power and Associates also recognized the 2009 Dodge Challenger as the Highest Ranked Midsize Sporty Car in their APEAL Study.^[2] This high score is based on feedback from actual owners.

“The APEAL Study examines how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive, based on owner evaluations of more than 90 vehicle attributes,” wrote J.D. Power.

Next, both the 2010 Dodge Avenger and the 2010 Dodge Journey were chosen as 2009 IIHS Top Safety Picks – the highest possible safety rating.

“A vehicle that earns the Top Safety Pick designation provides the best overall protection in the three most common kinds of crashes,” said Adrian Lund, President – Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “Top-level crash-test performance plus electronic stability control to help keep drivers out of crashes are the tough criteria needed to earn this award.”

Last, but certainly not least, the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 won Strategic Vision’s 2009 Total Quality Award™.^[3]

“For truck buyers, the Dodge Ram has reclaimed its perceived leadership in innovation, a corporate hallmark,” said Alexander Edwards, President of SVI. In fact, Ram earned the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15-year history of the study.

We think these safe, innovative, dependable vehicles all deserve a round of applause, or at least a few comments.

The legal stuff:

1 The Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan received the lowest number of problems per 100 vehicles among midsize cars in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study(SM). Study based on 46,313 consumer responses measuring problems consumers experienced in the past 12 months with three-year old vehicles (2006 model-year cars and trucks). Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed October-December 2008. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com

2 The Dodge Challenger received the highest numerical score among midsize sporty cars in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study(SM). Study based on responses from 80,930 new-vehicle owners, measuring 245 models and measures opinions after 90 days of ownership. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of owners surveyed in February-May 2009. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.

3 Strategic Vision’s 2009 New Vehicle Experience Study™ surveyed 20,101 Oct.-Nov. new vehicle buyers after the first 90 days of ownership.

J.D. Power and Associates is a service mark of J.D. Power and Associates Corporation.