Skip to main content
The rear 3/4 view of a brown 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve by a desert lake

Jeep Wins Two More 2021 Awards that Won’t Surprise You

Jeep is one of the most popular SUV manufacturers for off-roaders and overland enthusiasts alike. Their platform has created not only a fanbase but a Jeep Culture that has created a thriving aftermarket of off-road-centric parts. With such a rugged structure, it won’t surprise you that Jeep was awarded not one but two awards at …

Jeep is one of the most popular SUV manufacturers for off-roaders and overland enthusiasts alike. Their platform has created not only a fanbase but a Jeep Culture that has created a thriving aftermarket of off-road-centric parts. With such a rugged structure, it won’t surprise you that Jeep was awarded not one but two awards at the 2021 ‘4×4 of the Year’ awards.

A true off-road contender

We all know the Jeep Wrangler to be the obvious choice when it comes to conquering off-road trails, rocky passes, and even muddy backroads, so it’s no surprise to see the brand win two awards at this year’s 4×4 of the Year Awards. In fact, this year mark’s the brand’s 80th anniversary, with the Wrangler being one of the most popular vehicles ever to hit the brand’s lineup.

Each award was chosen by a panel of judges at 4×4 magazine, a UK-based publication that — as you might expect — focuses on the coolest and latest off-road vehicles, technology, and equipment. The members of the panel assess the cars on a number of features and capabilities, even testing every vehicle on an off-road course for evaluation.

An image of the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L outdoors.
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L | FCA

The Jeep Pedigree

It’s no surprise to anyone that the Jeep Wrangler was one of the car’s recognized for an award. The 2021 Jeep Wrangler has once again won the 4×4 Magazine’s Off-Road Award. For this award, vehicles must excel off-road, as you can imagine, but it doesn’t take any other facets of the car into account. Of course, we know that the Wrangler is far from the fastest, most luxurious option to hit the pavement, but off-road, nothing comes quite as close to ruling.

A gray-brown 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve and a red Overland on a foggy hill
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve (left) and Overland (right) | FCA

The unexpected winner

The Jeep Wrangler wasn’t the only vehicle in the lineup to receive an award, but the other choice might leave you feeling a bit shocked. No, it wasn’t the ever-popular Grand Cherokee, but instead, the more humble Jeep Renegade was the winner of the other. Unlike the Off-Road Award, the Renegade received the award for Best Small SUV. This is a stark contrast to the rathe abysmal scoring the very same car has received from other respected sources, like Consumer Reports.

A red 2021 Jeep Renegade subcompact SUV parked next to a waterfall
The 2021 Jeep Renegade is adventure-ready | Photo via Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

For the awards presented to Jeep for the 2021 ‘4×4 of the Year’ awards, we can’t say we are particularly surprised. While the Jeep Wrangler is undoubtedly capable of conquering almost any off-road situation, the only shock here was seeing the Jeep Renegade — an otherwise lesser-liked option in the manufacturer’s lineup — do so well.

Related

The 2021 Jeep Gladiator Has No Business Being So Expensive