Dodge, RAM and Jeep reaped their fair share of Texas Truck Rodeo awards, which are attributed by the Texas Automotive Writers Association (TAWA).

“The RAM, Jeep and Dodge brands managed once again to impress TAWA members with their exceptional lineup of trucks at the annual Texas Truck Rodeo,” confirmed TAWA President, Nic Phillips. “Our automotive journalists were particularly impressed by the interior of the Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn Southfork Edition, which received the coveted title of 2018 Luxury Pickup Truck of Texas. It comes as no surprise that our members also enjoyed their time behind the wheel of the new Dodge Durango SRT, the fastest SUV in America with three rows of seating, which was recognized as the top full-size SUV.”

A total of 64 vehicles from various manufacturers were entered, including pickup trucks, SUVs, CUVs and commercial vehicles, which were evaluated by the 75 TAWA journalists present. Members voted for their favorites after two days of highway and off-road testing, evaluating criteria such as interior and exterior design, off-road capabilities, practicality, utility, value and overall performance.

The categories in which Dodge, RAM and Jeep took top honors included:

Luxury pickup truck: 2018 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn Southfork Edition

Heavy duty pickup truck: 2018 Ram 2500 Limited Tungsten

Sub-Compact SUV: 2017 Jeep Renegade Desert Hawk

Mid-size SUV: 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk

Off-road utility vehicle: 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Recon

Full-size SUV: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT

The TAWA was founded in 1985 by automotive journalists wishing to improve professional growth, development, and networking opportunities. These professionals created two officially recognized events, the TAWA Truck Rodeo and the Texas Auto Roundup (for cars), which is held annually at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.