DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas-A wave of mud slammed into the windshield of the 2019 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon as we zipped along a rocky Hill Country trail on the Longhorn River Ranch.
A massive dose of October Yuck brought driving rain and frigid temperatures to the Texas Truck Rodeo, but inside the Rubicon was warm, dry, even serene one might say. Re-engineered for 2018, the new Wrangler boasts the same legendary off-road capabilities that are the Jeep's soul. Even better, it added a heavy dose of livability-quieter, more comfortable, modestly sedate.
This day, the Wrangler was doing its job. We were comfy and bemused as we bee-bopped down a slick trail and shot through another stream where no stream had gone before. Another huge muddy splash, but the Jeep never hiccupped. Without bobble, hesitation or doubt, it tracked exactly where pointed.
We plowed through another slippery hole, this time sending a wall of muddy detritus over the top. Chuckling, I pulled over to mark my Texas Auto Writers' ballot. Off-Road Utility Vehicle? Check. SUV of Texas? Check.
As often happens at this sort of event, I was half-right. The Wrangler Rubicon took first in Off-Road but finished second in SUV of Texas to the Maserati Levante GTS because Texans really want to a $119,980, 590-hp, Italian luxury liner (with a cheap feeling interior) when they head out to tend cattle in mid-winter.
For the same money, you could buy three Rubicons and take 17 cowboys with you. Alas, we have proof again that sizzle is to auto writers what a squirrelly squirrel is to Irish Setters. (Where does one put a wet dog in a $120,000 SUV? Hmmm.)
Ram ahead
For the record, Jeep and Maserati are part of the same corporation, FCA, which pretty much owned this year's competition, taking 15 of 24 awards, led by Ram trucks.
Ram branded itself the Truck of Texas as it scooped up seven awards, including best technology for a 12-inch infotainment screen and best new powertrain for light hybrid technology on Penstar and Hemi engines.
Journalists with the Texas Auto Writers Association awarded the all-new Ram firsts in full-size, heavy-duty, luxury and off-road pickup categories to cap a big night for FCA, which swept all three major awards.
The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio took CUV of Texas, the Maserati Levante SUV of Texas, and the 2019 Ram 1500 Truck of Texas in balloting by more than five dozen journalists who came from as far as California to New England.
The Jeep Wrangler Sahara, Wrangler Rubicon, Grand Cherokee Summit and Dodge Durango SRT all won first-place trophies.
There was some debate, though not much, whether the outcome would have been different had Ford and Chevy chosen to enter the competition. Ford was at the previous 30 or so Truck Rodeos-the sponsoring organization isn't exactly sure how many there have been-and was two-time defending champion. General Motors, lobbying hard for Truck of Year honors for the all-new Silverado and Sierra, dropped out last year.
Both companies said they skipped the rodeo because of business reasons, and there exists no tangible evidence to dispute that.
The consensus among the journalists with whom I talked is that this is Ram's year, the best since the truck line stepped out from the shadows of Dodge 10 years ago
"For the first time ever, Ram has some pop. It has finally come into its own," an engineer from a competing brand said over drinks one night. He asked not to be named. Confidential sources are unusual in auto writing, but the bar had been open for a while.
The first things critics notice is Ram's elegant interiors, but the meat and potatoes of this truck starts with the frame. Ram's engineers paid attention to a whole lot of detail and incorporated 40 new technology features. The big headline is a 400-percent increase in high-strength and ultra-high-strength steel to make the new Ram stronger but lighter, which increases payload and towing capacity and improves fuel efficiency.
The new foundation is also markedly safer in at least two ways. The door ring, the last line of defense in a side collision, is all ultra-high-strength steel. The frame rail fronts are splayed 23 degrees outwards to improve energy absorption in a frontal collision.
A full suite of safety technologies, shown to reduce injuries and fatalities by a third, according to insurance industry data, is available.
Noise, vibration, and harshness are aggressively managed in multiple ways. Hydraulic body mounts mitigate vibration and body sway. Vibration cancellation canisters halt the transmission of engine harshness. The result is a cabin that's as quiet as a stone and a ride that is as soft and supple as a lady's glove.
Add in a light hybrid system, and the new Dodge gets the same fuel economy as Ford's famed dual-turbo ecoboost, and better than a new 2.7-L 4 that GM spent millions to develop.
Other winners
The all-new Toyota RAV4, due in showrooms in November, elbowed its way through the most crowded bracket to earn the title of best compact sport utility.
It would have been interesting to see Ford's new Ranger go up against a Chevy Colorado, but the Toyota Tacoma TRD had compact pickup to itself.
Journalists were embargoed from disclosing details and driving impressions, so let me just say the new RAV4 is a major step forward for America's best-selling car. Slightly different wheel-track dimensions and Toyota's lighter and stronger global architecture make a significant difference in a car I already liked a lot. (Two in the family).
The low-priced Nissan Kicks SR, starting at $17,990, was named the best compact crossover, barely edging out the very good Mazda CX-3. We're big fans of the CX-3's ride and handling-probably still best in class-but the Kicks offers tremendous value and looks to be a big seller.
The Nissan Murano edged out the Honda Pilot for best midsize CUV. Close call. They are both excellent choices.
The 2019 Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD was chosen best midsize crossover over the Volkswagen Tiguan. We think the three-row Mazda has a potential to be class leader. With Mazda's unique G-vectoring now in all three CX models, Mazda can lay claim to having the best-driving, best-riding crossovers. Quiet and strong apply here.
The Hyundai Kona Ultimate AWD took home the honor as best subcompact sport utility. No argument here. That's a slam-dunk. As we said before, if Ford could build a car this good, Ford would still be a car company.
Shoulda won
In the luxury CUV category, The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio was every bit as good as advertised-an SUV with mind-boggling power and handling. We talk a lot in this space about the importance of chassis design to ride and handling. Though we really could not push the Alfa anywhere near its limits, it was obvious that this is a car for people who love to drive.
On the other hand, we found Lexus' new entry-level CUV, the UX 250H to be a car that is far more likely to meet its objective of winning young urbanites to the Lexus brand. Built on a platform similar to the Toyota C-HR, the UX is just as nimble, but looks and feels like a Lexus.
Starting at around $33,000, the UX costs about a third of an Alfa and seems likely to retain value.
We also found the new Acura RDX to be a pleasant surprise. Ride and handling are superb, and Acura seems to have figured out UDX, with an infotainment interface that feels natural and instinctive.
Clearly, the best vehicle in the competition not to take home a prize is Subaru's first three-row SUV, the Ascent. Powered by a boxer engine, by nature vibration-free, the Ascent is a strong, quiet, formidable automobile.
Everything feels like it should in a Subaru, which has a well-earned reputation for reliability.
Inside, it's as roomy as a minivan. Outside, it has Subaru's traditional, clean-but-conservative lines. With 8.7 inches of clearance and all-wheel drive, it is immensely competent. Steering and braking are linear, and the SUV immediately earns the driver's confidence.
Filled with new technologies, the biggest Subaru ever starts at $31,995.
If only it had a little sizzle.