Big Wins at the 2021 autoTRADER.ca Awards!
Posted on February 4, 2021
It’s that time of year again! Here at CarHub, the excitement starts to build every February when we start thinking about the autoTRADER.ca awards. It’s always a sure bet that at least one of the great vehicles that we carry on the CarHub lots will be included in the list, the question is always just which ones??
This year has been no different. We anticipated some wins within the Chrysler, Dodge, RAM and Jeep family and we got them. This year, it was the RAM 1500 and the Chrysler Pacifica and the Chrysler Grand Caravan that walked away with best-in-class prizes this year.
Were we surprised? Not in the least. These vehicles are consistently our top sellers for a reason: they consistently represent the pinnacle of pickup truck and minivan engineering and design, year in and year out.
But hey, we’re biased. Don’t listen to us, let’s let autoTRADER.ca tell us why they chose the RAM 1500 for the Best Overall Pickup Truck and Best Full-Size Pickup Truck of 2021 and Chrysler Pacifica/Grand Caravan for Best Minivan of 2021. They always have been a part of the best minivans available in Canada too.
RAM 1500: Best Overall Pickup Truck
Earning the designation of Best Overall Truck is no small feat. This means that the RAM 1500 trims earned a top score in all of the combined truck categories.
But how did the RAM 1500 beat out all of its competitors to take the top prize two years running? Well, in the words of autoTRADER.ca, the 1500 ticks all of the boxes to make it best-in-class. It features bold styling and can be optioned to a luxury level. To top it off, it features a powertrain that lets the 1500 roar out of the gate.
Whether it’s the 5.7L V8 or the entry-level 305-hp 3.6L V6 with added eTorque mild-hybrid system or the 702-hp supercharged V8 derived Hellcat engine in the TRX, the 1500 is a beast in the engine-department.
Add in a luxurious interior and top-notch infotainment system and you have a pickup truck that’s impossible to beat.
RAM 1500: Best Full-Size Pickup Truck
autoTRADER.ca’s panel of over 20 judges was swayed once again in favour of the 1500 as the choice for Best Full-Size Pickup Truck, beating out competitor models for the second year running.
Why? Well, four fantastic engine options is a great start. The 2021 RAM 1500 is available with a 3.6L V6 making 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque, while an upgraded V8 option has a 5.7L Hemi V8 producing 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. The third choice is a 3.0L V6 diesel that makes 260 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. It’s good to have variety in your options! Especially if each of the options is so strong.
The RAM 1500 also outmatched its competitors in safety ratings. Top it off with innovative cabin design and rugged exterior styling, and you have a pickup truck that no judging panel could deny is at the top of its game.
Chrysler Pacifica/Grand Caravan
Are we surprised that the autoTRADER.ca judging panel was impressed by the Chrysler Pacifica and the Chrysler Grand Caravan? No even a little bit. When the conversation is about minivans, these two examples of the style are always at the top of the list.
Both vans come with a sturdy, 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine which gives both vans roughly 300 horsepower to work with that will allow performance for anything from grocery grabbing to road-tripping to trailer hauling. The Pacifica has also added a hybrid option and an AWD option, which kicked it in a league of its own in the van segment.
Layer on a comprehensive infotainment package and fantastic safety ratings and you have two sure-fire bets for autoTRADER.ca’s 2021 Best Minivan Award.
Want to see for yourself why the RAM 1500, Chrysler Pacifica and Chrysler Grand Caravan have been voted best-in-class by autoTRADER.ca’s expert panel of judges? Book an appointment today with a Product Advisor to take learn more about how you can take one of these award winners for a spin!