Hyundai and Kia's award shelves might need some reorganizing with the recent ambush of awards from different organizations and publications. The editors of MyRide.com, affiliated with Autobytel, announced their Editor's Choice Award for 2008. While the Car of the Year, Truck of the Year, Utility of the Year, and Hybrid of the Year were all swept up by American automakers (which raised more than a few eyebrows), Hyundai and Kia were also in line to receive some as well.The Hyundai Santa Fe went home with a "Best Family Car" award while the Hyundai Veracruz was awarded "Best Mid-Size SUV" title. The Kia Rondo received two awards: "Best Kept Secret for 2008" and "Best New Wagon". Each MyRide.com editor tested and selected the best car for each category and simply the majority of each segment took home the award.
[Source: Business Wire]
Continue reading to view the press release.
PRESS RELEASE: Autobytel Announces 2008 MyRide.com Editors’ Choice Awards
Cadillac CTS Named Car of the Year, Ford Super Duty Named Truck of the Year, 2008 Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon Tie for Hybrid of the Year
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The automotive editors and analysts of MyRide.com, Autobytel Inc.’s (NASDAQ:ABTL) brand new vertical search experience for car lovers, buyers and researchers, today announced results for the fifth annual Editors’ Choice Awards, a ranking of the best new 2008 vehicles on the market.
The MyRide.com Editor’s Choice Awards name the editors’ top choices for major vehicle categories as well as providing their top recommendations for buyers with specific priorities – including fuel-efficiency, family/teen driving, affordability and just plain fun. In keeping with the buyer-focused, “real world” spirit of the Awards, consideration was limited to vehicles with base prices lower than $75,000 except in the Dream Car” category.
“As in past years, certain vehicles stand out from the pack, particularly in terms of comfort, design, quality, performance, or overall value. This year, domestic automakers are on top, sweeping most of the major categories in MyRide.com’s 2008 Editors’ Choice Awards,” said MyRide.com Chief Automotive Analyst Brian Chee. “Clearly, the time and energy the winning automakers have invested in making better quality cars is starting to pay off for them.”
And the Winners Are …
The following MyRide.com Editors’ Choice Awards will be presented to winning automakers at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show and the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
2008 Car of the Year and Best New Entry Luxury Car Under $40,000 – Cadillac CTS – The second-generation, all-new-for-2008 CTS, with edgy style to burn, a world-class interior, and extraordinary performance takes Cadillac’s entry-luxury model to a whole new level of refinement and is living testament to how serious GM has become about new products. As one of the best-handling and performing Cadillac’s ever, the super-evolved CTS finally proves that it can hold its own against import rivals like BMW, Lexus, Audi and Mercedes. The most affordable vehicle in the Caddy line-up just happens to be the best one to buy.
2008 Truck of the Year and Best New Pickup — Ford Super Duty – In the brutally tough ‘heavies’ category, Ford’s redesigned Super Duty managed to best the always-worthy choices from Dodge, GM and Nissan, all thanks to its incredible towing and hauling capabilities, mind-bending menu of body styles, and trim levels and powertrain options. This truck performs so competently it can make popular light-duty pickups seem like golf carts. F-Series has been the best-selling vehicle in America for a quarter century and the well-engineered new Super Duty, with its first significant overhaul since 1999, will go a long way in helping Ford retain its truck title.
2008 Utility Vehicle of the Year and Best New Luxury Utility Vehicle Under $75,000 — Buick Enclave — Buick has aspired to be a truly premium automaker for years and with the Enclave it has finally, and convincingly, achieved that elusive goal. In a veritable sea of new crossovers, Enclave’s handsome looks in and out, near-silent ride, plentiful cargo capacity, and superb comfort, have given its luxe import competitors — Acura, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes — a Buick to actually worry about. Part practical family hauler and part true luxury SUV, all those consumers shopping Asian and European crossovers now have a compelling reason to think, yes, Buick.
2008 Hybrid of the Year — Chevy Tahoe Hybrid/GMC Yukon Hybrid – No, not that popular P-word, but a pair of full-sized SUVs — a category which GM’s new offerings may just help save from the vehicular graveyard. When a hybrid is tough enough for off-roading, seats eight, is capable of towing at least 6,000 pounds, offers four-wheel-drive, a low-range transfer case, and also achieves an estimated 22-mpg, awards are in order. The two-mode system, deftly switching between all-electric propulsion around town to the gas engine for high speeds and towing (and myriad complex combinations in between), represents a significant hybrid technology breakthrough, and one that uniquely delivers the best fuel economy across a wide range of driving situations. Many people simply can’t drive a compact hybrid, and they need the utility, power and roominess of their once-beloved large SUV. For cutting-edge technology, and for offerings that should help encourage wider hybrid adoption, Tahoe/Yukon take the prize.
Best Kept Secret for 2008 and Best New Wagon — Kia Rondo – Call it what you will, mini-minivan or crossover sport wagon, Kia’s practical little Rondo has unjustly flown under too many people’s radar. With flexible seven-passenger seating, a nice long warranty, four- or six-cylinder powertrain options, and a base price under twenty grand, Rondo uniquely delivers up the versatility and passenger-toting a family seeks in a minivan, but in a smaller, nimbler, more affordable package. Compact minivans, big hits all across Asia and Europe, are rare on these shores. Rondo, with its compelling combination of value and utility, should be equally celebrated on this side of the pond.
Best Car for Teen Drivers – Honda Civic – A perennial award winner, Honda continues to dominate this category. This is the second year in a row the Civic has been named Best Car for Teen Drivers. Known for its reliability, but still fun to drive and stylish, this car pleases both teens and their parents.
Winners in additional categories
Best New Minivan – Chrysler Town & Country / Dodge Grand Caravan
Best New Small Car – Volvo C30
Best New Midsize Car – Chevrolet Malibu
Best New Large Car – Ford Taurus / Mercury Sable
Best Family Car – Hyundai Santa Fe
Best New Luxury Car Under $75,000 – BMW 5 Series
Best New Convertible Under $75,000 – Audi TT Roadster
Best New Sports Car Under $75,000 – Audi S5
Best New Small SUV – Saturn Vue
Best New Midsize SUV – Hyundai Veracruz
Best New Large SUV – Mazda CX-9
Best Non-Hybrid for the Environment – Honda Civic GX
Most Fun New Car for 2008 – Infiniti G37
Best New Dream Car Over $75,000 – Aston Martin V-8 Vantage Roadster
Methodology
Each MyRide.com editor voted for the vehicle they’d most recommend to buyers in each Award category, with winners determined by a simple majority. Vehicles that were not driven by at least one staff member prior to final voting on November 9, 2007 were disqualified, as were those that did not go on sale during the 2007 calendar year. Contenders for the Best Non-Hybrid for the Environment, Best Family Car, and Best Car for Teen Drivers awards were not limited by sales dates or model year.
For more information or to speak with an Autobytel editor about this year’s selections please contact: Stephanie Rice at 323-877-6401 or rices@ruderfinn.com.
About Autobytel Inc.
Since launching the first car-buying website in 1995, Autobytel Inc.’s (NASDAQ:ABTL) mission has been to empower automotive consumers with the tools and information they need to make smart, well-informed vehicle purchasing and ownership decisions. The company has helped millions of car shoppers and generated billions of dollars in car sales for dealers. Today, the company’s innovative, consumer-driven flagship site, MyRide.com, expands the company’s mission across the automotive purchase and ownership life cycle. As the first vertical search experience for the automotive marketplace, MyRide.com is designed to help Internet-savvy consumers FIND, SEE, BUY and LEARN anything automotive and BELONG to a diverse community of people who have similar automotive interests
By providing a convenient and comprehensive automotive consumer experience across the purchase and ownership lifecycle, Autobytel provides new value and touch-points for automotive marketers. Through MyRide.com and Autobytel’s marketing network, the company connects dealerships with a steady, diverse stream of exceptionally motivated, serious shoppers, while providing both dealers and manufacturers with precision-targeted brand and product marketing opportunities. The company’s advanced web-based advertising and marketing programs also help dealers and manufacturers build relationships with customers, as well as help them to efficiently manage and convert online business
