IRVINE, Calif.--The editors and analysts of Autobytel Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ABTL) automotive information sites MyRide.com and Autobytel.com today announced their sixth annual Editors’ Choice Awards, revealing the vehicles on the current market that they’d most recommend to car buyers.
“With a shrinking economy, radically changing buyer tastes, the green and the powerful on a collision course, and more choices than ever before, the industry is in total flux, which made choosing our 10 picks more difficult but ultimately more significant than ever,” said Autobytel/MyRide.com Road Test Editor Keith Buglewicz. “Buyers really need help navigating this market – and we’re happy to provide it.”
And the Winners Are…
Best Non-Hybrid Gas Saver: 2009 Honda Fit
Candidates in this brand-new category had to get at least 30 mpg on the highway, burn gasoline and not diesel, obviously not be a hybrid, and be something that the editors would want to drive. By a nearly unanimous vote, the editors chose the 2009 Honda Fit, which includes all the benefits of the previous Fit, but with added refinement that makes it far and away the best in its class.
Best Green Car: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
The message is clear: Don’t be afraid of diesel. The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is the best of the oil-burners the Autobytel/MyRide.com editors have ever seen. It’s plenty powerful, quiet, smooth, odor and smoke free, and gets phenomenal mileage from every gallon: 30 mpg in the city and 41 on the highway. It also meets 50-state emissions requirements, so Californians can finally get in on the diesel goodness.
Best Kept Secret: 2009 Kia Borrego
The 2009 Kia Borrego is a V-8 powered, four-wheel drive SUV that’s capable, comfortable, roomy, and a worthy competitor to any other mid-sized SUV. Sure, the market for trucks like this is shrinking, but even in contracting markets, there’s money to be made and customers to be won, and seeing such a winning formula from Kia was a pleasant, but definite, surprise.
Truck of the Year: 2009 Dodge Ram
Dodge got gutsy with its new Ram, turning its back on the wisdom that says towing capacity numbers – however unrealistic – are king and offering up something tangible to every truck driver: ride quality. Gone are the leaf springs in the rear, replaced by coil springs that smooth the ride without significantly impacting the 2009 Dodge Ram’s real-world capabilities as a truck.
Car of the Year: 2009 Hyundai Genesis
When Autobytel/MyRide.com editors first drove the 2009 Hyundai Genesis, they opined that they were on the verge of a sea change in the automotive landscape on par with the introduction of the Lexus luxury brand in 1990. After more time with the Genesis, they stand by this claim, and award Hyundai the Editors’ Choice Car of the Year award.
Additional Editors’ Choice Award Winners
Best Family Car: 2009 Ford Flex
Utility Vehicle of the Year: 2009 Ford Flex
Best Dream Car Over $75,000: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Most Fun New Car Under $75,000: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V
Best New Luxury Car Under $75,000: 2009 Jaguar XF
Methodology
Autobytel’s editors compiled a list of every new or substantially revised vehicle, assigned them to their respective categories based on factors such as segment and price, and deleted vehicles not driven by at least one editor prior to voting on Oct 28, 2008, with the exception of the Dream Car category. To be considered, a vehicle must be available for sale during the 2008 calendar year. Each editor voted for the vehicle they’d most often recommend, with winners determined by a simple majority.
For more information, or to speak with an Autobytel editor about this year’s selections, please contact: Melanie Webber at 949-862-3023 or melaniew@autobytel.com.
About Autobytel Inc.
Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq:ABTL) is an Internet automotive marketing services company that helps dealers and manufacturers sell cars and related products and services. The company owns and operates consumer-facing automotive websites, including its flagship site, MyRide.com®, which is designed to help consumers find, see, buy and learn anything related to automobiles. The company’s other websites are: Autobytel.com®, Autoweb.com®, Car.comsm, CarSmart.com®, AutoSite.com®, and CarTV.com®. By providing a convenient and comprehensive automotive consumer experience across the purchase and ownership lifecycle, Autobytel seeks to provide dealerships with opportunities to connect with a steady, diverse stream of motivated, serious shoppers, while providing manufacturers with precision-targeted brand and product advertising opportunities. In addition to its websites, the company generates leads and advertising opportunities for dealers and automakers through its marketing network, which includes the AutoReachsm ad network, co-brands, such as ESPN.com, and marketing affiliates such as AOL, Edmunds and Kelly Blue Book.