Automotive Excellence: Winners, Please!

PM Workhorse Pick: 2010 Ford Transit Connect

We’re in the season where car magazines, consumer groups and bloggers are announcing their top picks for the latest models on the market. The 2010 model year is in full swing which means that the announcements are rolling out as you read this.

Subaru Outback

Last month, Motor Trend named the Subaru Outback as its pick for 2010 SUV/Truck  of the Year and will declare its car winner later this month. I have a hunch on who the winner will be, but I’ll keep that guess to myself.

The 2010 Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Awards were announced last week, the fourth year that this popular men’s publication has named cars which it believes “…represent the innovation and foresight that will keep this industry moving forward.”

The Winners

By category, the editors have chosen:

• Performance: Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
• Design: Chevrolet Camaro
• Value: Kia Soul
• Fuel Efficiency: Toyota Prius
• Versatility: Subaru Outback
• Fun to Drive: Hyundai Genesis Coupe
• Off-Road Ability: Ford F-150 Raptor
• Technical Innovation: Lexus Remote Touch
• Luxury: BMW 335d
• Workhorse: Ford Transit Connect

I don’t see any surprises on the list as each model or product is well known to industry insiders.  Popular Mechanics (PM) says that they test more than 100 new vehicles when making their determination, driving more than 100,000 miles to find the right vehicle for the right category.

Early Releases

Given that many of the 2010 models have been out for some time, I can see how they rack up the miles so quickly.  Though not featured on the list, the 2010 Mercedes GLK has been on sale since the first days of the new year. Clearly, model years are merging and blending, but the PM list is something worth looking at.

By the way, you’ll have to wait until the tenth of this month before the December issue hits news stands. PM’s top picks will be featured along with more in depth analysis and evaluations of the winners.