AAA’s
Top Picks 2010
By Jim Prueter
Every year at this time we gather up
the reviews for all the cars we've driven,
tested and evaluated to arrive at what
we think are the top vehicles in each
of16 categories. We judge the new cars
and trucks in general areas like comfort,
convenience, safety, fuel economy, ride,
handling, and how well the vehicle delivers
on its intended functions and capabilities.
We're also influenced by a good deal,
vehicles that deliver a lot of bang
for the buck. For example, a vehicle
that looks great, has a powerful engine
with great handling, is fun to drive
and has a bargain price will undoubtedly
move close to the top of the list.
We also want to acknowledge that while
we only select one vehicle in each
category, in most cases we could have
easily picked two or three models to
be recognized. If you agree (or not)
we'd like to hear from you. Drop us
a line at highroads@arizona.aaa.com and
let us have it.
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| Cool Car
Chevrolet
Camaro
 What's Your Rating?
Fuel economy (city/highway): 18/29
Safety ratings: National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) 4 stars,
front impacts; 5 stars, side impacts;
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
(IIHS) Not rated
» See review
Sedan/Coupe
Under $15,000
Kia Soul
 What's Your Rating?
Fuel economy: 26/31
Safety ratings: NHTSA Not rated;
IIHS Good
» See review
$15,000 to $25,000
Mini
Cooper Clubman
 What's Your Rating?
Fuel economy: 28/36
Safety ratings: NHTSA Not rated;
IIHS Good
$25,000 to $35,000
Infiniti
G37
 What's Your Rating?
Fuel economy: 19/27
Safety ratings: NHTSA 5 stars; IIHS
Good
$35,000
to $50,000
Audi A5/S5
 What's Your Rating?
Fuel economy: 18/27
Safety ratings: Not rated
» See review
Over $50,000
Jaguar XF-R
What's Your Rating?
The most powerful and elegant sedan we've ever driven, this top-cat knocks
off perennial top pick Audi A8 in this category. With supple leather seating,
burled walnut and chrome trim the cabin is fit for Queen Elizabeth. We can't come up with too many glowing adjectives and superlatives in heaping
praise on this luxury sports sedan.
Fuel economy: 15/21
Safety ratings: Not rated
» See review
Convertible
Under $35,000
Ford Mustang GT
What's Your Rating?
A freshening for 2010 makes it an even more satisfying car for those who love
to drive. Performance is exhilarating and the superb handling and firm suspension
don't translate into a punishing ride. The all-new new interior is simply
gorgeous. Mustang is the class of the pony car resurgence.
Fuel economy: 17/23
Safety rating: NHTSA 5 stars; IIHS Not rated
» See review
Over $35,000
BMW Z4
What's Your Rating?
Newly redesigned, the roadster is simply gorgeous and now available with
a retractable hardtop. It's powered by a superb twin-turbocharged 300-horsepower
inline-6. Gone is the pounding ride and staid interior of its predecessor.
Loaded with standard features, the Z4 is a tough car to beat for the money.
Fuel economy: 18/27
Safety rating: Not rated
SUV/Crossover
Under $25,000
Subaru Outback
What's Your Rating?
Newly redesigned for 2010, the all-wheel-drive Outback is taller,
wider and roomier, with a more powerful optional six-cylinder engine. It's
loaded with improvements over the previous generation Outback — more refined,
more comfortable with better reliability than key competitors in the small
crossover-utility class.
Fuel economy: 22/29
Safety ratings: NHTSA 5 stars; IIHS - Good
$25,000 to $35,000
Ford Flex
What's Your Rating?
Flex repeats as our top pick in this category. Sure, the styling is a bit polarizing
but we love the functionality afforded by the shape, available all-wheel drive,
car-like drive and gorgeous roomy interior all at an affordable price.
Fuel economy: 17/24
Safety ratings: NHTSA 5 stars; IIHS Good
$35,000 to $50,000
Audi Q5
What's Your Rating?
A unique combination of comfort, performance, luxury, safety and refinement
makes the new Q5 our Top Pick in a very competitive and growing segment. It's quiet, drives like a dream and handles even better. But the MMI system
that controls most vehicle functions is overly complicated. Still nice enough
to be called "Lord of the Rings."
Fuel economy: 18/23
Safety ratings: NHTSA 5 stars; IIHS Good
» See review
Over $50,000
Lexus LX 570
What's Your Rating?
For the third year in a row, the LX 570 remains our top pick for impressive
performance, safety, quality and luxury. Its silky smooth engine and transmission,
advanced electronics and technology, superb build quality and bulletproof reliability
are simply unbeatable.
Fuel economy: 12/18
Safety ratings: Not rated
Truck
Compact/Mid-Sized
Nissan Frontier
What's Your Rating?
Solid, well built with excellent fit and finish, the Frontier is agile, capable
and has an available all-wheel drive system that works unobtrusively. The 261-horsepower,
4.0-liter V-6 engine delivers very strong and smooth performance, and its advanced
off-road systems and innovative cargo bed features are the best in the small-truck
business.
Fuel economy: 16/20
Safety ratings: NHTSA 5 stars; IIHS Good (front impacts),
Not rated (side impacts)
» See review
Full-Size
Dodge Ram
What's Your Rating?
We think it has the most car-like ride of all big trucks; its quiet
interior is near luxury sedan in look and feel. Numerous configurations are
available, from crew cab four door to heavy-duty 4x4 Power Wagon. Ram is
still best of class.
Fuel economy: 14/20
Safety ratings: NHTSA 5 stars; IIHS Good
Hybrid
Ford Fusion
What's Your Rating?
The best hybrid vehicle yet, Fusion combines first-rate driving and handling
with excellent value and fuel economy. What makes it so much better than the
competition is hybrid system refinement that eliminates the annoying shake
and shudder when the system transitions from electric to gasoline power and
back again. Not even Prius or Lexus hybrids do it better.
Fuel economy: 41/36
Safety ratings: NHTSA 5 stars; IIHS Good
» See review
Minivan
Toyota Sienna
What's Your Rating?
Newly revamped the Sienna will technically be a 2011 model, but because we
liked it so much we skipped the 2010 and named the new one our Top Pick. Yes, minivans have a reputation as dork-mobiles, but if you need the room and
extra seats it doesn't get better than this. It's even better than last year's
model, which took top honors.
Fuel economy: 19/26
Safety ratings: Not rated
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