MotorWeek Awards Honda Fit 2007 Drivers' Choice 'Best of the Year'

MotorWeek Awards Honda Fit 2007 Drivers' Choice 'Best of the Year'

Honda Captures Top Drivers' Choice Award at Chicago Auto Show for Second Consecutive Year

GM Receives Four Awards, Entire Toyota Motor Corporation Wins 'Best Eco- Friendly,' First-Time for a Company

CHICAGO, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- MotorWeek honored the Honda Fit with the 2007 MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award for "Best of the Year," it was announced late yesterday at the Chicago Auto Show. The compact and versatile Honda Fit rose above 13 individual category winners to take home the best overall award. This marks the second consecutive year Honda has won awards for "Best of the Year" and "Best Small Car." The entire winners' list will be featured on a special MotorWeek episode airing on PBS, beginning February 10 (check local listings) and on cable's SPEED, beginning February 12. The Drivers' Choice Awards and MotorWeek are nationally sponsored by Cars.com, The Tire Rack, Valvoline, and Goodyear.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070208/UNTH001 )

"At a time when fuel efficiency and versatility are top-of-mind for drivers, Honda has, once again, proven to be a trendsetter in people-driven technology," said John Davis, MotorWeek host and executive producer. "Last year with the sterling Civic lineup, and this year with the clever Fit, Honda advances the standards for intelligent, driver-friendly design that deserves our 'Best of the Year' title. The Honda Fit is a standout vehicle for its forward-thinking flexibility, frugality at the pump, interior creature comforts, stylish design, and, high on MotorWeek's list, its entertaining drive."

Reflecting a comeback for domestic automakers, GM captured four Drivers' Choice Awards, a rare event in the awards' 25-year history. The Saturn Aura won "Best Family Sedan," Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon won "Best Large Utility," GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook won "Best Crossover Utility," and Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra won "Best Pickup Truck." Calling it an impressive but not surprising sweep, Davis noted that "GM has the market covered for utility vehicles to fit every size, interiors to knock your socks off, loads of standard safety features, and competitive fuel-economy."

In a first-time move, MotorWeek named Toyota Motor Corporation as "Best Eco-Friendly" instead of singling out the single greenest vehicle on the market. "Toyota has made a remarkable company-wide commitment to gas-saving hybrid technology that drivers can use right now, not 10 years from now," said Davis. "At MotorWeek, we believe Toyota's commitment to reducing fuel consumption across their broad product line is not only a pioneering step, but is helping to persuade both the public and the automotive industry that we can significantly reduce fuel consumption without giving up the freedom of personal transportation."

The Drivers' Choice Awards are unique among automotive awards for their consumer focus. This year a team of 15 judges, comprised of the writers, producers, and crew of MotorWeek, evaluated more than 150 cars and trucks, focusing on superior performance, technology, practicality, and dollar value from the consumer's perspective. The winning vehicles were put through a battery of road and track tests as well as comprehensive comparisons to competitors. The resulting 13 categories reflect the most popular vehicle segments, and the winners represent what MotorWeek considers to be the best in each class.

1. Best Small Car -- Honda Fit
2. Best Family Sedan -- Saturn Aura
3. Best Minivan -- Hyundai Entourage / Kia Sedona
4. Best Convertible -- Volkswagen Eos
5. Best Luxury Sedan -- Lexus LS
6. Best Sport Sedan -- Infiniti G35
7. Best Performance Car -- Ford Shelby GT500
8. Best Small Utility -- Honda CR-V
9. Best Large Utility -- Chevrolet Tahoe / GMC Yukon
10. Best Crossover Utility -- GMC Acadia / Saturn Outlook
11. Best Pickup Truck -- Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra
12. Best Eco-Friendly -- Toyota Motor Corporation

13. Best Dream Machine -- Jaguar XKR, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Porsche 911 Turbo

Now in its 25th year, the annual MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Awards are coveted by drivers as the definitive list of best automotive picks for a range of lifestyles. Unlike other industry benchmarks, MotorWeek's categories reflect consumer buying trends and the full range of buyer preferences. MotorWeek, the original television automotive magazine series, is one of the nation's leading sources for automotive industry news, new car information, and driving entertainment. The award-winning series, seen nationwide on PBS, PBS HD and SPEED, is sponsored by Cars.com, The Tire Rack, Valvoline, and Goodyear. The weekly series is produced by Maryland Public Television. For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/motorweek.

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