Drivers’ Choice Awards

We’ve driven our share of performance cars over the years, and we’ve probably driven more than our share of Mustangs, but we’ve never been quite as enamored with one as we are with the 2012 Boss 302. Yes, we know the GT500 has more power and doesn’t cost a whole lot more; but when it comes to a total package that just does everything right, for us, it’s the Boss. 

The original Boss 302 from 1969, is one of the most storied of all Mustangs, and thankfully, Ford did the Boss legacy justice.  But really, they did much more than just that; the new Boss 302 kicks the old one to the curb in just about every way. 

There’s 444-horsepower pumping out of its heavily tweaked 5.0-liter twin-cam V8, and it’s connected to a 6-speed manual transmission with one of the best shifter’s we’ve ever laid our hands on.

Exhaust gets pumped through a new quad-exhaust system with both rear and side outlets and must be experienced to be fully appreciated. 

There’s a limited-slip 3.73 rear end; and suspension that’s not only been tweaked front to back, but is adjustable. You can even dial-in your preferred steering response.   

And of course, there’s the nostalgic look, with flat black accents, side stripes, and power bulge hood; meeting modern performance, with hulking 19-inch wheels hiding 4-piston caliper Brembo front brakes.

Inside, SVT-designed Recaro seats fronting an alcantara leather wrapped steering wheel, add perfectly to an already well-done interior. And all of this can be had for just $41,000.  Not only that, but you can drive around as lead-footed as you want and still get close to 20 miles-per-gallon. 

But really, it’s the smile that appears on your face almost instantly after getting behind the wheel that endeared the Boss 302 to all of our staff, whether they were old enough to remember the original, or not. It’s one of the easiest Best of the Year winners we’ve ever decided on, as voting was unanimous almost right away.  It takes a special car to pull that off; and indeed, there’s no argument that the Boss 302 is one very special Mustang; and MotorWeek’s 2012 Driver’s Choice Best of the Year.   

Our Best Subcompact Car award goes to the Kia Rio. Despite new entries from Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota, and even Fiat; the Rio 4- and 5-door models stand out with handsome styling, athletic ride-and-handling, and a price that, while not the lowest in the segment, is very reasonable. Kia is striving to become the Korean BMW; focusing more on performance and style, than price and pure practicality. We like where they’re headed. 

Now, since the Rio is based on the mass market Hyundai Accent, we honor it as well. In fact, the Accent’s slick styling and upscale interior, when set alongside the sportier Rio, gives the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group a formidable one-two, 40 MPG subcompact punch.

That leads us to our Best Compact Car, the Subaru Impreza. With its 2012 re-design, we think the Impreza is primed for prime time.  No other compact comes close to the Impreza’s mix of standard all-wheel-drive, upscale interior, and near bargain pricing. Add in a fun-to-drive steering feel, plus a big jump in fuel economy, and you’ve got a four-season winner. 

Our Best Family Sedan award goes to another pair of Korean cousins, the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima. With its stunning design, four-cylinder and hybrid engines, and extensive warranties, the Sonata is a repeat winner.

But this year, we add the Sonata-based Kia Optima, another well built mid-size sedan that favors Jaguar more so than any rival. No wonder Optima is selling like hotcakes. And, as much as we love the exterior design of the Optima, we love the modern, ergonomically smart interior even more. Just like the Sonata, the Optima ranges from basic 4-cylinder, to sporty turbo, and to an eco-conscious full hybrid. 

When it comes to vacationing with lots of family and friends, and carrying all their belongings, we can’t think of a more comfortable way to do it than in the Honda Odyssey.  And that’s why it’s back again this year as our Best Minivan. Despite a new Nissan Quest and revamped Chrysler vans, we still prefer the Odyssey’s extra smooth ride, Accord-like handling, and cavernous cabin. But most of all, we love its class leading 28-MPG Highway fuel economy rating. 

When it comes to dropping the top and carving up some curvy roads, we’d choose our Best Convertible winner the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible. Whether you chose V6 or V8 power, you’ll get a great blend of fine acceleration and economy.  You’ll also get a power cloth top and styling, that despite being “retro” doesn’t look dated. 

Last year our Best Luxury Sedan award went to the Infiniti M. And, this year it wins again as Infiniti has gone and made the M even better by adding a full hybrid model. Never before has cruising at 60 in electric-only mode been so enjoyable.

The Volkswagen Jetta won our Best Small Car award last year, and this year the Jetta returns, but with a new award, Best Sport Sedan. As much as we liked the Jetta last year, we love this new GLI even more. Packing a new independent rear suspension, the GLI is about as entertaining as a front-wheel drive, four-door can be, all for under $25,000. 

Our Best Sport Coupe is another repeat winner, the Cadillac CTS Coupe. Even with a new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe, and fun new entries like the MINI Cooper Coupe, the CTS still outshines them all when it comes to style, comfort, and performance; whether in mild, base form, or the extra-strength V variety. 

This year, our Best Performance Car takes on an old-school muscle car flavor with the Ford Mustang Boss 302. We love everything about this new Boss, from the nostalgic-yet-modern styling, to the 444-horsepower 5-point-0 under the hood, to one of the best shifters we’ve ever laid our hands on. It’s everything you want in a performance car and it’s made right here. 

Despite some new life in minivan sales, it’s still utility vehicles that perform family duties the most; and our best Small Utility award goes to the all-new Mazda CX-5. A big departure from the Tribute, this compact crossover has both the looks and the fun-to-drive nature we’ve come to expect from Mazda.  Add in best-in-class fuel economy and available 19-inch wheels; and you’ve got a CUV that’s as practical to own as it is stunning to look at, making it a real winner.

Our Best Large Utility, or Utilities, is another repeat winner from last year, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango. Though they share the same structure, both have distinct personalities. 

The Jeep is, of course, the off-road champ; but more than that, with willing Pentastar V6 power standard, and a whole new level of comfort and convenience, the Grand Cherokee offers just about everything a 5-member family will ever need. 

But, if need to cruise on down the highway and carry a larger family, the Dodge Durango picks up where the Jeep leaves off. Durango delivers long distance room for seven. Like the Grand Cherokee, Durango can be equipped with a Hemi V8 so big-toys up to 7,400 pounds can be part of the adventure.

The Ford F-150 is no stranger to winning awards, and once again it takes our Best Pickup Truck award. Admittedly, there weren’t a whole lot of new entries this year, but Ford made us all believers that a V6 can be a standard bearer in the full-size truck ranks. The twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 not only gets better fuel economy than competitors V8’s, but it out-tows many of them as well.  Sounds like you can have your cake and tow it too. 

Turning our attention to more socially conscious vehicles, our Best Eco-Friendly award goes to not one car, but a group of cars, the Toyota Prius Family. Not only does the original Prius outsell every other hybrid, but it still beats them all when it comes to fuel economy. It’s being joined by a plug-in Prius PHEV, taking its parking slot next a more versatile Prius v wagon, and soon to arrive Prius c with the highest city fuel economy rating going. A lot of hybrids have been launched in recent years, but none do it better than the Toyota Prius family. 

Suppose saving money on fuel would never be an issue again. After all you just won the lottery and you’re ready for our Best Dream Machine category. As we always have trouble narrowing it down to just one, we picked three. 

First up is the Ferrari 458 Italia. Using as many spaceship metaphors as we possibly can, the 458 is a “rocket” off the line, and a “blast” to drive. You truly feel like a "star” behind the wheel, whether “launching” at a race track, or “orbiting” the parking lot at the country club. 

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is another one that we’d plunk our ill-gotten gains down on.  Whether it’s the gullwing coupe or the smooth roadster, the SLS gives us a great feeling in our hearts. But, it’s the feeling we get everywhere else after a few laps around the track in AMG’s first ground up design ever that put it at the top of our list.

While our final Best Dream Machine doesn’t approach the lofty price tags of the first two, the Porsche 911 is a performance icon that needs little explanation. Now in its 7^th generation, the all-new 991 takes the venerable sport coupe to a whole new level, one that most other manufacturers can only dream about.