Family Vehicle of the Year Award to 2003 Honda Pilot

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Nov. 8 -- Declaring the 2003 Honda Pilot to be the best new vehicle that meets the needs of busy families, AMI Auto World Magazine Editor-in-Chief Terry Jackson presented Honda executives the magazine's annual Family Vehicle of The Year award.

Represented by a Tiffany crystal obelisk engraved with the winning vehicle's name, the award is based on AMI Auto World staff assessments of 10 finalists that covered a broad range of vehicles.

"Traditionally the family vehicle has been thought of as a big sedan or perhaps a station wagon," Jackson said. "But the dramatic shift in family lifestyles and consumer preferences in the last 10 years has changed the definition of a family vehicle.

"Recognizing that the family vehicle today could be a minivan, a sport- utility vehicle or the traditional sedan or station wagon, the Auto World staff cast a wide net in seeking out the best vehicles."

After driving dozens of contenders, the staff selected 10 finalists. In addition to the Pilot, the list included Honda's Odyssey minivan; Toyota's Highlander SUV, Sienna minivan and Avalon sedan; Buick's LeSabre sedan and Rendezvous SUV; Chevrolet's Impala sedan; Dodge's Caravan minivan; and Volkswagen's Passat station wagon.

"We graded these finalists on things that are important to families seeking perfect transportation: seating and cargo capacities; safety ratings; fuel economy; reliability; comfort and useful interior features; performance; warranties; and resale value," Jackson said.

The final analysis was close, but when all things were considered the Honda Pilot emerged as a clear winner.

"Its three rows of seating combined with clever interior storage, a smooth 240-horsepower V6, all-wheel-drive, competitive pricing and Honda's reputation for reliability and resale value make the Pilot the perfect vehicle for busy, value-conscious families," Jackson said.

AMI Auto World Magazine is a monthly publication of American Media Inc., a Boca Raton-based company that is the nation's largest publisher of supermarket celebrity and consumer magazines.