First Pickup Truck Joins Ranks of AAA Auto Guide Award Winners; Mini Cooper Named Coolest Car

    ORLANDO, Fla.--Feb. 24, 2003--AAA has selected 13 vehicles as best in their class, including the first pickup truck ever to make the list, naming them the 2003 AAA Auto Guide Award winners.
    AAA's team of evaluators chose Dodge Ram as its first truck winner for its "good looks, performance and creature comforts." The Mini Cooper was named the Cool Car for 2003 because it is, "...both thoroughly fun and reasonably practical."
    More than 200 vehicles were evaluated for "AAA Auto Guide: 2003 New Cars and Trucks," and the top vehicle in each category took the award. Twelve categories are based on vehicle cost and type, while one, the Cool Car category, is based on unique characteristics. Winning 2003 models are:

Mini Cooper (Cool Car) Mercedes-Benz S-Class (over $50,000) Jaguar S-Type ($40,000-$50,000) BMW 5-Series ($35,000-$40,000) Lexus ES 300 ($30,000-$35,000) Infiniti G35 ($25,000-$30,000) Buick LeSabre ($20,000-$25,000) Honda Accord ($15,000-$20,000) Suzuki Aerio (under $15,000) Dodge Ram (Truck) Honda Odyssey (Minivan) Lincoln Navigator (SUV over $30,000) Toyota Highlander (SUV under $30,000)

    "These vehicles offer the best combination of performance, quality and value," said Jim MacPherson, lead auto reviewer for the book. "Each one came out on top in its category, proving to be a good choice whether you are looking for comfort, workmanship or styling."
    As always, the book includes several articles designed to assist car buyers in selecting and purchasing a vehicle. New this year is an article on tips for purchasing a more environmentally friendly vehicle.
    Ratings for each vehicle are based on comprehensive reviews conducted for "AAA Auto Guide: 2003 New Cars and Trucks," an annual book of new vehicle evaluations. The book features a written review of each vehicle, a value score, an overall score, and vehicle photos, specifications, options and pricing information.
    In addition to adding a category for trucks, new features of the 2003 edition include crash test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) - other crash test ratings have been included for years - and a written second opinion with a different focus on some vehicles.
    Vehicles are tested under everyday driving conditions. Each vehicle receives up to 10 points in 20 different categories for a maximum of 200 points. Points are awarded for interior and exterior workmanship, fuel economy, transmission, braking, ride, handling, quietness, instrumentation, visibility, cargo space, and many other criteria.
    "This book is designed to be a helpful resource in the search for a new vehicle," said MacPherson. "It provides valuable information and allows consumers to narrow the list of vehicles they want to test drive."