Cars.com Offers Picks for the Best Tailgating Vehicles

CHICAGO, Aug. 29, 2006 -- With the 2006 football season about to kick off, Cars.com has put together a Fantasy Tailgating Team of the best vehicles to get you, your gear and your buddies to the game. From a list of more than 75 contenders, Cars.com experts picked winners in eight categories.

Quarterback: The quarterback of Cars.com's '06 Fantasy Tailgating Team is the all-around top pick, and it had to show talent across the board: smart features, plenty of cargo room, a decent stereo, comfortable seats, towing capacity and a mess-friendly cabin. This year's winner:

  -- 2006 Honda Ridgeline - Not as big as domestic full-size pickups -- but
     no small fry, either -- Honda's refined Ridgeline crew cab pickup is
     the perfect vehicle for your tailgate party. Nothing else on the road
     features a watertight, drainable in-bed trunk that's this large. It
     effectively doubles as a cooler; add that to the composite cargo box
     with an optional locking cover, and there's sure to be plenty of room
     for all the essentials.

Offensive Line: These picks have waist-high cargo beds that endure rain, hail and unsecured Weber grills, yet they're always ready for next weekend.

  -- 2006 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid - It doesn't make much of a hybrid, but
     if you want to power a high-draw appliance, like an electric grill,
     this is your sole choice. The Silverado has four 120-volt power outlets
     located under the rear seat and in the pickup bed. The only drawback is
     the engine has to be running.
  -- 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche - The Avalanche has tons of functionality --
     like an extendable cargo bed and self-draining storage boxes -- and it
     can seat up to six.

Running Backs: These picks have zippy handling and small dimensions to help secure that prime parking spot, and their high gas mileage leaves you more cash for food and drinks. Massive cargo dimensions and earth-shaking sound systems aren't as important as innovative storage solutions and a cool stereo.

  -- 2007 Dodge Caliber - This is a good new hatchback with a stain-
     resistant cargo area and a liftgate that can shield you from rain and
     sun. But the real tricks for tailgating include an optional stereo
     speaker module that swings down from the liftgate to aim backward, and
     a "Chill Zone" glove compartment that cools up to four cans or bottles.
  -- 2007 Honda Fit - Despite its small size, the fuel-thrifty Fit can
     accept some very big cargo thanks to its flexible interior. If you need
     to take a break from the party, fully recline the front seatbacks and
     kick back, or hook up your iPod to the Fit's sound system with an
     available adapter.
  -- 2006 Mazda3 - The Mazda3 is quick enough to snag that elusive parking
     spot -- and probably fit in it, too. The added utility of the hatchback
     matches that of the other two running backs.

Wide Receivers: These vehicles can catch lots of cargo, people and more cargo -- and they come through with plenty of seating, storage and entertainment features sure to delight tailgaters.

  -- 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan - The third-row seat flips backward for
     comfortable bumper seating. When your pals are sitting on coolers, this
     is one bench you won't mind warming. The Grand Caravan isn't the only
     model with this feature, but it's the largest and best overall.
  -- 2006 Ford Freestar - Like the Grand Caravan, the Ford Freestar's third-
     row seat can rotate rearward for tailgate seating. There's room for
     seven inside, and an optional DVD entertainment system can keep the
     littlest of tailgaters occupied before the game.
  -- 2006 Mercedes-Benz R500 - If you want the ultimate comfort machine for
     a lot of people, you can't beat the R-Class. Yes, it's just a gussied
     up minivan -- so think of it as the Terrell Owens of its class.

Tight Ends: These vehicles have a good mix of cabin space and scuff- friendly surfaces, and, because of their size, they can also be easily parked.

  -- 2006 Honda Element - Don't worry about the mess. The Element's floor
     and seats wipe clean. The combination liftgate/tailgate provides
     sheltered seating, and the side door opening is nice and wide for easy
     loading and unloading. Its floor, which is 5.5 feet long when the rear
     seats are swung up and stowed, can also provide a respite for those who
     have tailgated too much. Plus, the Element is available with all-wheel
     drive, which should make trips to playoff games in Green Bay a little
     less hair-raising.
  -- 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser - The FJ is like a Swiss army knife: It has a
     great stereo, suicide doors so five people can travel to the game in
     relative comfort, and an easy-to-clean rear cargo area that is
     deceptively large. It's also a serious off-roader. Plus, if you pick
     one with a bright blue or yellow paint job, all your buddies will be
     able to find you in the crowded parking lot.

The Defensive Line: These picks have monstrous proportions that allow tailgaters to block the stadium view for the poor saps nearby.

  -- 2007 Chevrolet Suburban - If you want to bring nine revelers and
     provisions, you have to go extended. The Suburban represents decades of
     refinement, and it shows in this new, higher-mileage SUV.
  -- 2007 Ford Expedition EL - The Expedition is comparable to the Suburban
     in most ways and allows tailgaters to carry prodigious amounts of cargo
     and people. And it's got to be better than a GM car for Detroit Lions
     fans who tailgate at Ford Field.

The Owner's Box: Tailgating potential exists, but the primary point of this vehicle is to coddle occupants in luxury before, during and after the party.

  -- 2006 Land Rover Range Rover - The Range Rover has the classiest
     interior of any SUV, with efficient, pollen-filtered air conditioning
     to isolate you from the surrounding odors. If a blizzard hits, you'll
     be one of the vehicles that can escape, without exposing yourself to
     that messy snow.
  -- 2007 Cadillac Escalade - Late in the season, when tailgating conditions
     can deteriorate, Cadillac's Escalade comes through with standard front
     and rear heated leather seats and an available heated steering wheel to
     keep things cozy. And with the Escalade's standout styling and
     available 22-inch wheels, you might even be mistaken for one of the
     players.

Rookie of the Year: The Cars.com rookie of the year is an all-new or redesigned model that may not have all it takes to be quarterback, but is still a legitimate tailgating option.

  -- 2007 Dodge Caliber Sometimes a single feature drives a model into the
     end zone. For the Caliber, it's the optional rearward-facing stereo
     speakers in the liftgate.

  About Cars.com

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