AAA Names Its Top Car Picks for 2006: Fuel-Efficient Hybrid SUV Gets a ''Green'' Thumbs Up and Corvette Named Cool

BURNSVILLE, Minn.--March 8, 2006--AAA, one of the nation's leading consumer organizations for "all things automotive," has selected its top cars for 2006 in 13 distinct categories, including "Cool Car of the Year."

They are:

Category                 Car                     EPA Miles Per Gallon
--------                 ---                     --------------------
                                                    ((a)estimated
                                                     city/highway)
Under -   $15,000        Mazda 3                        25/35
$15,000 - $20,000        Honda Accord Sedan             26/34
$20,000 - $25,000        Dodge Charger                  19/27
$25,000 - $30,000        Toyota Avalon                  22/31
$30,000 - $35,000        BMW 3 Series                   20/30
$35,000 - $40,000        Volvo S80                      21/30
$40,000 - $50,000        Infiniti M35/M45               17/25
$50,000 +                Jaguar XJ8L                    18/27
SUV $30,000-             Ford Escape Hybrid             36/29
SUV $30,000 +            Mercedes-Benz M-Class          16/20
Minivan                  Honda Odyssey                  18/28
Pick Up Truck            Honda Ridgeline                16/21
Cool Car                 Chevrolet Corvette Z06         16/26

(a)EPA estimated miles per gallon. Actual mileage may vary based on an
individual's personal driving habits and road conditions.

"From fuel-saving hybrids to sporty, high performance vehicles, those looking to purchase a new vehicle in 2006 will be pleasantly surprised to see they have many makes and models from which to choose from," says John Nielsen, director, AAA Auto Buying and Auto Repair Network." The difficult decision consumers may face now is how to narrow their selection to just one."

To read the full reviews for each of the vehicles selected, please visit the "On the Road" section found at www.aaaexchange.com .

Every year, AAA takes a comprehensive look at more than 200 vehicles and then judges them according to many criteria's like their ride and performance, braking, handling, passenger and cargo space, value, and fuel economy.

To help you narrow your automotive search, let your fingers take you to AAA Automaker(R). This exclusive application, which can also be found under the "On the Road" section in the AAA Exchange Web site, allows users to research hundreds of vehicles with a few clicks, compare vehicles side-by-side, build their own vehicles, and save their research. Using the most comprehensive vehicle data, AAA Automaker(R) helps users make an educated decision about the best vehicle for their lifestyle and budget.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 49 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.

AAA (www.aaa.com) offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 49 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA Minnesota/Iowa is part of The Auto Club Group, with 4.1 million members in eight Midwest states. AAA Minneapolis has more than 175,000 members throughout Hennepin County.