Cars.com Announces "Best Of 2013" Award Nominees

CHICAGO, Dec. 17, 2012 --  Cars.com today announced its editors' nominees for the site's highest honor, the "Best Of 2013" Award. Nominees include the BMW 3-Series, Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, Ram 1500, Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ and the Toyota Prius.

"Each year, automakers roll out upwards of 70 brand-new or redesigned cars," said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com's Editor-in-Chief. "From those, we choose the very best new or fully-redesigned cars that represent change, innovation, forward thinking and a breath of fresh air."

Cars.com's editors' "Best of 2013" finalists include (in alphabetical order):

BMW 3 Series : The new 3 series has outdone itself in too many areas not to be considered one of the best cars of the year. There is more interior room, a new design keeps it looking contemporary, and under the hood is an engine BMW can be proud of.

Honda Accord: The Accord boasts admirable EPA mileage, has improved driving refinement and generous standard equipment. This impressive redesign improves in a number of areas where its predecessor lacked.

Honda CR-V: The compact-crossover segment is packed with comfortable, competent cars, but no automaker blends those two attributes better than Honda has with its CR-V. The CR-V's edgy styling, standard features, affordable prices and fuel-efficiency helped to make it a top pick.

Ram 1500: There is no other segment more competitive and more significant than full-size half-ton pickups. The new 1500 offers class-leading fuel economy, a segment-exclusive 8-speed transmission, another exclusive airbag suspension, and a vastly improved and more technologically advanced interior than they've ever had before.

Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ: Nearly identical from chassis to sheet-metal, the FR-S and BRZ sports cars provide a driving experience that is rare. In a market dominated by the practical and the expensive, sports cars at this price alone deserve praise.

Toyota Prius c: With the debut of this smaller Prius, Toyota ups the ante again with a subcompact that achieves an EPA-estimated 50 mpg combined, at a price that is about $5,000 lower than the regular Prius. Its smaller dimensions help give the hatchback a nimble, light feel, making it ideal for the tighter confines of city driving.

"There is no shortage of great cars on the market these days," said Olsen. "However, these seven cars, representing a variety of segments, buyers and lifestyles are what we consider to be the best of the best. Car shoppers can be assured that a Cars.com award nominee has our highest seal of approval and is a worthy investment."

Winners will be announced on January 15, 2013 at the Cars.com Award Gala during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.