AAA Top Car Picks for 2006

That trusty institution that’s always ready to lend a tow has announced its Top Car Picks for 2006. AAA looked at more than 200 vehicles and chose winners in 13 categories based on criteria like ride, performance, braking, handling, cargo space, value and fuel economy. The categories have been broken down by price as well as class and the “Cool Car” category, won by the Corvette Z06, was thrown in there just for fun.
While the Honda Ridgeline did take top honors in the Pick Up Truck category, it’s stablemate, the Honda Civic, came up empty handed for the first time this year, bested instead by the well-liked Mazda3 in the Under - $15,000 category.

Under   - $15,000      Mazda3
$15,000 - $20,000    Honda Accord Sedan            
$20,000 - $25,000    Dodge Charger                 
$25,000 - $30,000    Toyota Avalon                 
$30,000 - $35,000    BMW 3 Series                  
$35,000 - $40,000    Volvo S80                    
$40,000 - $50,000    Infiniti M35/M45             
$50,000                    Jaguar XJ8L                 
SUV  $30,000-          Ford Escape Hybrid       
SUV  $30,000          Mercedes-Benz M-Class    
Minivan                       Honda Odyssey            
Pick Up Truck            Honda Ridgeline         
Cool Car                    Chevrolet Corvette Z06