Play Car of the Year Nominees
Best Car for Off Roaders
2012 Jeep Wrangler
If there's a single vehicle more synonymous with our Off Roader Award than the Jeep Wrangler, we haven't driven it. The newest version of the traditionally styled Jeep is tremendously capable on rugged trails, yet it's much more civilized than many would expect. With the vastly upgraded interior from last year and the hugely improved motor and transmission this year (we found it more than 3 seconds faster from zero to 60 mph), it is a much better vehicle this year. For our family, we're partial to the four-door version, which always seems popular with our youngest kids who like to punish interiors.
Best Car for Sun Lovers
2012 Ford Mustang Convertible
Among our nominees for Best Car for Sun Lovers, the 2012 Ford Mustang convertible stands out because of how well it combines the attributes that draw buyers to convertibles. As a sporty car, it's more than capable, but it also has a usable backseat and trunk that make it a viable family car. (Two-seat roadsters don't make good primary cars.) The Mustang offers choices galore: V-6 or V-8 engines, manual or automatic transmissions and a slew of option packages and special editions. Like most convertibles, its mileage is lower than the coupe's, but it's still an admirable 19/30 mpg city/highway with the 305-horsepower V-6.
Best Car for Driving Fun
2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302
The Ford Mustang is already one of our favorite sports cars, but the new Boss 302 knocked us out. Everything you like about the Mustang GT — the power, the sound and the attitude — has been enhanced in the Boss 302. With a 444-horsepower, 5.0-liter V-8, a limited-slip differential, a quad-exhaust system, an adjustable suspension system and adjustable steering, the Boss 302 is equally at home on the street or the track. Complementing the performance changes are retro styling cues that pay tribute to the original Boss Mustang of the late '60s. For the performance enthusiast, the Mustang Boss 302 is the complete package.