Cars.com^TM, the premier online resource for buying and selling new and used vehicles, announced its editors' nominees for the Best Car of 2012.  This year's nominees are the Audi A7, Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Veloster, Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Subaru Impreza and Volkswagen Passat.  The winner will be announced during the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

"Above all, our Best of the Year awards celebrate value, innovation and competitiveness in the auto industry," said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com editor in chief. "The level of innovation among our nominees ranges from being truly unique to shaking up an entire segment of cars."

Details on why Cars.com editors nominated each vehicle include:

• Audi A7: Not only do Cars.com's editors think the A7's styling is different than anything else on the market, they also think the hatchback offers practicality not often seen in a sports car. Combined with handling and comfort that are "near perfect," the A7 should be on the list of anyone looking for a stunning, sporty car.

• Hyundai Accent: Right now U.S. car shoppers are looking for practical, affordable and efficient cars. As a result, new "pedestrian" subcompacts keep popping up on the market. Cars.com editors think the Accent is anything but pedestrian, offering 40 mpg, a shockingly roomy interior and affordable features usually reserved for more expensive, larger vehicles. In spite of stiff competition, these factors make the Accent a new class leader.

• Hyundai Veloster: A four-seat hatchback with somewhat eccentric styling might not seem like the obvious choice this year. However, the plethora of standard tech features for the cost, sturdiness on the road and overall appeal make the Veloster one of this year's stand-outs.

• Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: Any vehicle that looks like nothing the Cars.com team has ever seen before is sure to make an impression, and the Evoque made a great one. Its looks aren't the only reason it made the list: The Evoque has a more comfortable ride than others in its class, a competitive base price and plenty of power.

• Subaru Impreza: While improving significantly upon its previous generation doesn't guarantee any car a nomination, the Impreza's changes moved it from lower on the list of compacts to the very top in a segment, offering some of the best options our editors have ever seen. It's also the most affordable all-wheel-drive car on the market.

• Volkswagen Passat: Once a fringe player in the competitive family sedan segment, the Passat is another example of a redesign elevating an entire segment. With a huge interior, a high-quality cabin, composed driving dynamics and a low cost, the Passat is poised to overtake long-standing family sedan leaders and challenge the entire segment to improve.

"Picking a winner from this elite group was difficult," Olsen said. "Despite its stiff competition, we feel confident that our selection represents the best on the road today." 

For more information on the Best of 2012 Awards and Lifestyle Awards, visit Cars.com. 

About Cars.com

Cars.com was recently named the "Best Overall Customer Experience" by Keynote Systems, the leader in internet and mobile cloud marketing. Cars.com is an online destination for car shoppers that offers information from consumers and experts to help buyers formulate opinions on what to buy, where to buy and how much to pay for a car. With price listings, side-by-side comparison tools, photo galleries, videos, unbiased editorial content and a large selection of new- and used-car inventory, Cars.com puts millions of car buyers in control of their shopping process with the information they need to make confident buying decisions.

Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures LLC, which is owned by leading media companies, including Belo (NYSE: BLC), Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), The McClatchy Company (NYSE: MNI), Tribune Company and The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).