Work Car of the Year Nominees
Best Car for Commuters
2009 Audi A4
For commuters, the redesigned A4 strikes a consummate balance: It's easier to drive than competitors from BMW and Infiniti, more fuel-efficient than even the four-cylinder Acura TSX, and generally roomier than the whole lot. Ride quality suits the daily grind, and the cabin boasts excellent materials and supportive seats. The A4's $30,700 base price gets you a capable turbo engine and a well-rounded list of luxury features; most trims have Quattro all-wheel drive, giving the car all-weather capabilities its rear-wheel-drive competitors lack. Sport sedans aren't known for commuter-car comfort, and the fact that the A4 bucks the trend — while still being engaging to drive — is worth high praise.
Best Car for Hard Workers
2009 Dodge Ram 1500
Construction workers and contractors alike will find plenty of utility in the redesigned Ram. The cabin pulls a few moves from Chrysler minivans' Stow n' Go playbook, with available storage areas under the rear seats and passenger footwells. The two standard bed rails with cargo tie-downs are typical pickup truck fare, but Dodge's optional RamBox compartments aren't. The compartments sit atop the rear fenders and offer plenty of room to put extra tools within easy reach. They're also lockable to deter theft. The Ram's 1,850-pound payload and 9,100-pound towing capacities are unremarkable, but ride and cabin quality stand out. If you want a hard-hitting truck that feels downright carlike on the way home, look no further.
Best Car for The Boss
2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The S-Class takes the honor as the top car for bosses for the second year in a row, and there are a number of reasons why. For one, its elegant design hasn't gone out of style; no competitor even touches its bold fenders and Bentley-esque rear. Inside, the S-Class remains tops in terms of luxury features and styling. The leather is plush, the wood trim is stunning — even the buttons feel like they cost a fortune to make. Oh, and both the V-8 and V-12 engines move this large sedan like a hot knife cutting through the butter of the undeserving masses driving alongside it.
