GM Wins 7 ESPN MyRide Editor's Choice Awards
Posted Dec 11, 2007 @ 2:21 am
ESPN reviews cars? They sure do, and they sure seem to like the latest models from General Motors. ESPN MyRide's Editor's Choice awards were announced yesterday and the General picked up 7 awards, including the Car of The Year.
Hit the jump to see what awards GM won and what ESPN had to say about each car.
From ESPN.com:
Best New Midsize Car: Chevy Malibu
Just when you’re about to give up entirely on domestics’ ability to compete in the midsize class, along comes the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. A car that debuts at the top of its class, the Malibu has the looks, equipment, power and refinement to take the Japanese leaders head-on, and even take some of them to the cleaners. The only hard part for GM will be convincing skeptical buyers, burned for decades by Chevy’s lousy midsizers, that the Malibu is really worth a test drive. But once customers get behind the wheel, the Malibu is good enough that it sells itself.
Best New Entry Luxury Car Under $40,000: Cadillac CTS
Talk entry luxury and you’ll end up discussing Audi, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and others. Cadillac also makes the cut courtesy of the CTS, though its limited V-Series version has essentially been the only shining star. That changes for the 2008 model year, as the thoroughly-revamped CTS not only blows away its former mold but also kicks the pristine paint off of its competitors’ quarter panels. Exterior styling is aggressive yet upscale, interior materials and layout are arguably class-leading, and performance and handling options deliver everything from a comfortable commuter to an enthusiast’s delight. Germany and Japan, consider yourselves served.
Best New Small Utility Vehicle: Saturn Vue
If you told us a year ago that Saturn’s small ute would earn a place on our Best list, we would have laughed until we were purple. So imagine our surprise when the Vue showed up on our doorstep and floored most of us with its style, comfort, power, and interior décor. This is another home-run for GM, a car that cleanly knocks it out of the park against the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, and leaves many others in the dust. That it comes in a thrifty Green Line hybrid and a hot-handling Red Line is just icing on the cake.
Best New Luxury Utility Vehicle Under $75,000: Buick Enclave
Yes, you read it correctly – Buick. Fact is, the Enclave offers an exceptional balance of luxury and utility, from the power liftgate to the smooth and quiet ride. Roomy and comfortable inside and attractively styled outside, the Enclave rose above the competition on many levels with its available features and overall feeling of quality. Passengers of all ages will be comfortable no matter where they sit, and there’s more than enough cargo space for runs to the hardware and grocery stores. GM has much to be proud of with the big crossover, and buyers in this segment should give the Buick a serious look.
2008 Hybrid of the Year: Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid/GMC Yukon Hybrid
Hybrids are for environmentalists. Big SUVs are for people who don’t care about spotted owls. At least, those are the stereotypes. However, GM is mixing these two with what could turn out to be the biggest hybrid advancement yet, and we’re not just talking about sheer size. No, the real story here is that improving the mileage of a gas guzzler may well have a larger impact on the environment than improving the efficiency of already-thrifty cars. With 332 horsepower, a 6,200-lb. tow capacity, and the ability to go full-electric under 30 mph, the GM twins could very well be game changers.
2008 Utility Vehicle of the Year: Buick EnclaveOur Utility of the Year Award goes to the 2008 Buick Enclave because it excels on so many levels. From the sharp styling inside to the smooth, quiet ride and top-notch build, the Enclave is very well executed. The 3.6-liter V-6 engine delivers plenty of power, and with its comfortable interior, good cargo space and a bevy of standard features and options, GM has blessed the Enclave with one key intangible element: desirability. This vehicle proves that the General has the wherewithal to design and build a superior vehicle.
2008 Car of the Year: Cadillac CTSWhen one of our editors returned from driving the 2008 Cadillac CTS for the first time, he wondered aloud about being “that” guy who boldly stated “Cadillac is back.” He decided to do just that and when the other editors had the same opportunity, they quickly fell in line. The CTS takes this year’s Car of the Year Award not because it’s a great Cadillac but rather because it’s an excellent automobile, possessing style, comfort, available performance, quality, value, and attention to detail which collectively elevate it far above this category’s broad range of competitors. Yes, Virginia, Cadillac is back.
Category: Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, GMC, Saturn
ESPN reviews cars? They sure do, and they sure seem to like the latest models from General Motors. ESPN MyRide's Editor's Choice awards were announced yesterday and the General picked up 7 awards, including the Car of The Year.
Hit the jump to see what awards GM won and what ESPN had to say about each car.
From ESPN.com:
Best New Midsize Car: Chevy Malibu
Just when you’re about to give up entirely on domestics’ ability to compete in the midsize class, along comes the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. A car that debuts at the top of its class, the Malibu has the looks, equipment, power and refinement to take the Japanese leaders head-on, and even take some of them to the cleaners. The only hard part for GM will be convincing skeptical buyers, burned for decades by Chevy’s lousy midsizers, that the Malibu is really worth a test drive. But once customers get behind the wheel, the Malibu is good enough that it sells itself.
Best New Entry Luxury Car Under $40,000: Cadillac CTS
Talk entry luxury and you’ll end up discussing Audi, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and others. Cadillac also makes the cut courtesy of the CTS, though its limited V-Series version has essentially been the only shining star. That changes for the 2008 model year, as the thoroughly-revamped CTS not only blows away its former mold but also kicks the pristine paint off of its competitors’ quarter panels. Exterior styling is aggressive yet upscale, interior materials and layout are arguably class-leading, and performance and handling options deliver everything from a comfortable commuter to an enthusiast’s delight. Germany and Japan, consider yourselves served.
Best New Small Utility Vehicle: Saturn Vue
If you told us a year ago that Saturn’s small ute would earn a place on our Best list, we would have laughed until we were purple. So imagine our surprise when the Vue showed up on our doorstep and floored most of us with its style, comfort, power, and interior décor. This is another home-run for GM, a car that cleanly knocks it out of the park against the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, and leaves many others in the dust. That it comes in a thrifty Green Line hybrid and a hot-handling Red Line is just icing on the cake.
Best New Luxury Utility Vehicle Under $75,000: Buick Enclave
Yes, you read it correctly – Buick. Fact is, the Enclave offers an exceptional balance of luxury and utility, from the power liftgate to the smooth and quiet ride. Roomy and comfortable inside and attractively styled outside, the Enclave rose above the competition on many levels with its available features and overall feeling of quality. Passengers of all ages will be comfortable no matter where they sit, and there’s more than enough cargo space for runs to the hardware and grocery stores. GM has much to be proud of with the big crossover, and buyers in this segment should give the Buick a serious look.
2008 Hybrid of the Year: Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid/GMC Yukon Hybrid
Hybrids are for environmentalists. Big SUVs are for people who don’t care about spotted owls. At least, those are the stereotypes. However, GM is mixing these two with what could turn out to be the biggest hybrid advancement yet, and we’re not just talking about sheer size. No, the real story here is that improving the mileage of a gas guzzler may well have a larger impact on the environment than improving the efficiency of already-thrifty cars. With 332 horsepower, a 6,200-lb. tow capacity, and the ability to go full-electric under 30 mph, the GM twins could very well be game changers.
2008 Utility Vehicle of the Year: Buick EnclaveOur Utility of the Year Award goes to the 2008 Buick Enclave because it excels on so many levels. From the sharp styling inside to the smooth, quiet ride and top-notch build, the Enclave is very well executed. The 3.6-liter V-6 engine delivers plenty of power, and with its comfortable interior, good cargo space and a bevy of standard features and options, GM has blessed the Enclave with one key intangible element: desirability. This vehicle proves that the General has the wherewithal to design and build a superior vehicle.
2008 Car of the Year: Cadillac CTSWhen one of our editors returned from driving the 2008 Cadillac CTS for the first time, he wondered aloud about being “that” guy who boldly stated “Cadillac is back.” He decided to do just that and when the other editors had the same opportunity, they quickly fell in line. The CTS takes this year’s Car of the Year Award not because it’s a great Cadillac but rather because it’s an excellent automobile, possessing style, comfort, available performance, quality, value, and attention to detail which collectively elevate it far above this category’s broad range of competitors. Yes, Virginia, Cadillac is back.
Category: Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, GMC, Saturn
