The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
DO CAR AWARDS MEAN ANYTHING?
One Company takes a different approach
Vehicle awards should be taken with a grain of salt, because there are so many different kinds and because judging is often subjective and not always scientific.
How else do woeful duds and merely mediocre machines such as the 1983 Renault Alliance, the 1995 Chrysler Cirrus, the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu, the 2000 Lincoln LS, the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser and the 2010 Ford Fusion winning Motor Trend’s Car of the Year honors?
And what does it really mean to win any single award? Sure, it's always good to win, but caveat emptor — buyer beware — might be the best advice when it comes to some of the trophies and honors handed out. Not all are created equal.
But Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com has taken a different approach and one that seems to have value: The 10 Most Awarded Cars of 2017.
Kelley Blue Book staff aggregates results from its major awards programs — KBB.com's Best Buy Awards, Best Auto Tech Awards, Best Resale Value Awards, Five-Year Cost to Own Awards and Brand Image Awards — and adds its “accolade car lists” such as the 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000, Best Family Cars, 10 Most Comfortable Cars Under $30,000, among others.
Kelley Blue Book then uses that information to determine which cars and which brands qualify as the big winners. As such, here are the 10 Most Awarded Cars of 2017, according to Kelley Blue Book and KBB.com for 2017.
1. Honda Accord
It's not surprising the Accord tops this list given the car's long history of excellence and high ratings in the industry. What might be surprising is the Accord's No. 1 status in the final year of this platform, with an all-new Accord on the way for 2018.
2. Honda Civic
This is another easy choice. “The Civic has been our Small Car Best Buy winner every year since the award's inception, and repeated as the Overall Best Buy for 2017,” KBB.com noted. “It's also lauded for its tech features, as one of the 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000, and for its status as an appealing family sedan.”
3. Jeep Wrangler
Arguably the most iconic vehicle on this list, the Wrangler has a fanatically loyal owner base and it made the lists for 10 Most Fun SUVs and the 10 Coolest Cars Under $25,000. The Wrangler also earns high marks in two more awards categories: Best Resale Value and five-Year Cost to Own.
4. Hyundai Sonata
There's plenty to like about the midsize Sonata sedan, which is attractive, sporty, practical and a good bargain. KBB.com calls it “a compelling alternative to popular choices like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.”
5. Kia Optima
Another excellent midsize sedan from a Korea-based automaker, the Optima has made significant headway in an intensely competitive market segment. The Optima was named one of KBB. com's 10 Best Sedans Under $25,000 and a Best Family Sedan. Its Hybrid and Plugin Hybrid models made the list for Best Hybrids under $40,000.
6. Prius/Prius Prime
Toyota has been a pioneer in hybrid powertrains, so this selection makes perfect sense. The Prius is on the Best Hybrid Under $40,000 list, while the Prius Prime is one of the Best Plug-in Hybrid Cars Under $40,000. Both models also captured Five-Year Cost to Own Awards, while the Prius Prime is also a 2017 Best Buy Award winner.
7. Chevrolet Impala
The venerable Impala full-sized sedan continues to deliver both value and comfort for customers who like larger cars. The Impala is a three-time Best Buy award winner, and it made the lists of this year's Most Comfortable Cars Under $30,000, Best Family Sedans and FiveYear Cost to Own Awards.
8. Kia Sportage
Buyers are going crazy for small utility vehicles and in this category the Sportage has much to offer: It's stylish, functional, inexpensive and comes with a solid warranty. Add it all up and the Sportage took KBB.com's Small SUV Best Buy honors.
9. Honda CR-V
The long-running CR-V checks off many boxes, which is why it was named one of KBB.com's 12 Best Family Cars, 10 Best SUVs Under $25,000 and 10 Best All-Wheel-Drive Vehicles Under $25,000. For a family vehicle, the CR-V makes tremendous sense.
10. Subaru Impreza
All the things that make a Subaru a Subaru are here: Low cost, all-wheeldrive, practicality and strong resale value. A lot of car for not a lot of money makes it an excellent choice for price-conscious buyers.