Cars.com shoppers name Dodge Challenger their favorite car of the year

(January 11, 2012) CHICAGO — Cars.com has announced the Dodge Challenger as the winner of its Shoppers' Choice award. Finalists for the award were selected based on shoppers' actions on the site that indicated interest in new vehicles, including searching for vehicles, sending inquiries to dealers on availability and most importantly, filling out a positive review of their vehicle.

The Challenger took home the title after grabbing the most votes from Cars.com Facebook fans in the final round of the competition.      

"The Dodge Challenger's win proves, once again, that our Cars.com shoppers know what makes a great vehicle," said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com editor-in-chief. "The Challenger's classic muscle car styling, refined handling and spacious interior make this an excellent choice for anyone in the market for a fun and surprisingly practical car."

The 10 finalists for the Cars.com Shoppers' Choice award were (in alphabetical order):

    Audi Q5
    Dodge Challenger
    GMC Terrain
    Honda Accord
    Honda Pilot
    Kia Soul
    Ram 1500
    Subaru Outback
    Toyota Highlander
    Toyota Sienna

"This was a close competition, and even to be named a finalist for this award is a huge accomplishment," said Olsen.  "Our research shows that shoppers want to hear from each other about what to buy almost as much as they want to hear from experts.  This list is a great starting point for anyone gearing up to buy a new vehicle in 2012."

Finalists were selected based on shopping behavior from August 2010 through July 2011. Online voting ran from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30 on the Cars.com Facebook page.