For the 2005 Autobytel Editors' Choice awards, seasoned journalists with decades of experience evaluating vehicles chose the new or substantially upgraded 2005 cars and trucks that they would recommend. These recommendations are subjective, and based primarily on value, design, quality, and performance. We limited consideration to vehicles with base prices lower than $75,000, except for the Dream Car category. Honestly, if you're spending more than $75,000 on a new set of wheels, you don't really care what we have to say. At least one panelist must have driven the vehicle prior to final voting on Jan. 20, 2005. In most categories, contestants are limited to 2004 models that initially went on sale after Feb. 1, 2004, and 2005 vehicles that initially went on sale before Feb. 1, 2005. One exception to the rule is that winners in the Best Car for the Environment, Best Family Car, and Best Car for Teen Drivers categories do not need to be new for 2005, or substantially upgraded for 2005. Instead, we review the entire vehicle population based on specific criteria: · Best Car for the Environment - Each vehicle on our ballot must be sold nationwide and score at least 9 for pollution and at least 5 for greenhouse gases according to the EPA. Editors then select from the list of eligible vehicles. · Best Family Car - Each vehicle on our ballot must be a four-door vehicle with a base price under $30,000 that receives no less than a four-star rating in each of the NHTSA's crash tests. For pickups, SUVs and vans, eligible vehicles must also score no less than four-stars for rollover propensity. Finally, contenders for this award must achieve these scores without NHTSA safety concerns prior to Jan. 15. · Best Car for Teen Drivers - Each vehicle on our ballot must be a sporty vehicle with a base price under $20,000 that receives no less than a four-star rating in each of the NHTSA's crash tests. For pickups and SUVs, eligible vehicles must also score no less than four-stars for rollover propensity. Finally, contenders for this award must achieve these scores without NHTSA safety concerns prior to Jan. 15.
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