The past 12 months have been great for the auto industry, and things continue to look up for the market. As low gas prices and affordable financing options put more drivers behind the wheel of the cars they want, many motorists are turning their attention to the best available new models. To help in the search for a quality car, Cars.com recently awarded some vehicles with a distinction as one of the best offerings of 2015.
The 'Best of 2015'
Although many vehicles have garnered praise for their performance in 2015, only a few could be named as the "Best of 2015." According to Cars.com, which recently handed out its annual honors,
the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class was the best offering of the past year. It beat out several other all-new or redesigned models, including the Dodge Challenger, BMW M4, Subaru Outback, Volkswagen Golf and Honda Fit.
The C-Class was ultimately chosen thanks to its stellar combination of quality, innovation and value. While the previous iterations of the car were impressive, the improvements made to the most recent model set it apart from the competition.
"With the new 2015 C-Class, Mercedes-Benz has stunned the public and car reviewers by producing a stylish new compact luxury sedan," said Patrick Olsen, the editor-in-chief of Cars.com. "The new C-Class dances with the best in the segment, a truly impressive change from previous generations of the sedan. The new, stylish exterior is gorgeous, and the automaker brought the same level of opulence to the interior as well."
Other winners of the year
The C-Class wasn't the only model to take home a prize. Cars.com named several other vehicles as part of the "Best of 2015." In the pickup truck segment, for instance, the
Chevrolet Colorado earned the biggest award as "Best Pickup Truck of 2015." It beat the all-new Ford F-150, GMC Sierra 2500/3500 and Toyota Tacoma, among others. Judges were impressed by the Colorado's power, capability and, of course, value.
"2014 was the year of the pickup truck," said Mark Williams, the truck editor for the website. "They dominated sales and were a major contributor to the impressive year the industry had. With new, high-quality trucks being reintroduced like the Colorado, 2015 should be another great year for the pickup segment."
Other winners included the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe, which was chosen by the website as the "Family Car of the Year" for the second year in a row. Cars.com selected the vehicle because
it's well-suited to meet the demands of active families. The interior is spacious and comfortable - ideal for large groups or long road trips - and it boasts an impressive array of safety and infotainment features.
Caring for new cars
That new car smell may fade over time, but the quality of a vehicle doesn't have to. However, drivers who want to maintain a car's high level of performance must be willing to put in the effort. New cars often need just as much
vehicle maintenance as older models, especially if there are many complex special features that drivers frequently use. Plenty of preventative care can ensure that these amenities are operating as they should and won't fail in case of emergency.
Similarly, sticking to
scheduled maintenance limits the impact of depreciation, as well as general wear and tear. Professionals can keep a car running smoothly for years to come, and as long as drivers are committed to upkeep, they can capitalize on their investment.