2010 Active Lifestyle Vehicle Awards

San Diego area athletes weigh in on this year’s entries

Athletes Judge the Best Value Category

This week, two dozen San Diego area athletes got their turn to drive the 2010 entries for Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year, and cast their votes. The awards program, now in its sixth year, recognizes new cars and trucks that best meet the needs of active buyers. The program is sponsored by AAA and the Active Network. The Active Network has hosted the one-day ride-and-drive program since 2005.

Twenty manufacturers participated in the 2010 competition, entering vehicles in seven categories. A panel of twelve automotive journalists, including Larry Edsall, Denise McCluggage, John Stewart, Jim Prueter, Sue Mead, Tamara Warren and others drove the initial field of entries and pared the group down to 28 finalists.

Athletes on hand included members of Team Aquaphor, Active Network Media, and the San Diego Triathlon Club, participating in sports that ranged from surfing and sprint triathlon to ultra-distance running. The athletes’ votes weighed fifty percent in the final tally: jury panel votes comprised the remaining fifty percent. Read the rest of this entry »