CHICAGO, Oct. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With football season
upon us, Cars.com, the premier online resource for buying and
selling new and used cars, has compiled a list of the best
tailgating vehicles for the 2011-2012 football season.
"Tailgating is one of the best parts of going to a football game
and the perfect tailgate can't be a success without the right
vehicle," said David Thomas,
Cars.com Managing Editor. "These rides have to haul your tailgating
gear to the game and often do double duty as a place to sit and
entertain. Our list includes vehicles loaded with features that
will make your pregame party the envy of other tailgaters."
The top tailgating vehicles of the season and their key
tailgating features according to Cars.com are:
- 2012 Honda Ridgeline: Trucks meet a lot of tailgating
needs including a bed to haul gear in and plenty of room to sit.
The Ridgeline makes the list because it also has a massive
watertight trunk under the bed, perfect for keeping beverages and
food cold for the pregame and postgame party.
- 2012 Nissan Quest: The Quest
is the only minivan with seats that fold down completely, which
makes bringing everything to throw the perfect tailgate a breeze.
The optional rear DVD entertainment system can accept video game
inputs, so tailgaters can challenge their opponents to a game
before the real kick off.
- 2012 Mini Cooper Countryman S All4: For those looking
for the perfect tailgating vehicle but wanting a smaller car, the
Mini will comfortably fit you and your buddies while still leaving
room for the cooler. The cargo space may not compare to a minivan,
but it does offer more than most midsize sedans. There's also a
12-volt outlet in the back, allowing tailgaters to make sure their
fight song is heard full blast.
- 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander: Most compact SUVs make good
tailgating options because of all the cargo space. The
Outlander stands out because its clamshell tailgate extends
outward, making loading in and out easy, giving tailgaters a place
to sit and providing a cover for bad weather.
- 2012 Ford F-150: Two trucks made the list because of
their great features for tailgating. Muddy items can be
thrown in the back, the supplies in the bed are easily accessible
and there is an actual tailgate to sit on. The F-150 stands
out for its innovative tailgate step, which makes climbing into the
back to grab the hamburger buns a little bit easier.
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The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).
SOURCE Cars.com