AAA Names Its Top Car Picks for 2006: Fuel-Efficient Hybrid SUV Gets a ``Green'' Thumbs Up and Corvette Named Cool

ORLANDO, Fla.--March 21, 2006--AAA, one of the nation's leading member organizations that provides motorists with solutions to all of their automotive needs, has selected its top cars for 2006 in 13 distinct categories, including "Cool Car of the Year."

They are:

Category             Car                    EPA Miles Per Gallon 
--------             ---                    -------------------- 
                                       ((a)EPA estimated city/highway)
Under - $15,000      Mazda 3                       25/35
$15,000 - $20,000    Honda Accord Sedan            26/34
$20,000 - $25,000    Dodge Charger                 19/27
$25,000 - $30,000    Toyota Avalon                 22/31
$30,000 - $35,000    BMW 3 Series                  20/30
$35,000 - $40,000    Volvo S80                     21/30
$40,000 - $50,000    Infiniti M35/M45              17/25
$50,000 +            Jaguar XJ8L                   18/27
SUV under $30,000    Ford Escape Hybrid            36/29
SUV over $30,000     Mercedes-Benz M-Class         16/20
Minivan              Honda Odyssey                 18/28
Pick Up Truck        Honda Ridgeline               16/21
Cool Car             Chevrolet Corvette Z06        16/26

(a) The EPA estimated miles per gallon information may vary based
on an individual's personal driving habits and road conditions.

"From fuel-saving hybrids to sporty, high performance vehicles, those looking to purchase a new vehicle in 2006 will be pleasantly surprised to see they have many makes and models from which to choose from," says John Nielsen, director, AAA Auto Buying and Auto Repair Network. "The difficult decision consumers may face now is how to narrow their selection to just one."

To read the full reviews for each of the vehicles selected, please visit the "On the Road" section found at http://www.aaa.com/publicaffairs. AAA clubs also offer additional information on vehicle selection, maintenance, financing, insurance, safety and use at http://www.aaa.com.

Every year, AAA takes a comprehensive look at more than 200 vehicles and then judges them according to many criteria like their ride and performance, braking, handling, passenger and cargo space, value, and fuel economy.

To help narrow their automotive search, AAA is urging consumers to visit AAA Automaker(R). This exclusive application, which can be found on aaa.com, allows users to research hundreds of vehicles with a few clicks, compare vehicles side-by-side, build their own vehicles, and save their research. Using the most comprehensive vehicle data, AAA Automaker(R) helps users make an educated decision about the best vehicle for their lifestyle and budget.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 49 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.

News releases can be viewed at: http://www.aaa.com/news