CHICAGO -

Getting into the spirit of NFL season, which is in full-swing, Cars.com revealed late last week that not only will football fans see a company ad while watching Super Bowl XLVI, but the site also revealed its top tailgating picks.

According to Cars.com, the best tailgating vehicles for the 2011–2012 football season range from the 2012 Ford F-150 to the new Mini Cooper Countryman S AII4.

"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,” he added.

The top tailgating vehicles of the season as well as what makes them fit the bill, according to Cars.com, include:

—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.”  

Moving on to highlight the company’s new ad deal for the upcoming 46th Super Bowl, Cars.com announced that is returning to the big game for the fifth year in a row with a 30-second commercial planned for the third quarter.

"Advertising during the largest television event of the year has been a successful awareness-building strategy for us over the last four years," said Mitch Golub, president of Cars.com. 

"We see this year’s commercial as another important investment in our brand, translating the enormous audience into new Cars.com customers and opportunities for advertisers,” he continued.

Cars.com will  be adding to its advertising campaign “Confidence,” and the spot during the Super Bowl will focus on the site’s resources available to car shoppers while they look for “the perfect car at the perfect price,” officials noted.

DDB Chicago, the site’s advertising agency of record, will develop the spots. 

"For four years, this has been a terrific way to launch our annual marketing campaign," said Carolyn Crafts, Cars.com vice president of marketing. 

"As we continue to look toward new and innovative ways to build awareness among car buyers, traditional advertising channels remain equally important as ways to build our brand and generate buzz,” she concluded.