CHICAGO and COSTA MESA, Calif. -

With the college football season cranking up in earnest this weekend, Cars.com released its annual list of top tailgating vehicles while Hyundai highlighted its advertising campaign revolving around pigskin on campus.

Experts from the Cars.com evaluated a gamut of vehicles, big and small, to determine which have the most to offer the serious tailgater.

“With football season comes the return of fans to parking lots across the nation to partake in tailgating festivities,” said Patrick Olsen, editor in chief at Cars.com.

“The ultimate tailgate requires the perfect tailgating car, so we took a look at a variety of new cars to determine which ones have factory-installed features to take the drama out of the pre-game party,” Olsen continued.

The top tailgating vehicle for 2013 as determined by Cars.com experts is the 2013 Ram 1500.

“Thanks to a host of tailgate-friendly updates, the tough-looking Ram 1500 is this year’s winner,” Cars.com said.

Notable tailgating-friendly highlights that made the 1500 the winner included:

—A new feature for 2013 allows owners to lower their truck to parking height for easier access to the bed and its contents.

—An optional RamBox package that includes covered, weatherproof containers that Chrysler says can store up to 280 cans plus ice.

—Adjustable tie-down points and truck bed divider (both included with the RamBox Package) should help keep the grill secure en route to the game.

—Uconnect Wi-Fi which allows tailgaters to set their fantasy football lineups via a private Internet network accessible within 150 feet of the truck.

“The 1500 really has it all when it comes to tailgating, but we realize the pickups aren’t for everyone,” Olsen said. “Our list includes a variety of cars that also come with great tailgating features and fit the needs of every kind of driver.”

Other top tailgating cars according to the Cars.com experts are (listed alphabetically):

—2013 Chevrolet Suburban: For those who need to haul the most passengers and gear, the site said Suburban can't be beat. With an available front bench seat, this SUV can accommodate up to nine fans plus minivan-beating cargo space large enough for grills, coolers and chairs behind the third row.

—2013 Chrysler Town & Country: Beyond the potential minivan embarrassment that some tailgaters might have, editors mentioned the Town & Country boasts impressive cargo room and available powered rear tailgate seats. Beyond that, Chrysler claims a segment-exclusive rear entertainment setup: two flip-down screens viewable from behind the open liftgate.

—2013 Ford Flex: Cars.com mentioned the Flex boasts substantial cargo space behind the third row, so an efficient packer could cram a small grill and coolers behind as many as seven football fans. Unlike many three-row SUVs, the Flex’s third row fits adults in reasonable comfort. During the cookout, that third row converts to a rear-facing tailgate seat.

—2013 GMC Acadia: Editors insisted the Acadia is perfect for the minivan hater who still wants minivan utility. The three-row Acadia boasts van-like cargo space large enough for all of the tailgating essentials. It also has available cargo-area stereo controls, which means you can plug (and charge) your iPhone up front while manning the playlist out back.

—2013 Honda Fit: A repeat, if unlikely, candidate, the site pointed out the Fit’s small size hides some surprising cargo room for its size behind the rear seats and even more if you fold them down. It also has the best fuel mileage in the group to help save money on a long trip to the stadium or traveling to away games.

—2014 Honda Odyssey: Editors noted the Odyssey has all the minivan goods:  best-in-class cargo room behind the second row, plus a widescreen entertainment screen visible from behind an open tailgate. New for 2014 is the Odyssey's available HondaVac system, whose powerful ShopVac vacuum makes cleaning up after the party a breeze.

—2013 Honda Ridgeline: The site indicated the Ridgeline returns to the list for 2013 thanks to its drainable in-bed trunk, allowing you to leave the cooler at home. Fold the crew cab's backseat cushions up and you get enough vertical storage to fit a small grill. New for 2013, a standard rearview camera should help you back into those tight tailgate spots.

—2014 Subaru Forester: Cars.com highlighted the redesigned Forester preserves its nameplate's excellent visibility. For a small SUV with standard all-wheel drive and good cargo room, the Subaru has sightlines that should keep nearby tailgates well within view. The big win? The more expensive models have a removable cargo tray in back, which helps with post-partying cleanup.

—2013 Toyota Sienna: Editors said the Sienna stands out for one thing, and that’s cargo room. We’re talking a gargantuan cargo area with the third row stowed and the second row removed. That's better than any other minivan or SUV.

In addition to naming the top tailgating vehicles of the season, Cars.com is also getting back into the football spirit this fall as the Presenting Sponsor of ESPN Saturday Afternoon College Football.

For more information on the Cars.com experts top picks for the tailgating season, visit blogs.cars.com.

“Please tailgate responsibly,” editors added.

Hyundai Aims to Leverage Loyalty of College Football Fans

OEM officials declared college football fans gearing up for the 2013 season will again be able to celebrate their passion and loyalty with Hyundai.

In the third year of its college football marketing campaign, Hyundai is connecting its owners — the most loyal in the entire automotive industry according to Brand Keys — with the passion and traditions of college football fans across the nation. The integrated campaign will engage fans at games, online and in the classroom.

“Maintaining our involvement with these legendary programs allows us to combine the passion of college football fans with Hyundai's pursuit of excellence and outstanding customer loyalty,” said Steve Shannon, vice president of marketing for Hyundai Motor America.

“We are able to expose fans to Hyundai's lineup and continue our tradition of being part of the nation's highest-profile sporting events,” Shannon continued.

—Game Day Events: Hyundai has again partnered with 25 powerhouse football programs to bring 154 on-site events to stadiums across the country. At 25 featured games, the on-site experience called The Hyundai Fieldhouse will be a destination for fans to watch other games around the country and enhance their pre-game activities.

The Fieldhouse will give fans the opportunity to check out the latest vehicles in Hyundai's lineup and play fun tailgating games to win co-branded school gear like t-shirts and sunglasses. Hyundai will also showcase an “Ultimate Tailgate Vehicle,” a 2013 Santa Fe  modified for any and all pre- and post-game celebrations along with a 2013 Veloster Turbo.           

By participating in Hyundai's on-site experience, officials highlighted one lucky fan will have a chance to win a 2014 Veloster Turbo. Each time a fan enters the Hyundai space, they can check-in on Facebook and be entered to win a new car. Last year, Illinois fan David Peterson took home a 2013 Santa Fe Sport.

—Yahoo The Loyalty Report Editorial Content: Online, Hyundai is collaborating with Yahoo Sports’ ThePostGame to create the Loyalty Report at LoyaltyReport.com.

The Hyundai-branded editorial section created by Yahoo sports writers, editors and bloggers will highlight the amazing loyalty college football fans show their school. There will be 13 weeks of original content with a new school being featured each week.

The content will include a 13-episode video series showcasing fans and their tailgate traditions, weekly columns on the history of college football and its most historic rivalries, and another 13-episode video series telling human interest stories of the game's most dedicated fans.

—Lens of Loyalty Student Film Contest: The automaker believes there is no one better at knowing a school's football traditions than the current students. Hyundai is asking the film programs at its partner schools to submit a one-page treatment for a film that showcases football-related traditions that inspire the students, alumni and fans.

From those treatments, Hyundai will choose the finalists to move onto the film-making process with each finalist receiving $10,000 to produce the film. The resulting 2- to 5-minute films will be posted on Hyundai's Web properties, including its YouTube page, where a winning film will be chosen by a panel of judges.

Officials highlighted the winning film school will earn an additional $10,000 and bragging rights among some of the country’s best film programs.

—Hyundai Sun Bowl: To cap off the season, Hyundai will continue its title sponsorship of the Hyundai Sun Bowl.

The Sun Bowl is the second oldest college football bowl game in the nation and matches teams from the ACC and Pac-12 conferences. This year’s game will mark the 80th anniversary of the Sun Bowl and is scheduled for Dec. 31 at noon (MST) at Sun Bowl Stadium and will be broadcast on CBS.

—Partner Schools: The 25 teams include: Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, Boston College, BYU, Cal Berkeley, Clemson, Connecticut, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas, UCLA, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin.

“From ‘The Swamp’ to ‘The Big House’ and 23 schools in between, fans from all across the country will experience the loyalty and passion that Hyundai breathes into its products,” the OEM said.

Hyundai’s support for college football is through a multi-year agreement with IMG College and Learfield Sports, which manages the media and sponsorship rights for the schools and helps develop the local campus marketing programs.

The automaker went on to mention the campaign will also be supported by television, print, radio, social media and online advertising. Hyundai will air spots throughout the season on CBS, ABC/ESPN, FOX and FOX Sports 1.

“Targeted radio, print and online advertisements will reach diehard college football fans on the channels, magazines and websites they frequent the most,” officials said.

Continue the conversation with Auto Remarketing on both LinkedIn and Twitter.