CHICAGO -
On Wednesday, Cars.com revealed the list of six vehicle contenders that will vie for its “Best of 2011” honor next week at an awards gala held during the Detroit Auto Show.
The nominated models include the 2011 BMW 5 Series, 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, 2011 Chevrolet Volt, 2011 Honda Odyssey, 2011 Kia Optima and 2011 Nissan Leaf.
At Tuesday’s gala, the winner will be revealed.
"In building our list of nominees, our editorial team examines every facet of a car,” explained Patrick Olsen, editor-in-chief at Cars.com.
“We look at styling, performance, reliability, mileage, comfort, price and a slew of other factors. In a year which saw the most new model introductions in history, these six cars are praiseworthy examples of the best the industry has to offer,” he added.
The show’s host will be Detroit radio and TV personality Cyndy Canty. The rock band Barenaked Ladies will also perform.
Additionally, Cars.com will announce its “Lifestyle Award” winners across four categories.
The nominees for these honors include the following:
—Family Car of the Year: Subaru Outback, Honda Odyssey and Kia Soul
—Work Car of the Year: Chevrolet Cruze, Fort F-150 and Jaguar XJ
—Play Car of the Year: Jeep Wrangler, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Ford Mustang
—Eco Car of the Year: Nissan Leaf
“We know that the car-buying experience is more than just make, model and price," said Mitch Golub, Cars.com president. "Reviews — from our editorial team of experts or even from the car owners themselves — play an extremely important role in the buying decision. 
“Our awards are a testament to the thousands of hours our editors and writers spend each year reviewing and rating new cars, and are just one of many ways we give car buyers the confidence to know they’ve found the right car,” he added.