In a year of forward-thinking technology in the auto industry, CNET's choices for the five finalists for Tech Car of the Year spotlight the move toward self-driving vehicles.
"One trend that stood out for us this year was autonomous driving," CNET writer Wayne Cunningham noted. "No production car currently allows fully autonomous driving, but many come with driver assistance features leading in that direction.'
The nominees for 2013 are the 2014 Acura MDX, 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV, 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid, 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 and 2012 Tesla Model S.
Besides autonomous technology, CNET reviewers also watched for connectivity, quality technology and drive systems.
The Acura MDX features a driver assistance system that keeps the car centered in its lane, according to CNET. The update also includes app integration and a rear-seat entertainment system.
"Sampling the MDX's advanced suite of driver aid technologies--in particular the EPS-powered Lane Keeping Assist--is like getting a taste of the future where cars drive themselves," said CNET's Antuan Goodwin. "It's a bit off-putting at first, but leaps forward in technology can be that way."
The Mercedes-Benz S550 is another step forward in self-driving technology, featuring adaptive cruise control and steering assist that "essentially drive the car autonomously in low-speed traffic."
Green cars were well-represented in this year's Tech Car of the Year nominations. The fast-charging Chevrolet Spark EV has better torque than competitors and uses forward-thinking technology, being among the first vehicles to integrate navigation with a connected smartphone.
The Ford Fusion Hybrid is a step toward less emissions and more driverless technology with its "solid array of driver assistance features, from adaptive cruise control to lane departure prevention to automated parallel parking."
Last year's Tech Car of the Year winner, the Tesla Model S returned based on its drive architecture, CNET said.
"It's got a next-generation drivetrain that's ninja-silent and ox-strong," Goodwin described. "It's got a Web-connected touch screen in the dashboard that's probably bigger than the display you're reading this on. The Tesla Model S is the very definition of a 'tech car.'"
The top five contenders are selected based on the year's worth of reviews. Cars qualify if they are given a full review by CNET, complete with drive time and description of the cabin's tech features.
People can vote online for their favorite car. As of Thursday morning, the Tesla Model S was far ahead with more than 75 percent of the vote.
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