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Feb. 11, 2010 / 12:21 PM

Toyota Prius MotorWeek's top car

1 of 2 | A Toyota logo is seen on a Prius at a Toyota dealership in Alexandria, Virginia on February 3, 2010. Toyota Motor Corp recently issued its largest safety recall ever and suspended North American sales and production of eight models due to the potential of a sticky accelerator pedal. UPI/Alexis C. Glenn | License Photo

CHICAGO, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- The Toyota Prius took top honors as MotorWeek's Best of the Year and Best Eco-Friendly vehicle in the U.S. automotive TV series' 2010 Driver's Choice Awards.

"The Prius winning the prestigious MotorWeek Driver's Choice Best of the Year and Best Eco-Friendly awards is truly an honor that reflects how far hybrid technology in the U.S. has come in one short decade," Bob Carter, Toyota's top executive and general manager in the United States, said.

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Carter said Wednesday Toyota was making progress in fixing braking and sticky gas pedal and floor mat problems with eight popular models that were recalled.

The awards, announced at the Chicago Auto Show media preview, were based on driving ratings in December before the Japanese automaker recalled 437,000 third-generation Prius and Lexus hybrids to update software to fix a braking problem.

"It's obviously not the best timing you can imagine," John Davis, MotorWeek's longtime host, told The Washington Post. "We're still very high on the car. We think it's a superb automobile."

The 2010 Ford Taurus, assembled in Chicago, was named Best Family Sedan. Three General Motors vehicles earned awards with the Chevrolet Equinox named Best Small Utility. The Buick LaCrosse was Best Luxury Sedan and the sporty Chevy Camaro was Best Sport Coupe.

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The Mazda3 took the Best Small Car award and Nissan's 370Z was Best Convertible. BMW's 3-series was Best Sports Sedan and the Audi S4 earned Best Convertible kudos.

The Honda Pilot was MotorWeek's Best Large Utility and the Dodge Ram 1500/2500/3500 Best Pickup Truck.

There was a tie for Best Dream Machine between the Audi R8 5.2 FSI and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

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