And the winners are...

Every January, members of the New England Motor Press Association gather at a secret location known only as "Bugsy's place, soon to be a museum" to take a last look at the cars tested by most of us during the past year. We also take one last turn in the models best suited for year-round driving in these parts.

Food is supplied by a woman mysteriously known only as Mrs. Columbo, and security is in the hands of a kid named Joey -- he's my pal and as tough as the bricks that are the joint. Out of all this comes our selection of vehicles that can handle New England winters.

Official winter vehicle: Our official winter vehicle of New England for 2007 is the Ford Edge. It's a tightly packaged, wonderfully designed "crossover," meaning you can't tell if it's a minivan, station wagon, or SUV. Here's what the auto writers had to say about it:

"Fit and finish of a much more expensive vehicle."

"Easy to drive, easy to park, and available in an all-wheel drive that beats New England winters."

"Fits every demographic, from soccer mom to traveling salesman."

But more came out of our gathering than heaps of praise for the Edge. Here are some winners in other categories, along with some critics' comments:

Cool winter vehicle: Toyota FJ Cruiser
"Jeep needs to pay attention. There is an FJ about to pass them by."

Yankee value award: Suzuki SX4
"All-wheel drive and spunky performance for $16,000? Look out, Subaru."

Crossover vehicle: Mazda CX-7
"A crossover that thinks it's a sports car."

"Sensible size, sedan manners, and I can fit a flat screen from Best Buy in it."

Premium all-weather sedan: Audi A8
"Ultra luxury, great performance.""Stealthy and worth every penny.""Wins on interior alone."

All-weather sedan, $30,000-$50,000: Infiniti G35x
"Great engine and transmission combo."" Four-door Z-Car.""Slick car for slick roads."

All-weather sedan under $30,000: Subaru Impreza
"Proves itself over and over."

All-weather station wagon: Volvo V-50
"Volvo's reputation for safety and AWD at a great price.""Best bang for the buck, safety, and prestige." "Hi, I'm from Cambridge."

All-weather coupe: BMW 328xi
"Very refined, could be the best BMW ever.""A fast ride for all seasons.""Where has this car been all my life?"

All-weather sports car: Subaru WRX-STi
"Fast and furious."

"Am I too old to drive this car? I don't think so."

Pick up truck: GMC Sierra
"All new and all good."

"Interior makes you forget it's a truck."

Sport-utility vehicle under $25,000: Kia Sportage
"Once considered for price alone, but now it's a great combination of price and quality."

"Toyota and Honda watch out: this Sportage is a winner."

Sport-utility vehicle $25,000-$35,000: Chrysler Aspen
"True mid size SUV, with a third seat that adults can use. You wouldn't know it started life as a Durango. And yeah, it's got a Hemi."

Sport utility vehicle over $35,000: Acura MDX
"There may better SUVs for off road, but how many actually go there? For all-around comfort ride, and handling, the MDX is a leader.""You can spend more and get less, but why?"

Royal Ford can be reached at ford@globe.com.