AutoPacific awards 23 vehicles for high satisfaction
AutoPacific announced its 21st annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards, which recognize the most satisfying vehicles in the market.
Winners are selected by measuring how satisfied car owners are with their new vehicle. Over 54,000 owners of both new 2016 and 2017 makes and models were surveyed.
"This is the 21st anniversary of AutoPacific identifying the most satisfying vehicles and providing consumers a way to streamline their search for their perfect vehicle," AutoPacific president George Peterson said in a news release. "VSAs look at the big picture, which includes owners' experiences with their vehicle's quality and safety, but also goes deeper into the heart of the ownership experience."
The awards measure owner satisfaction according to 49 different attributes that range from interior comfort and styling to fuel economy and performance, according to AutoPacific.
With five VSAs, Nissan won the most awards this year, followed by Kia with three. Brands taking home two VSAs include Porsche, Honda and Ford. Genesis, Volvo, Mini, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, GMC, Lexus, and Lincoln each won one VSA.
Seven of the 23 winning vehicles were redesigned for the 2017 model year. The top redesigned vehicles include the Genesis G90, Kia Cadenza, Nissan Titan, Ford F-Series Super Duty, Honda Ridgeline, Kia Sportage and Chrysler Pacifica.
GMC won the top ranked popular brand award, "retaking the lead from 2016's top popular brand, Kia," AutoPacific said.
The premium brand with the highest ranked satisfaction is Lincoln.
AutoPacific recognized the 2017 Genesis G90 with its President's Award this year. This award is given only when the overall score tops the previous high score, according to the automotive marketing research firm. Previous President's Award recipients include the 2016 Cadillac Escalade, 2015 Kia K900, 2014 Mercedes S-Class and the 2010 Hyundai Sonata.
AutoPacific’s 2017 Vehicle Satisfaction Award Winners
Passenger Cars
Luxury Car: Genesis G90
Aspirational Luxury Car: Volvo S60/V60
Luxury Mid-Size Car: Nissan Maxima
Large Car: Kia Cadenza
Mid-Size Car: Kia Optima
Premium Compact Car: MINI Clubman
Compact Car: Honda Civic
Economy Car: Nissan Versa
Sports Car: Porsche 911
Sporty Car: Dodge Challenger
Light trucks
Light Duty Pickup: Nissan Titan
Heavy Duty Pickup: Ford F-Series Super Duty
Compact Pickup: Honda Ridgeline
Luxury SUV: Lincoln Navigator
Large SUV: GMC Yukon XL
Mid-Size SUV: Jeep Grand Cherokee
Premium Luxury Crossover SUV: Porsche Cayenne
Luxury Crossover SUV: Lexus RX
Large Crossover SUV: Ford Flex
Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV: Nissan Murano
Mid-Size Crossover SUV: Nissan Rogue
Compact Crossover SUV: Kia Sportage
Minivan: Chrysler Pacifica