Category Archive:
Posted by George Peterson on May 18, 2006 at 5:37 pm
The AutoPacific 2006 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards honor products in nineteen categories or segments. Nine categories are cars and ten are trucks.
Overwhelming Win by Japanese Brands in Satisfaction by Vehicle Type
Overall, owners of Japanese brand vehicles rate their cars or trucks at the top of their category in ten of the nineteen categories. Owners of European brand vehicles rated their vehicle tops in two categories – Volkwagen Passat in the Premium Mid-Size Car Category and the MINI Cooper in the Image Compact Car class. The American Big Three had five wins… Lincoln Navigator won it all with the highest rating of any vehicle – car or truck; Cadillac CTS, Mercury Milan, Chevrolet Corvette, Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty. OK, that leaves two winners unaccounted for… those are from Hyundai.
The Hyundai Azera is the top rated car, even beating top class luxury cars like the Lexus LS430, jaguar XJ, BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The Hyundai Santa Fe is the top rated Mid-Size SUV for the fifth time in its six year history… this win comes just months before it is replaced by an all new Santa Fe to be produced in America.
So…
Japanese Brands – 10 with Suzuki having its first ever win
American Brands – 5 with Chrysler Group having zero wins
European Brands – 2
Korean Brands – 2
Check http:/.vehiclevoice.com for the complete listings.
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Posted by George Peterson on May 17, 2006 at 5:00 pm
The Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty wins the AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award among Heavy Duty Large Pickups.
A workhorse near the end of its run, the Silverado HD nosed out Dodge Ram Heavy Duty and Ford F-Series Super Duty entries. Much of its win has to be credited to its up-graded Duramax diesel for the 2006 model year.
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Posted by George Peterson on May 17, 2006 at 5:00 pm
Complementing the numerous awards the
Honda Ridgeline has received since its introduction, Ridgeline customers weigh in by rating it as the most satisfying pickup on the market in the
AutoPacific 2006 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. Scoring higher than all Full Size, Heavy Duty and Compact pickups, Ridgeline proves that a softer pickup doing car and truck duty can provide great satisfaction for its owners. Heaped with innovations, including the first-ever trunk in a pickup, Ridgeline breaks the pickup mold.
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Posted by George Peterson on May 17, 2006 at 5:00 pm
The
Nissan Armada is a significant vehicle for a variety of reasons, the most notable of which is that it comes from a Japanese brand but is completely tuned for American tastes and sensibilities. Brand aside, there is absolutely nothing traditionally or typically Japanese about it. Armada is full size, and when we say full-size, we mean it! It has a powerful and sophisticated V8 engine bigger and mightier than the domestic competition! Armada is unapologetically made for North America and North America alone, with no compromises or shortcomings.
Armada was right for the market right out of the box for the 2004 model year when it won Large SUV honors in
AutoPacific‘s Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. As a repeat winner, Armada’s 2004 and 2005 performances surely were not flukes.
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Posted by George Peterson on May 17, 2006 at 5:00 pm
Mitsubishi Endeavor won its first
AutoPacific VSA when it was launched in 2004 and repeats in 2006. Endeavor’s 5-passenger interior package gives good spaciousness to front and rear passengers without the compromises often made by SUVs trying to shoehorn 7-people into the space designed for five. Endeavor has good performance and driving dynamics. While Endeavor’s somewhat controversial styling may limit its sales, clearly, once a person has made the commitment, the Endeavor clearly provides what they want.
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Posted by George Peterson on May 17, 2006 at 5:00 pm
The
Lexus LS430 is rated at the top of the Luxury Car category in the
AutoPacific 2006 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. While some luxury car buyers opt for sportier vehicles, the LS430 appeals to people valuing its sensory deprivation chamber quietness and isolation. Providing bulletproof quality and reliability, good handling, an outstanding ride and surprisingly powerful performance when pushed, the LS430 claims the title of top Luxury Car for 2006.
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Posted by George Peterson on May 17, 2006 at 5:00 pm
In its last year before being replaced, the
Hyundai Santa Fe continues its string of category-leading performances in AutoPacific’s Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. Santa Fe has won or tied in its category for five of the six years it has been on the market. In fact, Santa Fe was the first Korean brand vehicle to win one of the coveted
AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. This is a testament to Santa Fe’s strong combination of product competence, value and warranty. Santa Fe satisfies its owners and continues to help Hyundai build its brand image in the United States.
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Posted by George Peterson on May 17, 2006 at 5:00 pm
In its first year out, the all-new
Volkswagen Passat has established itself as an extremely satisfying Premium Mid-Size sedan winning the
AutoPacific 2006 Vehicle Satisfaction Award. Passat handily beat segment volume leaders Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata. Passat wins by virtue of its outstanding interior design, use of high touch materials and European driving dynamics.
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Posted by George Peterson on May 17, 2006 at 5:00 pm
The
Honda Odyssey Minivan wins top satisfying Minivan honors in
AutoPacific’s 2006 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. The Odyssey, in a three-way tie with other Japanese brand Minivans in 2005, moves into the lead for 2006. Odyssey’s relatively sporty performance, ride and handling combined with traditional Minivan styling and innovative interior features nudge Odyssey ahead of the Nissan Quest for 2006. Honda’s perceived product quality was the deciding factor.
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Posted by George Peterson on May 17, 2006 at 5:00 pm
Cadillac CTS moves to the top of the Entry Luxury Car category in the AutoPacific 2006 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. The European ambience of the CTS makes it a clear alternative to the Japanese and European brand entries in this segment. The fact CTS comes from an American brand is a testament to Cadillac understanding what buyers in this product category really want.
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