Posted by Deborah Grieb on October 4, 2010 at 10:05 am

IntelliChoice and AutoPacific Announce Motorist’s Top Picks in both Popular and Premium Categories
Irvine, Calif. (September 21, 2010) – There is only one annual automotive award handpicked by active consumers in the marketplace that goes beyond the editorial and performance test data and provides a window into the wants and needs of motorists. This year’s Motorist Choice Awards highlight a collection of 15 unique buyer categories covering both market segments – Popular and Premium. Both reflect the purpose and perception of the consumer and illustrate the results of practical analysis, like total cost of ownership, fuel economy and resale value.
The fifth annual awards, announced today, are the result of exhaustive national value data and consumer lifestyle studies performed by the consumer-driven automotive analysis of IntelliChoice and automotive market research firm, AutoPacific. A first for this year, the awards were broken up into popular lifestyle categories that shoppers easily identify with, rather than the alternatives based on vehicle size, price and other such factors.
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Posted by Stephanie Brinley on September 1, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Luxury and Economy Cars Stand Out in Data from 32,000 Consumers
TUSTIN, Calif. (September 1, 2009) — Three cars stand above the crowd of 2009 model year vehicles, as judged by owners participating in research firm AutoPacific’s annual survey. Of the vehicles that earned honors in AutoPacific’s 2009 awards, only the Lexus LS, Lexus ES and Honda Fit topped their segments in each contest: the Vehicle Satisfaction Award, the Ideal Vehicle Award, the Motorist Choice Award (presented jointly with IntelliChoice.com) and Owner Recommendations.
Data collected by AutoPacific from more than 32,000 new vehicle owners rated 2009 vehicles on 48 vehicle attributes related to satisfaction, value, comfort, styling, size, performance, reliability, fuel economy and more. The winning vehicles best met their owner’s expectations.
“Winning one award is quite an achievement, and proof an automaker is able to meet its customers’ needs,” said George Peterson, President of AutoPacific. “But winning all four honors in a single year shows that Lexus and Honda are able to provide what their customers want in a reliable, satisfying vehicle; a single car owners are proud to recommend to their friends and family.”
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Posted by Stephanie Brinley on August 11, 2009 at 5:32 pm
“For the third year running, the 2009 Cadillac DTS wins the Motorist Choice Award in the Large Car segment. With a spacious cabin, huge trunk, and plush seating, owners find the DTS to be a very pleasant vehicle to own and operate.” — AutoPacific
“Best-in-segment ownership costs and a strong showing in the AutoPacific survey were the keys to the DTS win.” — IntelliChoice
Owner Satisfaction Highlights
* Exterior Size
* Brand’s Reputation
* Reliability / Dependability
* Driver’s Seat Forward Visibility
* Feeling Safe While Driving
* Safety Features
Cost-of-Ownership Strengths
* Best-in-Segment Ownership Costs
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Posted by Stephanie Brinley on August 11, 2009 at 12:36 pm
“In a closely fought battle, the Cadillac Escalade wins the 2009 Motorist Choice Award for Luxury Sport Utility segment-again. Cadillac style, expressed by exterior and interior styling as well as image, resonates with these buyer; satisfaction with Power and Acceleration helped secure the win.” — AutoPacific
“The Cadillac Escalade has best-in-segment maintenance costs and was ranked first in the AutoPacific survey.” — IntelliChoice
Owner Satisfaction Highlights
* Brand reputation, Vehicle Reputation and Image
* Exterior and Interior Appearance
* Ride, Handing and Braking
* Overall Quality, Reliability and Dependability
* Safety Features (and large size) give Escalade owners a strong feeling of safety while driving
Cost-of-Ownership Strengths
* Lowest Maintenance Costs
* Better than Expected Insurance Costs
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Posted by Stephanie Brinley on August 11, 2009 at 12:28 pm
“A stunning complement to the Audi range, the A5 picks up a 2009 Motorist Choice Award in the Aspirational Luxury Car Segment. The near-uncompromised coupe delivers on Audi’s ‘Truth in Engineering’ promise. A low-slung stance and sleek lines add beauty and grace to a demanding performance pedigree.” — AutoPacific
“The Audi A5 has the best-in-segment ownership costs and strong retained value.” — IntelliChoice
Owner Satisfaction Highlights
* Image and Exterior Styling
* Fun to Drive
* Overall Quality
* Overall Satisfaction
Cost-of-Ownership Strengths
* Best-in-Segment Ownership Costs
* Strong Retained Value
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Posted by Stephanie Brinley on August 11, 2009 at 12:17 pm
“Chevrolet Corvette takes home both Motorist Choice Award and AutoPacific’s Owner Recommendation Award for 2009. Owners in the Sports Car Segment kept the Corvette on top, following a 2008 win. These wins prove, yet again, Corvette is a performance icon. High scores in the performance categories drove Corvette in front to take the overall segment win.” — AutoPacific
“The Corvette has best-in-segment ownership costs and segment-leading retained value..” — IntelliChoice
Owner Satisfaction Highlights
• Power and Acceleration
• Braking
• Handling
• Fun to Drive
• Image and Exterior Styling
Cost-of-Ownership Strengths
• Best-in-Segment Ownership Costs
• Best Retained Value
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Posted by Stephanie Brinley on August 11, 2009 at 12:13 pm
“The Chevrolet Avalanche is the Motorist Choice Award winner in the Full-Size Pickup segment. Standard features that earned the win include a powerful V8 engine, a four-door cab, and useful bed size. The Avalanche is reliable/dependable and provides a strong feeling of safety when driving.” — AutoPacific
“The Avalanche was best in fuel costs and second best in retained value.” — IntelliChoice
Owner Satisfaction Highlights
* Ease of Ingress/Egress
* Overall Seating Capacity
* Reliable/Dependable
* Durable/Long Lasting
* Ride
* Safety Features and Feeling Safe While Driving
Cost-of-Ownership Strengths
* Strong Retained Value
* Lowest Fuel Costs
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Posted by Stephanie Brinley on August 11, 2009 at 10:41 am
“Minivans aren’t for everyone, but those that like ‘em love ‘em. And the Honda Odyssey is the one to beat, winning its segment in the Motorist Choice Awards but also in the 2009 AutoPacific Ideal Vehicle Awards. There are sound product and financial reasons for selecting the Odyssey, including seating capacity, reputation and safety features. Some owners consider it stylish as well.” – AutoPacific
“The Odyssey was a 2009 BOVY Winner. The Odyssey has best-in-segment ownership costs and segment-leading retained value and low insurance costs.” – IntelliChoice
Owner Satisfaction Highlights
• Overall Seating Capacity
• Driver’s Seat Comfort
• Brand Reputation
• Safety Features
• Feeling Safe While Driving
Cost-of-Ownership Strengths
• 2009 BOVY Winner
• Best-in-Segment Ownership Costs
• Best Retained Value
• Low Insurance Costs
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Posted by Stephanie Brinley on August 11, 2009 at 9:22 am
“Chevrolet’s Tahoe takes the Motorist Choice Award in the Large SUV segment, after winning AutoPacific’s 2009 Vehicle Satisfaction Award. Owners appreciate its reputation for reliability/durability and its wide array of safety features provide a strong feeling of driving safety, all complemented by highly rated driver’s seat comfort and driver?s forward visibility.” — AutoPacific
“The Tahoe has the lowest fuel, insurance, and maintenance in the segment as well as ranking first in the AutoPacific survey.” — IntelliChoice
Owner Satisfaction Highlights
* Reliable/Dependable
* Overall Quality
* Safety Features/Feeling Safe While Driving
* Driver’s Visibility
* Seat Comfort and Seating Capacity
Cost-of-Ownership Strengths
* Lowest Fuel Costs
* Lowest Insurance Costs
* Lowest Maintenance Costs
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Posted by Stephanie Brinley on August 11, 2009 at 9:04 am
“Toyota’s FJ Cruiser wins the 2009 Motorist Choice award for the Mid-Size Sport Utility segment. What a ride! Looks tough. Is tough. Goes anywhere. Just what an authentic SUV is supposed to be, and a poster child for legendary Toyota virtues of quality, reliability and durability to boot.” – AutoPacific
“The FJ Cruiser was a 2009 BOVY Winner. The FJ Cruiser has best-in-segment ownership costs and by far the best retained value.” – IntelliChoice
Owner Satisfaction Highlights
• Brand reputation
• Reliable/Dependable
• Durable/Long Lasting
• Overall Quality
Cost-of-Ownership Strengths
• 2009 BOVY Winner
• Best-in-Segment Ownership Costs
• Best Retained Value
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