Posted by George Peterson on July 30, 2012 at 1:02 pm
AutoPacific’s Ideal Vehicle Award (IVA) recognizes the vehicle that best hits the target its buyers demand. Winning an IVA shows the product planners, engineers and designers of the manufacturer understand what their target customers want and have created the vehicle to best meet their demands.
Subaru Legacy Dominates Dodge Avenger in IVA Win: The all-new 2012 Subaru Legacy comes closest to the ideal of any Mid-Size Car. The Legacy dominates the second place Dodge Avenger by 51 rating points to win its class. Having eighty-percent or more of owners rating a characteristic ideal is outstanding. Achieving a score of ninety-percent is even more impressive. Ninety-percent or more of Legacy owners rate exterior size and passenger roominess ideal. Eighty-percent or more of Legacy owners find these additional characteristics ideal: interior lighting, driver’s seat visibility, cargo space, wheels and tires, driver’s seat comfort, ride and handling, ease of getting in and out, interior storage compartments and safety features.
The Subaru Legacy also was Best In Class in AutoPacific’s 2012 Vehicle Satisfaction Award research.
A Few Shortfalls – Selecting the 6-Cylinder Option Would Offset Desire for More Power and Acceleration, but at a Cost. About 29% of Legacy owners want more power and acceleration. Only 6% would trade off power and acceleration for better fuel economy. Owners could have opted for the Boxer 6-cylinder engine that yields 83 more horsepower than the 173HP Boxer 4 that is standard equipment. This would have sacrificed 6 miles per gallon in city driving and lowest cost 6-cylinder would be about $5,100 more than the base 4-cylinder. About 32% of Legacy owners want more infotainment technology in their car. About 22% of Legacy owners want more daring styling than now. While the conservatively styled Legacy is handsome, it does not turn heads. Pushing the styling envelope in the next generation Legacy would yield benefits in future IVA results.
You can find an Autobytel review of this IVA award winner at http://www.autobytel.com/auto-news/awards/consumer-s-ideal-cars-revealed-in-2012-iva-awards-112116/
For a complete summary of all AutoPacific 2012 Ideal Vehicle Award results contact karin.turner@vehiclevoice.com and title your email “IVA Results”. A copy of the results will be emailed to you within 48-hours.
Continue Reading
Posted by George Peterson on November 22, 2006 at 1:28 pm
IIHS released the results of its 2007 Safety Pick Awards on November 20. VehicleVoice and AutoPacific feel that these results are important to communicate to our readers. Along with other awards for quality, satisfaction and performance, safety awards can and should be among the information sources a buyer uses when deciding which new vehicle to buy. After all, the Internet gives us almost perfect information.
While we do appreciate the safety value of electronic stability control, it will take years for the entire fleet to be equipped with ESC. For IIHS to eliminate all vehicles lacking ESC eliminates many otherwise safe vehicles from their analysis. This is too simplistic an approach.
2007 TOP SAFETY PICK award winners: award criteria are tougher; SUVs eligible for first time
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announces 13 vehicles that earn TOP SAFETY PICK awards for 2007. Winners include 4 cars, 7 SUVs, and 2 minivans. This award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, and rear crashes based on ratings in Institute tests. Winners also have to be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC).
WINNERS
Large car
Audi A6 manufactured in Dec. 2006 and later
Midsize cars
Audi A4
Saab 9-3
Subaru Legacy equipped with optional electronic stability control
Minivans
Hyundai Entourage
Kia Sedona
Luxury SUVs
Mercedes M class
Volvo XC90
Midsize SUVs
Acura RDX
Honda Pilot
Subaru B9 Tribeca
Small SUVs
Honda CR-V
Subaru Forester equipped with optional electronic stability control
Continue Reading
Posted by Keagan Patrick on October 17, 2006 at 10:38 am
Walking over to a Subaru Legacy doesn’t usually get my blood pumping or adrenaline going. The Subaru marqué typically conjures up visions of moving to Oregon, growing a beard or taking hikes through the redwood forest in my Birkenstocks. So, when asked to test-drive the Legacy sedan over the weekend I didn’t exactly burst into the parking lot skipping with glee. However, my experience with this sedan over the weekend would prove to be unbelievable. It has changed the way I look at Subarus… and Subaru owners…
In fact, as VehicleVoice and AutoPacific staff members drove the Legacy, opinions shifted.

The
Subaru Legacy GT Spec.B lives at the top of the Subaru food chain and does for the Legacy what the WRX STI did for the Impreza. It gives consumers a performance option and turns this four-door sedan into the ultimate Legacy. Relatively the same size as a
Mazda6 the Legacy Spec.B is a fairly refined sport sedan with an edge.
Continue Reading
Posted by cameron on October 12, 2006 at 4:23 pm

Watch Podcast

Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe via iTunes
If you’re looking for a great car or truck to buy this fall, one that’s not only stylish and powerful, but reliable and a great value, we’ve got a foolproof way for you to choose your next vehicle. Just look at which models won the inaugural AutoPacific – IntelliChoice Motorists’ Choice Awards. Unlike other trophies handed out in the automotive industry, this award measures owner satisfaction and the value of the vehicle. AutoPacific surveys owners to determine how satisfied they are with their vehicles. IntelliChoice analyzes the cost of ownership. The result is a strong benchmark combining the emotional relationship a person has with their car and the value they receive. What you get are some pretty extraordinary vehicles that are worth the purchase price, even years after the purchase.
The Orange County Auto Show set the stage for the 2006 Motorists’ Choice Awards presentations. We’ve got a few highlights right here in this week’s podcast.
Show Runtime – 4:30
Show Rundown
00:41 2006 Nissan Armada , best Utility
01:21 2006 Nissan Murano , best Midsize Crossover
02:49 2006 Subaru Legacy Wagon , best Midsize/Large Wagon
03:37 2006 Infiniti QX56 , best Luxury Utility and Top Ranked Vehicle Overall
Continue Reading