Author Archive: George Peterson

Luxury Mid-Size Car: This year’s Luxury Mid-Size Car segment winner is the Lincoln MKZ beating out the competition with a strong performance in handling and safety categories. The MKZ also received impressive scores in exterior size, ride, and seat firmness.

Large Car: Just coming off its Vehicle Satisfaction Award win the Ford Taurus SHO pulls off another win with an AutoPacific Ideal Vehicle Award. It came as no surprise that owners cite the new for 2010MY exterior styling, handling (thanks in part to the All-Wheel-Drive that comes with SHO/EcoBoost) and safety features. The Taurus SHO also received an extra boost from owners applauding interior lighting and cargo room.

Aspirational Luxury Car: In the Aspirational Luxury Car segment the Volvo V70 edged out the competition with high marks for seat firmness and interior lighting. A very high percentage of owners also said that they wanted the same vehicle ride and safety as they currently have.

Premium Luxury Car: The Volvo S80 won the AutoPacific Ideal Vehicle Award in the Premium Luxury Car segment. The S80 received particularly strong ratings from owners with respect to exterior size, handling, and cargo space. Seat firmness also received top marks from S80 owners.

The Jeep development team was also tasked with developing the next generation Mercedes ML 5-passenger SUV. The result is the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. A loose platform companion with the next generation ML and the best Grand Cherokee ever.

Buick's new Regal is a worthy entry in a competitive market. With Buick's aim of taking on Lexus and Acura (leaving Cadillac to go for the German luxury brands), Regal should be on your shopping list. Dynamically more entertaining than Lexus or Acura, Regal's interior lives up to its premium promise.

The 2010 Suzuki Kizashi was the overall winner in this year's AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award rankings, meaning that it not only was best in its mid-size car segment, but was more satisfying to its owners than any other 2010 model year vehicle on the market.

The 2010 Suzuki Kizashi was the overall winner in this year's AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award rankings, meaning that it not only was best in its mid-size car segment, but was more satisfying to its owners than any other 2010 model year vehicle on the market.

Cadillac is adding standard scheduled maintenance - Premium Care - to its 2011 Model Year products. Providing scheduled maintenance is a way to demonstrate commitment to the customer, reduce ownership costs and increase customer loyalty. BMW has been offering scheduled maintenance for years and has effectively shed its "Break My Wallet" image that existed prior to the scheduled maintenance program.

We recently had the opportunity to drive the new 2011 Silverado HD and Sierra HD pickups. They may not look very different, but with an all-new frame and chassis and an improved powertrain these vehicles should be considered all-new.
New and improved is the theme, at least in every aspect except exterior and interior appearance.