Category: Awards

Owners in the Compact SUV/Off-Road Vehicle segment place the Suzuki Grand Vitara into the winner circle, giving it the 2008 Ideal Vehicle Award. With highly rated visibility, interior lighting, technology, wheels and tires, safety features and great ingress/egress the Grand Vitara, with its off-road capabilities and on-road comfort, comes out ahead.

Bridging the gap between minivans and truck-based SUVs, the Ford Edge sliced through the competition in the Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV segment in the 2008 Ideal Vehicle Awards. With highly rated seat firmness and just the right amount of technology, it’s easy to understand how the Edge became the best-selling vehicle in its category. Owners were also very impressed with their interior storage and safety equipment.

Owners in the Premium Luxury Crossover SUV segment crowned the Audi Q7 the winner in the 2008 Ideal Vehicle Awards. Across the board, the Q7 did very well, winning for exterior size, interior lighting, exterior styling, seat firmness, handling, wheels and tires and top-notch safety features.

Not only has Kia improved its image, it has reinvented itself with vehicles like the Sorento. Owners rallied around the Sorento, commending its passenger room, visibility and interior storage in awarding the vehicle a 2008 Ideal Vehicle Award in the Mid-Size Sport Utility segment.

A vehicle still true to its off-road-capable lineage, the Jeep Liberty is no poser. Owners granted it the 2008 Ideal Vehicle Award in the Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle category, with highly rated safety features, technology, seat firmness and interior lighting. The Liberty also scored very well in exterior size and passenger room.

For the second year in a row, the Ford Expedition brings home an Ideal Vehicle Award for Large Sport Utility Vehicle. Owners ranked the Expedition highly for cargo space, exterior styling and level of technology. It was further noted that the 2008 Expedition EL had exceptional ride and handling.

An iconic SUV since it hit the market in 1998, the Lincoln Navigator proves itself once again as it wins the 2008 Ideal Vehicle Award in the Luxury Sport Utility segment with room to spare. The Navigator scored well in all fifteen categories. From exterior size, passenger room and cargo space to unparalleled ride, safety and wheels and tires, the Lincoln Navigator still satisfies its owners.

The venerable Ford Super Duty earns its keep, wining the 2008 Ideal Vehicle Award in the Large Heavy-Duty Pickup category. Owners found very little wrong with their trucks, especially when it came to exterior size, cargo space, visibility and exterior styling. According to owner’s ratings, this workhorse has the right technology, safety and ingress/egress to be top of the class.

Owners in the Economy Car segment rated Nissan Versa’s passenger room, handling and ingress/egress very highly. Though the vehicle is positioned below the Sentra, owners are finding the Versa really retains many of the qualities found in larger vehicles.

As owners of compact pickup trucks have migrated towards four full-size front-hinged doors, it makes sense that the winner in the 2008 Ideal Vehicle Awards Compact Pickup segment is only offered in a four-door configuration. With highly rated exterior styling and size, a top ranked ride and handling the Explorer Sport Trac came out No. 1. The win also comes thanks in part to V6 and V8 power with plenty of acceleration.

The Ford F-150 takes home the 2008 Large Light-Duty Pickup 2008 Ideal Vehicle Award. The F-150 is available in almost every conceivable configuration, and owners were particularly pleased with its cargo space, level of technology and handling.

Chevrolet’s Silverado comes in a winner in the Large Light Duty Pickup segment in the 2008 Ideal Vehicle Awards. While it received high marks across the board, especially strong ratings for interior lighting and safety ensured a victory.