Category: Awards

The Cadillac CTS won the 2008 IVA award in the Aspirational Luxury Car segment. Owners rated it highly for its exterior styling and size. It also scored very well in power and acceleration. The infotainment system added to owners’ ratings of the CTS, as it scored highly with respect to level of technology.

Though the Volvo C70 is only available in one trim level (T5), owners in the Aspirational Luxury Car segment found the C70 well equipped, giving the C70 top honors as a 2008 Ideal Vehicle. Of course, it also comes standard with numerous safety features, sharp wheels and tires, excellent interior lighting and appropriate seat firmness.

For the second year in a row, owners in the Premium Luxury Car segment have crowned the Mercedes-Benz S-Class an Ideal Vehicle. The same S-Class that has become synonymous with safety, style, and performance won out over Audi, Lexus, and Infiniti, among others, by receiving higher ratings for exterior styling, interior lighting, passenger room, ride, handling, safety, ingress/egress, interior storage and an level of technology.

AutoPacific's annual Ideal Vehicle Awards have been announced for 2008. Along with Porsche winning for best premium brand, Ford took home the honors for best mainstream brand/

With five cars and trucks earning the strongest owner satisfaction scores in the industry, Cadillac won the 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Top Brand. Edging out Japanese and European luxury marques such as Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and BMW; Cadillac proved itself a winner with owners. Rebuilding the brand over the past few years with great product and targeted advertising paid off when owners gave Cadillac higher marks for satisfaction than any other brand.

There is still fierce competition in the Minivan Segment of the Vehicle Satisfaction Awards, but owners of the Toyota Sienna were more satisfied with their vehicle than owners of any other minivan in 2008. The Sienna scored strongly in both Reputation categories – the Toyota Brand and the reputation of the vehicle itself. Owners also gave the Sienna high marks for Overall Seating Capacity, Reliability and Overall Quality.

Nissan’s all-new Rogue Compact Crossover SUV is the 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Award winner in that hotly contested segment. The Rogue scored highest in owner’s satisfaction with Reliability/Dependability followed by Safety Features, Exterior Styling and being Fun to Drive.

The all-new Saturn Vue was in the top rank of the Mid-Size Crossover SUV Segment in the 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. Owners strongly rated the Exterior Styling of the Vue and gave it high marks for Handing, Braking and Safety Features.

The Toyota RAV4 beat out last year’s Vehicle Satisfaction Award winner, the Honda CR-V, achieving the top rank in the Mid-Size Crossover SUV Segment. Toyota’s Brand Reputation, RAV4’s perceived Reliability and its Overall Quality were strong contributors to RAV4’s victory.

Suzuki was in the top rank among the 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards in what has become one of the most competitive SUV segments — the Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV Segment. Owners’ satisfaction with Power and Acceleration, Braking, Handling, Traction in All Weather Conditions and Safety Features were among the highest scores for the XL-7. Owners also gave the vehicle top marks for being Fun to Drive.

For the second year in a row, the Ford Edge has ranked at the top of the Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV Segment in the Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. Considered by some to be Ford’s crossover ‘halo vehicle’, the Ford Edge has very satisfied customers. Exterior Styling, Driver’s Seat Comfort and a sense of owners Feeling Safe While Driving helped the Edge receive top honors again this year.

The Hyundai Veracruz was top-ranked in the Large Crossover SUV Segment in the 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. Scoring high for Safety Features and a Feeling of Safety While Driving, the Veracruz also did a good job of mixing style with substance. But for Veracruz owners, the Hyundai’s 100,000-mile warranty cemented the victory.

The GMC Acadia was in the top rank in the Large Crossover SUV Segment of the 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards, winning owners over with its Exterior Styling, Overall Seating Capacity and Safety. It also scored better in Overall Owner Satisfaction than its stablemate, the Saturn Outlook.

In the 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards’ crowded Luxury Crossover SUV Segment, the BMW X3 bested tough competition to rise to the top. With a well-established Reputation, good Handling, and highly rated Safety Features, the X3 impressed owners, who also rated Overall Quality very high, along with All Weather Traction and Feeling of Safety While Driving.

Acura’s RDX was in the top rank of Luxury Crossover SUVs in the 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. Owners gave high marks to its Innovative Technology and Audio System. Driver’s Seat Visibility also scored very high, as did Handling. With a 240-horsepower, turbocharged engine, the RDX also scored very well in the Power and Acceleration department.

Buick Enclave owners placed the vehicle in the top rank of the Luxury [...]