The number-crunchers have been earning their keep the last few weeks. With their mathematical weapon of choice in hand, be it a calculator, tally counter or even a trusty abacus, they’ve kept an exacting total of how many vehicles automakers sold over the past 12 months. How did things shake out? Which brand nearly doubled its sales for the year?
The Cadillac Escalade was ranked first among all models in the AutoPacific’s 2011 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards as well as topping the Luxury SUV segment for the fourth consecutive year. 68,000 owners of new cars and light trucks completed a survey in the U.S selecting the Escalade as the top choice.
“It’s especially gratifying to be honored by AutoPacific’s Vehicle Satisfaction Awards because they’re chosen by owners,” said Don Butler, vice president for Cadillac marketing. “Escalade’s consistent strong showing in these awards is a testament to its ability to deliver what customers want in a luxury vehicle.”
The cars and trucks were tested in areas such as comfort, safety and overall purchase/lease experience. The market research and consulting firm AutoPacific publishes a variety of studies annually within the automotive industry.
The Cadillac Escalade features a 6.2-liter V8 producing 403-hp and 417 lb-ft of torque. Pricing for the Escalade ranges from $63,455 to $85, 175.
[Source: GM News]
Generation Y has come of age and are now setting their sights on what new car to buy. And according to research firm AutoPacific, younger car buyers are choosing vehicles made by Toyota, Honda and Ford.
Also among the top 5 brands are Chevrolet and Nissan. Making their way onto the 2010 Gen Y (people born around 1983) list are Kia and Hyundai, who squeezed out Mazda and Jeep for a coveted spot on the list.
“The fact that Generation Y has a bigger footprint in brands like Hyundai and Kia than in past years means these brands are definitely doing something right to gain Gen Y’s attention,” says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific.
The Ford Fiesta is popular with this generation, not only because of its size and cost, but also because it’s featured sponsorship on popular shows such as American Idol and various online contests and promotions.
You’ll find the results of AutoPacific’s top 10 list after the jump.
[Source: USA Today]
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In a study of 25,000 new car buyers, Porsche owners are most likely to recommend that their friends buy a Porsche. In fact, according to a survey performed by marketing research firm AutoPacific, the Porsche brand gets an recommendation rating of 91 percent.
When it comes to individual models, all of Porsche’s vehicles did well, but the top spot actually belongs to Infiniti’s G37. An amazing 95 percent of new G37 buyers would recommend that their friends buy the same car. This result also gave the G37 the title of most recommended Aspirational Luxury Car.
In the luxury car category, the Premium Luxury segment was dominated by the Lexus LS. Toyota also took home the most recommended in the Large Car category for the Toyota Avalon, the Premium Mid-Size Car category for the Camry, the Luxury Mid-Size Car category for the Lexus ES, the Image Compact Car category for the Prius, the Minivan category for the Sienna, the Compact Pickup category for the Toyota Tacoma and the Premium Mid-Size Sport Utility category for the 4Runner.
In total, Toyota took the most class wins with eight, while Ford scored six “Most Recommended” wins and Honda took home three.
Not surprisingly Ford took home the top spot for Large Light-Duty Pickups with the F-150 and Large Heavy-Duty Pickups with the F-Series Super Duty. The Mustang took home the spot as the most recommended sporty car, while the Flex and Edge won for the Large Crossover SUV and Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV categories.
The just-released survey by AutoPacific includes data from over 25,000 individuals who purchased or leased a new car from September to December 2008.
“Typically, car buyers are very pleased when they first drive their new car off the dealer lot. But just as a vehicle’s worth depreciates over time, some car owners’ level of confidence depreciates,” says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. “We have quantified their level of confidence to see which new car owners will recommend their model most and this is information which will help new car shoppers make informed, confident buying decisions. While many owners can be happy with their new cars, it takes another level of confidence to recommend it.”
More “Most Recommended” vehicles after the jump:
