AutoPacifi announces results of 2008 model year vehicle satisfaction research

Tustin, California - A study released today by noted automotive consulting firm AutoPacific, Inc. summarizes the results of its 2008 model year vehicle satisfaction research. AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award (VSA) is an industry benchmark for objectively measuring how satisfied an owner is with their new passenger car or light truck.

In a year that promises to be the toughest in a decade, owner-based awards like AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award will help customers make their purchase decisions.

The brand with the highest satisfaction rating is Cadillac. The vehicle - car or truck - registering highest overall satisfaction in 2008 is the new-for-2008 Toyota Sequoia Large Sport Utility Vehicle. The passenger car with the highest overall satisfaction score is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

There are twenty-eight Vehicle Satisfaction Award categories. At the manufacturer level, multiple top ranked award winners include: General Motors (eleven categories), Toyota (nine categories), Ford (six categories), Volkswagen (four categories), Honda (three categories) and Hyundai (two categories).

Cadillac wins the Vehicle Satisfaction Award as the top brand in a close race. Strong satisfaction performance by Cadillac cars and trucks has Cadillac winning over other leading luxury marques including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW says AutoPacific president George Peterson. Top ranked finishes by Cadillac's Escalade, CTS and DTS helped cement their industry topping position.

Peterson continues, Vehicles that are all new received top rankings in several categories: Cadillac CTS, Honda Accord, Mitsubishi Lancer, Scion xD, Toyota Sequoia, Audi Q7, Buick Enclave, Hyundai Veracruz, GMC Acadia, Saturn Vue and Nissan Rogue. These new-for-2008 vehicles were strongly rated by their owners showing that the industry continues to improve as new vehicles are added to the hotly contested American car and light truck markets.

Top 2008 model year performers are:

BRAND: Cadillac

PASSENGER CARS:

Premium Luxury Car Aspirational Luxury Car Large Luxury Car Large Car Luxury Mid-Size Car Premium Mid-Size Car Mid-Size Car Image Compact Car Compact Car Economy Car Premium Sports Car Sports Car Sporty Car

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cadillac CTS Cadillac DTS Toyota Avalon/Ford Taurus Lexus ES350 Honda Accord Volkswagen Jetta/Mercury Milan Chevrolet HHR/Volkswagen GTi Mitsubishi Lancer Scion xD Audi TT Saturn Sky Scion tC

In addition to identifying category winners, VSA also establishes numerical satisfaction ratings for virtually every passenger car and light truck in the North American market. Owner satisfaction is measured across 46 specific areas related to a vehicle's operation, comfort, safety and the overall purchase/lease experience. The 2008 ratings reflect input from buyers and lessees of new vehicles acquired September through December 2007.

AutoPacific is a future-oriented automotive marketing and product-consulting firm. Every year AutoPacific publishes a wide variety of syndicated studies on the automotive industry. The firm also conducts extensive proprietary research and consulting for auto manufacturers, distributors, marketers and suppliers worldwide.

Source:Infibeam.com