Thirty Winning Models Announced at the Orange County International Auto Show
Anaheim, Calif. (September 22, 2011) – Notable automotive industry research companies, IntelliChoice and AutoPacific, today announced the 2011 Motorist Choice Awards. Now in its sixth year, this venerable award series is designed to recognize those vehicles that deliver the compelling combination of high consumer satisfaction and lower-than-expected ownership costs over time. These awards were announced today at the Orange County International Auto Show at the Anaheim Convention Center.
This year, IntelliChoice and AutoPacific continued categorizing the winners into a collection of 15 popular lifestyle segments that shoppers could easily identify with, including categories such as "Active Lifestyle", "Cosmopolitan", "Head Turner" and "People Mover". The category winners covered two market segments – Popular and Premium. Both reflect the purpose and perception of the consumer and illustrate the results of practical analysis, like total cost of ownership, fuel economy and resale value.
Ford led the list of winning vehicles with four, including the Expedition which won in three different Popular categories. Repeat winners included the Dodge Ram HD in the Popular Active Lifestyle category, Hyundai Genesis in the Popular Luxury Lifestyle category, and the Lexus IS in the Premium Youthful category.
The 2011 Motorist Choice Award Winners (Category: Popular/Premium):
Active Lifestyle
Dodge Ram HD
Land Rover LR4
Cargo Hauler
Ford Expedition EL
Volvo XC70
Cosmopolitan
Scion xD
Audi A3
Eco Friendly
Ford Fusion Hybrid
Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
Fun to Drive
MINI Cooper
Volvo C30
Head Turner
Chevrolet Camaro
Porsche Panamera
High Tech
Volkswagen Touareg
Cadillac Escalade
Image
MINI Cooper
Mercedes-Benz GLK
Kid Friendly
Toyota Sienna
Volvo XC90
Luxury Lifestyle
Hyundai Genesis
Jaguar XJ
People Mover
Ford Expedition EL
Lincoln Navigator
Performance
Chevrolet Corvette
Cadillac Escalade
Road Trip
Ford Expedition
Mercedes-Benz GL
Value
Hyundai Elantra
Lexus HS
Youthful
Scion tC
Lexus IS
Each year, AutoPacific performs the broadest and most widely followed owner satisfaction survey in the U.S. with a record of over 72,000 responses in 2011. This study solicits consumer feedback on a recently purchased 2011 vehicle using 48 key attributes covering the entire ownership experience. From these data, AutoPacific compares overall buyer satisfaction between individual models and vehicle classes and announces its annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSAs) based on the findings.
Meanwhile, IntelliChoice constantly monitors and adjusts cost of ownership metrics for over 1,800 model trim lines to provide consumers with valuable insight into the financial impact of ownership over a five year time horizon. This analysis is the foundation of the IntelliChoice Best Overall Value of the Year (BOVY) awards announced each January, and its interim Best Bets awards which were recently announced for the upcoming 2012 model year.
The Motorist Choice Awards combine complementary analysis from both firms into one set of accolades representing vehicles that earn high marks on both sets of criteria. Fifteen unique vehicle categories were defined by the needs and usage sought by new vehicle buyers and named appropriately based on recommendations from a panel of consumers. The firms then determined winners in the Popular and Premium brand groupings. This methodology provides a superior means of evaluating "Best in Class" vehicles that align consumer shopping patterns with probability for both satisfaction and value.
"Each year, we appreciate the opportunity to partner with AutoPacific to perform this research and analysis," said Tyler Schulze, vice president and general manager of IntelliChoice. "The Motorist Choice Award methodology is designed to help consumers identify vehicles that speak to their hearts and their wallets. The 2011 award winners all share a connection with buyers from both a satisfaction standpoint and overall value as compared to their peers. Based on this compelling combination, we are pleased to recommend these vehicles to consumers as a guide for good purchase decisions."
"The Motorist Choice Awards are designed to assist consumers by using a categorization scheme other than traditional vehicle classes. Our research has shown that buyers often shop in more than one vehicle segment based on their needs and uses, rather than simply choosing a segment and then comparing models within it," said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. "Whether buyers are seeking a kid friendly, youthful, or fun to drive vehicle – we have a suggestion that will fit their budget and needs."
For more details on these categories and the winning vehicles please visit www.Intellichoice.com and www.AutoPacific.com.
