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Survey reveals cars owners love best

J.D. Powers survey ranks cars by overall owner satisfaction. Mustang, Corvette, Mini top lists.
September 21, 2005; Posted: 1:44 p.m. EDT (1744 GMT)


The Chevrolet Corvette ranked as the top "Premium Sports Car" in the J.D. Power APEAL study.
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Kia, sister-brand to Korea-based Hyundai, topped two categories in the latest J.D. Power and Associates APEAL survey.

The Honda Ridgeline was the most-liked midsized pickup and the Ford Mustang was the most-liked sporty car in the survey, which asked owners of brand-new cars to rate eight different aspects of their vehicle's appearance, design and performance.

The Kia Amanti was the top-ranked "Premium midsize car" in the survey and the Kia Sportage was the top-ranked "Entry SUV." (The discontinued Pontiac Aztek placed third, after the Nissan Xterra, in the "Entry SUV" category.)

"As more and more new designs hit the market, manufacturers are finding it increasingly difficult to make their new models stand out," said Chance Parker, executive director of product and research analysis at J.D. Power.

"While vehicle styling is still vital in setting a model apart from the pack, consumers are increasingly attracted to vehicles that offer innovative storage options and other features that make the driving experience more comfortable and convenient," he said.

J.D. Power's Automotive Performance Execution and Layout study was based on surveys of 115,000 new vehicle owners during the first 90 days of ownership. They were asked about their satisfaction with aspects of their vehicles including the engine and transmission, ride and handling, comfort and convenience and styling.

There were many all-new or redesigned models topping various category rankings in the survey, including the Pontiac G6 as top "entry midsize car," the Chevrolet Corvette as top "premium sports car" and the Ford Mustang as top "sporty car."

While it scored a top rating in two individual product categories, Kia ranked below average as a brand overall with a score of 845 out of a possible 1,000. The top auto brand overall was Porsche, with a score of 908. Land Rover was second with 906, Lexus third with 905 and Jaguar fourth with 902.

General Motors' Hummer and Cadillac divisions were the two highest placing U.S.-based brands with scores of 897 and 896 respectively.

The lowest-scoring brand overall was GM's Saturn with a score of 827. Suzuki and Subaru were second and third worst, with scores of 828 and 830 respectively. DaimlerChrysler's Jeep brand was fourth worst, with a score of 833.

Top vehicles by category
Compact car: MINI Cooper

Entry midsize car: Pontiac G6

Premium midsize car: Kia Amanti

Full-size car: Toyota Avalon

Entry Luxury car: Lexus IS300/IS300 SportCross/Mercedes-Benz C-class

Mid luxury car: Lexus GS300/GS430 (2006)

Premium luxury car: Lexus LS430

Sporty car: Ford Mustang

Premium sports car: Chevrolet Corvette

Midsize pick-up: Honda Ridgeline (2006)

Light-duty full-size pick-up: Cadillac Escalade EXT

Heavy-duty full-size pick-up: GMC Sierra HD

Entry SUV: Kia Sportage

Mid-size SUV: Nissan Murano

Full-size SUV: Nissan Armada

Entry luxury SUV: Lexus RX400h (2006)

Premium luxury SUV: Land Rover Range Rover

Midsize van: Honda Odyssey

Full-size van: Chevrolet Express

Feedback

The cars with the highest marks are the ones that have some remarkable redeeming attribute and don't inconvenience one's life.

I bet the wrx is responsible for the low marks.

Most car owners are pretty clueless, so who cares what they think?

they say the G6 is good but it is the same car as the chevy malibu.

They say the saturn line sucks but the Vue comes with a Honda engine.

Fords suck but Jag and Rover is good? (same company)

hmmm, I didn't see that when I read it. Most car owners are clueless, that is true.

I got my info from consumer reports.

They say that Subarus rule...so I turst them.

Consumer reports is a good source of info. I was just more or less pointing out that people have formed some kind of negative opinion of Subbies...bastards!

Well, with any opinion stated as a demographic fact, you have to consider it's roots and its source --it's still an opinion. Now, who GIVES their opinion to these people, and how was it interpreted? Was the information skewed from it's original intent?

We'll never know.

But what we can infer is that these opinions come from AVERAGE car owners. These average car owners know next to nothing about their cars, and rarely are interested in the upkeep. Rare is the owner who makes SURE the oil is changed every 2-3k, and has all its maintenance done. Rare is the dealership who honestly and competantly performs these "services" per contractual agreement.

Now, we all know the mini sucks dick. Why might it get TOP rating, though? Well, it's in the compact class --what's the criterion there?

"Well, Uhh. . . It fits in the tiner spaces at the mall that are closer to the door, and it looks so gosh-darn cute!"

There you go, top rating.

Subarus are marketed as "four wheel drive" cars. Who really needs "four wheel drive" ? Well, not the average car owner. On top of that, Subaru's aesthetics have always been sub-par in the popularity contest. Most people think our cars are ugly, but we know better.

The top sporting car is the Ford Mustang.
Why do I get the suspicion that survey would be deemed Anti-American if they gave it to the Mazda Miata, or a Non-Muscle car? Hmm...

I think these surveys are bullshit, straight up unadulterated. They're like reading the tabloids.. fun to read, but most of the time it gets you riled up for nothing. So why bother?

The best news? No more Asstek.

That makes good sense, Tristan. Any survey from CNN is suspect.

As far as people thinking our cars are ugly. I never really understood why but it's true. On the up side of that, my best friend's kids think my legacy is cool and they seem to like it a lot. I guess it takes an unbiased opinion.

As far as I'm concerned, any study that rates the Aztek above... well, anything is immediately discredited.

That survey sucks! I mean I know its just peoples opinions, but their opinions are wrong.

LaureltheQueen wrote:
[/quote]As far as I'm concerned, any study that rates the Aztek above... well, anything is immediately discredited.

I'm with her on that.

oops. you get the idea

Notice there's no "Best 4WD car"....*shits on that study*

91White-T wrote:That survey sucks! I mean I know its just peoples opinions, but their opinions are wrong.

LOL!!! Someone opinion is that other peoples opinions are wrong...LOL!!!!

"I hate two types of people in this world...people that hate people from other countries..and the dutch!"

maybe a lot of people are plenty pissed about blowing head gaskets repeatedly

I've only had one car with a blown headgasket and what sucks is I installed the engine with it. I was sooooo torqued?

Well, considering most mechanics charge a frickin' fortune to fix blown HGs, due to the fact that they have to pull the engine (omg, so hard! ) I can see where the dissatisfaction comes from.
Other than that, who can complain about the torque a 2.5 in those little bodies gives?