TUSTIN, CA – AutoPacific announced its 15th annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA). AutoPacific summarizes opinions on vehicles from more than 68,000 new vehicle owners to determine placement.

“Vehicles that score highest in the Vehicle Satisfaction Awards are delivering value and satisfaction across a wide range of attributes,” says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. “The winners perform well in 48 separate categories that objectively measure the ownership experience.”

AutoPacific said the vehicle, car or truck, that registered the highest overall satisfaction in 2011 is the Cadillac Escalade Luxury SUV. The group said the car with the highest overall satisfaction score is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

At the manufacturer level, multiple top-ranked award winners are: Ford with seven wins; Toyota with four wins; and General Motors and Hyundai with three wins.

AutoPacific’s top 2011 model-year performers are:

• Highest Satisfaction Premium Brand: Lincoln

• Highest Satisfaction Popular Brand: Chrysler

• Premium Luxury Car: Mercedes-Benz S-Class

• Aspirational Luxury Car: Hyundai Genesis

• Luxury Mid-Size Car: Lincoln MKZ

• Large Car: Ford Taurus and Toyota Avalon (tie)

• Premium Mid-Size Car: Hyundai Sonata

• Mid-Size Car: Suzuki Kizashi

• Premium Compact Car: Volvo C30/S40/V50

• Compact Car: Hyundai Elantra

• Economy Car: Honda Fit

• Sports Car: Porsche 911

• Sporty Car: Scion tC

• Hybrid Car: Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

• Heavy Duty Pickup: Ford F-Series Super Duty

• Large Light Duty: Chevrolet Avalanche Pickup

• Compact Pickup: Honda Ridgeline

• Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle: Cadillac Escalade

• Large Sport Utility Vehicle: GMC Yukon

• Premium Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle: Jeep Grand Cherokee

• Premium Luxury Crossover SUV: Lincoln MKT

• Luxury Crossover SUV: Lexus RX

• Large Crossover SUV: Ford Flex

• Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV: Ford Explorer

• Mid-Size Crossover SUV: Mitsubishi Outlander

• Compact Crossover SUV: Kia Sportage

• Minivan: Chrysler Town & Country

• Hybrid Truck: Lexus RX450h Hybrid