TUSTIN, CA – Automotive research company AutoPacific revealed its 2011 Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVA). These awards reflect the survey opinions of more than 72,000 individuals who purchased a 2011-MY vehicle.
Although this study was consumer-focused, a number of common fleet vehicles appeared in AutoPacific’s 2011 list, as you'll see below. AutoPacific splits the list into two sections, Passenger Cars and Pickup, SUV & Minivans.
AutoPacific said it bases its IVAs on owners’ ratings of their new 2011 model-year cars and trucks. The survey covers 15 vehicle attributes ranging from power and acceleration to interior space.
The company said that out of 24 (IVA) categories, domestic brands won 11 segments, European brands seven, and Asian brands six.
Among the Detroit Three, Ford came away with seven awards, Chrysler with three, and General Motors with two for its Cadillac brand. Chrysler also took the distinction of winning the overall award for the IVA mainstream/popular brand category.
Other multi-award winners included Volvo, which earned three awards, Porsche with two, Hyundai with two, and Toyota with two. Automakers that garnered a single award include Honda, Mercedes, Subaru, and Volkswagen.
AutoPacific’s awards are as follows:
Passenger Cars:
Premium Luxury Car: Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Aspirational Luxury Car: Volvo S60
Large Car: Hyundai Azera
Luxury Mid-Size Car: Lincoln MKZ
Premium Mid-Size Car: Ford Fusion
Mid-Size Car: Subaru Legacy
Premium Compact Car: Volvo C30
Compact Car: Hyundai Elantra
Sports Car: Porsche 911
Sporty Car: Dodge Challenger
Hybrid Car: Ford Fusion Hybrid
Pickups, SUVs & Minivans:
Large Light-Duty Pickup: Ford F-150
Large Heavy-Duty Pickup: Ford Super Duty
Compact Pickup: Honda Ridgeline
Luxury Sport Utility: Cadillac Escalade
Large Sport Utility: Toyota Sequoia
Mid-Size Sport Utility: Jeep Grand Cherokee
Premium Luxury Crossover SUV: Porsche Cayenne
Luxury Crossover SUV: Volvo XC70
Large Crossover SUV: Ford Flex
Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV: Ford Explorer
Mid-Size Crossover SUV: Toyota RAV4
Compact Crossover SUV: Volkswagen Tiguan
Minivan: Chrysler Town & Country
Other Awards:
Mainstream/Popular Brand Award: Chrysler
Premium Brand Award - Porsche
Overall Winner: Porsche 911
Overall Brand Winner: Porsche
The specific categories AutoPacific covers include the following: exterior styling, exterior size, passenger roominess, cargo space, driver's seat comfort, driver’s seat visibility, info/entertainment technology, interior lighting, power and acceleration, ease of getting in and out, interior storage compartments, ride, handling, safety features, and tires and wheels.