GÖTEBORG, SWEDEN – In search of the ideal vehicle, AutoPacific asked owners to rate their model-year
2008 cars and trucks using a measurement of 15 key vehicle attributes.
According
to AutoPacific, “The Volvo S40 was the clear winner in the Luxury Mid-Size Car
category. With high rating for exterior size, visibility, ride, handling, and
safety, it’s easy to see why the S40 is an ideal vehicle. Volvo engineers and
designers definitely hit their target. Luxury mid-size car owners’ scores prove
that Volvo understands their buyers very well. Top marks were also given for
seat firmness, interior lighting, wheels and tires, and exterior styling.”
In the
Image Compact Car category AutoPacific said, “Image compact cars are products
where style typically trumps absolute function. In the case of the Volvo C30 it
seemed to appeal to Image Compact Car owners on both an emotional and rational
level. Owners’ preferences for the C30’s exterior styling, ride, and safety
blended well with the interior lighting, seat firmness, and level of
technology.”
The Volvo
C70 shared the top spot in the Aspirational Luxury Car category. According to AutoPacific,
“Even though the Volvo 70 is only available in one trim level (T5) it seems as
though the Swedes have packaged the vehicle just right. With the most modern
convenience features, owners in the Aspirational Luxury Car segment found the
C70 well-equipped, giving the C70 top honors as a 2008 ideal vehicle. Of course
it comes standard with numerous safety features (it’s a Volvo), sharp wheels
and tires, excellent interior lighting, and appreciate seat firmness.”
The
results of the AutoPacific awards were based on data collected from thousands
of new car and truck buyers who rated 15 specific vehicle attributes: exterior
styling, exterior size, passenger roominess, cargo space, driver’s seat
comfort, driver’s seat visibility, interior technology, interior lighting,
power and acceleration, ease of getting in and out, interior storage
compartments, ride, handling, safety features, and tires and wheels.
A complete Ideal Vehicle Awards summary and additional information can be found
at http://www.autopacific.com/.
