AutoPacific Releases 2003 Vehicle Satisfaction Scores

Cadillac Top Brand, LS430 Top Car, Escalade EXT Top Truck

TUSTIN, Calif., May 1 -- Results of a study released today by noted automotive consulting firm AutoPacific, Inc. reveal high owner satisfaction with new 2003 model year cars and light trucks. AutoPacific's VSS (Vehicle Satisfaction Score) study is an industry benchmark for objective measure of new vehicle owner satisfaction.

Cadillac is highest-rated brand for 2003. Being at the top is familiar territory for Cadillac, as it shared top honors with Lexus in 2002 and won outright in 2001.

The individual vehicle registering highest overall satisfaction for a fourth consecutive year is Lexus' LS sedan, represented for 2003 by the LS 430 model. The highest-rated truck is Cadillac's new Avalanche-based Escalade EXT, which brings high-level luxury to the basic GM midgate concept.

"By corporation, Ford and Honda earn most awards with five segment winners each," notes AutoPacific founder and president George Peterson. "Toyota follows with four segment winners and General Motors three, although Cadillac's brand victory raises GM's award count to four." The Hyundai-Kia group continues its recent success with two segment victories, while Volkswagen receives one.

A special-achievement award is also given to Nissan for its new Murano. In spite of Murano having been on the market for a limited period of time and resultant smaller survey sample size, it still generates an astounding 755 points on AutoPacific's 1000-point scale. This score makes Murano third most-satisfying vehicle in the North American market. "It's great to add an extra award this year recognizing Nissan," says Peterson, "as they are not only exploring new design concepts but appear to have developed some exceptional vehicles in the process. Among several great new Nissans, Murano in particular is a real home-run."

   Top performers by segment are:

   BRAND:                                     Cadillac

   PASSENGER CARS:
   Premium Luxury Car                         Lexus LS 430
                                               (4-peat winner)
   Contemporary Luxury Car                    Acura TL
   American Luxury Car                        Cadillac DeVille
                                               (repeat winner)
   Premium Mid-Size Car                       Honda Accord (sedan and coupe)
   Standard Mid-Size Car                      Mazda6
   Compact Car                                Hyundai Elantra (tied)
                                              Volkswagen New Beetle (tied)
                                               (repeat winner)
   Sports Car                                 Lexus SC430
                                               (repeat winner)
   Sporty Car                                 Acura RSX

   LIGHT TRUCKS:
   Large Light-Duty Pickup                    Toyota Tundra
   Large Heavy-Duty Pickup                    Ford F-Series Super Duty
   Large 4-Door Pickup/SUT                    Cadillac Escalade EXT
   Compact Pickup                             Toyota Tacoma
   Compact 4-Door Pickup/SUT                  Ford Explorer Sport Trac

   LIGHT TRUCKS (continued):
   Luxury Sport Utility                       Lincoln Navigator
   Large Sport Utility                        Ford Excursion
                                               (repeat winner)
   Premium Mid-Size Sport Utility             GMC Envoy
   Standard Mid-Size Sport Utility            Kia Sorento
   Compact Sport Utility                      Honda CR-V
                                               (repeat winner)
   Minivan                                    Honda Odyssey

   SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT:                       Nissan Murano

All winning manufacturers receive AutoPacific's coveted VSS "speedform" award, featuring a blue stylized vehicle mounted on a clear and black plexiglass base. The speedform, with its decidedly automotive shape and appearance, underscores AutoPacific's role as an auto industry specialist. In fact, AutoPacific works exclusively in and with the auto industry, leaving restaurants, airlines and hotels to others.

In addition to identifying segment winners, VSS also establishes numerical ratings for virtually every passenger car and light truck in the North American market. VSS also calculates satisfaction in 41 specific areas related to each vehicle's operation, comfort, safety and purchase/lease experience. Ratings reflect input from over 36,000 buyers and lessees of new vehicles acquired September-December 2002.

AutoPacific releases VSS results yearly as a free consumer and industry service. AutoPacific also offers a Satisfaction Benchmark Study (SBS) that analyzes, on a feature-by-feature basis, cars and trucks in the North American market. This study allows manufacturers and key suppliers to assess and compare their vehicles on a feature level with the best in the business. "We feel SBS is the best and most economical way for manufacturers and suppliers to rate their own performance, and find out who is setting the standard for satisfaction. It then takes the analysis to the discrete level, from cupholders to the dealership experience," says Peterson.

AutoPacific is a future-oriented automotive marketing and product consulting firm. Every year it publishes a wide variety of syndicated studies on the automotive industry. The firm also conducts extensive proprietary research and consulting for auto manufacturers, distributors, marketers and suppliers worldwide. Company headquarters are in Tustin, California, with an affiliate office in the Detroit area.