AutoPacific Announces 2006 Brand Satisfaction Awards - Cadillac Top Premium/Luxury Brand, Honda Top Mainstream Brand

Cadillac Top Premium/Luxury Brand, Honda Top Mainstream Brand

TUSTIN, Calif., May 31 -- A study released today by noted automotive consulting firm AutoPacific, Inc. summarizes the results of its 2006 model year owner satisfaction research for brands and product segments. AutoPacific's VSA (Vehicle Satisfaction Award) study is an industry benchmark for objectively measuring how satisfied an owner is with their new car or light truck.

The top rated Premium/Luxury Brand is Cadillac. Cadillac out-points second-place Lexus. Cadillac had the top rated Entry Luxury Car with its CTS and solid performances by the rest of its lineup. The Lexus LS430 is the top rated Luxury Car, but Lexus overall rates just below Cadillac.

The top rated Mainstream Brand is Honda. With two category wins -- Honda Ridgeline is the top rated Sport Utility Truck and the Honda Odyssey is the top rated Minivan, Honda nosed out second place Mainstream Brand Hyundai. Hyundai also had two category wins with the Hyundai Azera the top car overall and the top Large Car and the Hyundai Santa Fe the top rated Mid-Size SUV.

In rating major segments, Sport Utility Vehicle owners rate their vehicles more satisfying than do Car, Pickup or Minivan owners. This finding goes contrary to popular myth that SUVs are fading in popularity and SUV owners are dissatisfied with their vehicles.

AutoPacific previously announced individual vehicle winners. The vehicle registering highest overall satisfaction in 2006 is the Lincoln Navigator Luxury SUV winning top vehicle, top truck and top Luxury SUV honors. The highest rated car is the new-for-2006 Hyundai flagship -- Hyundai Azera.

AutoPacific's VSA establishes numerical satisfaction ratings for virtually every car and light truck in the United States. Owner satisfaction is calculated across 45 specific areas related to a vehicle's operation, comfort, safety and the overall purchase/lease experience.

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

Additional information can be found on AutoPacific's websites: http://www.autopacific.com/