Cadillac buyers are the most satisfied with their choice of vehicle brand, owners of the Cadillac Escalade are the happiest among truck buyers, and buyers of the Lexus LS sedan are the happiest car owners, according to the latest satisfaction survey from consulting firm AutoPacific.
Also, a growing number of Hyundai buyers are satisfied with their choice, making the Korean brand the fastest-rising in AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Awards rankings.
The rankings are based on responses to surveys sent to 25,000 new-vehicle buyers three months after they take delivery. The survey asks owners to rate the vehicles in 48 categories.
"These are difficult times, with news of automaker bankruptcies, companies restructuring and dealer closures a daily occurrence," said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. "Clearly, the dynamics surrounding the Vehicle Satisfaction Award in 2009 are far different from anything we've seen in many years. Winners needed to overachieve to earn their awards."
Here are the top-ranked vehicles in their categories in this year's study:
Premium luxury car: Lexus LS
Aspirational luxury car: Hyundai Genesis
Luxury large car: Lincoln Town Car
Luxury midsize car: Lexus ES
Premium midsize car: Hyundai Sonata
Midsize car: Ford Fusion
Image compact car: Toyota Prius
Compact car: Mitsubishi Lancer
Economy car: Honda Fit
Sports car: Porsche 911
Sporty car: Scion tC
Large pickup: Dodge Ram 1500
Compact pickup: Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Luxury SUV: Cadillac Escalade
Large SUV: Chevrolet Tahoe
Premium midsize SUV: Ford Explorer
Midsize SUV: Jeep Liberty
Luxury crossover SUV: Land Rover LR2
Large crossover SUV: Mazda CX-9
Premium midsize crossover SUV: Toyota Venza
Midsize crossover SUV: Volkswagen Tiguan
Compact crossover SUV: Kia Sportage
Minivan:Toyota Sienna
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