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AutoPacific announces the results of its latest vehicle satisfaction award.

Purchase a new car and vehicle satisfaction should come with the territory. Unfortunately, disappointments abound and some models simply do not measure up.

New Vehicle Satisfaction Survey

AutoPacific conducts a New Vehicle Satisfaction Survey annually to identify the top performing vehicles. Relying strictly on owner input, this particular award provides perhaps the most accurate measurement of how consumers feel about their purchase decisions.

Unlike other surveys which measure reliability or quality to the exclusion of owner satisfaction, the AutoPacific survey has owners rating 50 attributes for importance in the purchase decision and satisfaction after purchase.

23 Vehicle Categories Surveyed

Twenty three vehicle categories are surveyed, representing 10 passenger car segments and 13 light truck segments.

The 2016 Top Overall Vehicle and President’s Award winner is the Cadillac Escalade. The 2016 Highest Satisfaction Overall and Premium Brand is Tesla. The 2016 Highest Satisfaction for a Popular Brand is Kia. Notably, Tesla finished on top overall for the second consecutive year.

The following passenger cars finished on top in their respective categories: Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Nissan Maxima, Volvo S60/V60, Hyundai Azera, Kia Optima, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Kia Soul, Honda Fit, Chevrolet Corvette, and the Chevrolet Camaro.

Top Aspirational Luxury Car

The Volvo S60/V60 finished on top in the Aspirational Luxury Car segment for the second consecutive year. The Kia Soul was best in class among compact cars for the third consecutive year. Other repeat winners include the Honda Fit in the economy car segment (two years) and the Chevrolet Corvette as the top sports car for a fifth consecutive year.

Among light trucks were the following winners: GMC Sierra 1500, GMC Sierra HD, Nissan Frontier, Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, Toyota 4Runner, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Lexus RX, GMC Acadia, Nissan Murano, Nissan Rogue, Hyundai Tucson, and the Kia Sedona.

Two repeat winners were recognized this year. In the large crossover SUV category the GMC Acadia won for the third consecutive year. In the premium midsize crossover SUV segment, the Nissan Murano won for the second consecutive year.

Tesla, Kia Soul & Cadillac Escalade

Tesla Motors garnering the top prize is based on sales for only two models: a Model S sedan and the Model X crossover utility vehicle. The Model S has been on the market for five years, while the Model X only began selling in small numbers last fall.

The Kia Soul is now in its second generation; the current model has been on the market since 2014. The compact hatchback defies easy categorization, but has won a strong fan following. As most people know, a team of anthropomorphic hamsters helps market the popular Soul.

Needing no introduction is the Cadillac Escalade, a full-bodied luxury SUV and one that advances all things ostentatious. Introduced in 1999, the Cadillac Escalade is now its fourth generation. The beefy Cadillac shares its underpinnings with various Chevrolet and GMC models, but its style and interior design sets this model apart from the pack.

AutoPacific Survey Says

Other surveys worth considering include the J.D. Power US Vehicle Dependability Study as well as the New & Used Car Reviews & Ratings from Consumer Reports.

The J.D. Power survey examines issues reported by original owners of 3-year-old vehicles, particularly over the past 12 months. It presents a good measurement of vehicle quality during a timeframe when initial problems begin to first appear.

Consumer Reports survey includes road test results and safety information as well as reliability and owner satisfaction. CR’s ratings are based on surveys of millions of their subscribers. CR is owned by the non-profit Consumers Union, an organization that rates more than 5,000 consumer products each year, including household items.

Tesla and Kia photos courtesy the respective manufacturer. Cadillac Escalade photo copyright Auto Trends Magazine.