June 13, 2016
According to the results of Auto Pacific’s 2016 Vehicle Satisfaction Award research, Tesla has risen to the top of the list once again as the most satisfying car brand for the second year in a row among all car and light truck owners. Auto Pacific is a future-oriented automotive marketing and product-consulting firm. This yearly study revealed the 2016 results in Tustin, California on June 8, 2016. It uses over 65,000 respondents for 2016 and includes 273 vehicles available to purchase in the United States. This is the 20th year the company has conducted its research which is considered to be a benchmark of how satisfied owners are with their new vehicles. The results of this research guide car buyers in the purchasing decision. Owners of Tesla vehicles have almost unanimously agreed that the Tesla brand offers many benefits such as being fun to drive, upscale, safe, powerful, eco-friendly, and distinctive. Tesla owners tend to be people who are not searching for the greenest car available but for the car that will stand out from the rest and out-perform other vehicles when the light turns green. The fact that Tesla has now been the top car brand in Auto Pacific’s research for the second year in a row shows that drivers truly appreciate this brand’s product and that the brand has been well-positioned. Although currently Tesla is a one-car brand, that one car has made all the difference for a lot of drivers. Experts are interested in seeing if the Tesla brand will hold its ground at the top when future research is conducted that includes data for the Tesla’s Model X and Model 3. Following the Tesla brand in luxury vehicles are Cadillac, Lexus, and Lincoln. This came as no surprise to researchers, however, the next brand on the list did. Kia vehicles hold 5th place overall in this research study. This Korean car brand was little known just 15 years ago yet has risen to its position near the top and proven it can compete with the best of luxury car brands. In recent years, only American cars have made the list. Overall, the Kia Optima mid-size sedan came in 3rd. At first and second place was the Cadillac Escalade Luxury SUV and the Mercedes S-Class Luxury Car which both cost approximately three times more than the Optima. Drivers with Kia cars see their vehicles as safe, of good value, comforting, fun to drive, and trustworthy. Following the Kia brand on the list are the brands of Infiniti, Volvo, BMW, Acura, and Mercedes-Benz. In its 20 year history, this is the first year that Ford Motor Company nor Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have made the list.