Strategic Vision survey favors Honda and GM
Strategic Vision just released its list of top automotive brands and models and it looks like Toyota slipped a bit while Honda held strong and GM moved up. Strategic Vision is a marketing research company that consults with automakers on vehicle values. Through surveys, they questioned more than 64,000 new vehicle owners about their experiences and whether they believe they got their money's worth. The study is unique in that it also incorporates emotional responses to vehicles.Honda stayed on top in the overall rankings as the best full-line automaker, which is no surprise. General Motors, however, won four categories and was the only domestic automaker with a segment-topping vehicle. Toyota, had seven winners in 2005, but managed only three categories this year. "One thing about Honda that is just really clear: They have the strongest brand equity of any brand out there," said Alexander Edwards, president of Strategic Vision's automotive research group. Honda's "perceived reliability and durability," helps boost the brand's value, Edwards added. The full list of segment winners can be found after the jump.
[Source: Detroit News]
Segment Winners:
-- Small car: Honda Civic
-- Small multifunction: Scion xB
-- Medium car: Kia Optima
-- Medium multifunction: Mazda6 Wagon
-- Larger car: Hyundai Azera
-- Near luxury car: BMW 3--Series
-- Luxury multifunction: Audi A4/S4 Avant
-- Luxury car (three--way tie): Lexus LS 430, Acura RL, Audi A8
-- Small specialty under $25K: Mini Cooper
-- Small specialty over $25K: Chevrolet Corvette
-- Mid--specialty: Honda Accord Coupe
-- Convertible under $30K: Mini Cooper Convertible
-- Convertible over $30K: Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
-- Minivan: Kia Sedona
-- Small SUV (tie): Saturn Vue, Hyundai Tucson
-- Medium crossover SUV: Honda Pilot
-- Medium SUV: Nissan Xterra
-- Large SUV: Nissan Armada
-- Near luxury SUV: Lexus RX 330
-- Luxury SUV: Mercedes GL--Class
-- Compact pickup: Honda Ridgeline
-- Full--size pickup: Nissan Titan
-- Heavy--duty pickup: Chevrolet Silverado
-- Best model: Mini Cooper
-- Most improved brand: Honda
-- Best corporation (overall): Honda Motor Co.
Source: Strategic Vision Inc.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
DolllarBill 7:54AM (10/11/2006)
Oh Pleeze,
Stratigic Vision is about as credible on thier car advice as better housekeeping would be on awards or reccomendations for vehicles.
Really who has even barely heard of these people . Read JD Power's ratings and then you have some clout . Just look at SV's past 'award' cars and what a bunch of crap !!Look at thier current winners and you will see why nobody cares what they 'reccommend'! Ask people what they like about thier cars and then do the research .
Give it up!!
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Sandeep 7:02PM (10/10/2006)
Hyundai did surprisingly well for itself, with two nominations.
Most of these awards seemed logical as well.
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Chivo 8:52PM (10/10/2006)
GM really good? Nah, they still need to improve (although they are much better than they were 2 years ago). Corvette, winner for GM? DUH., but besides Corvette, what else?
I expected to see the G6 as a winner here, but again was not surprised it was not mentioned. The best cars GM has (that are at least as good or better than most imports) are the G6, Aura, Solstice, Sky, Corvette, CTS, SRX (only 2007, with the new interior), STS. In other words, anything that is on the epsilon, sigma, or kappa platforms. Oh, and the Corvette.
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los angeles toyota 7:35PM (10/10/2006)
I've put over 26,000 miles on a scion that I bough a little over a year ago, and am now totally sold on the toyota brand. I would have never thought of getting a toyota, but toyota's strategy of luring in younger buyers with the scions brand definetly worked on me! (I am 23)
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Lithous 8:13PM (10/10/2006)
Toyota lover, look at the page for which you linked. Besides lots of grammar errors (look at Chevy California - there should be a break between Chevy and California. That is one of many examples)
Also look for this on that page for HTML errors:
!supportMisalignedColumns
Anyway, good to see the kids have such an attention to detail! Our country is not in trouble like I had once thought. Yes, your perfection has earned you the perfect Scion from perfect Toyota. Congratulations!
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Carlton 9:47PM (10/10/2006)
Lithous,
Time to get your medication adjusted. You're not making any sense.
Wait-that's normal.
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Whydrive 10:28PM (10/10/2006)
So what are Toyota's best cars? People may buy a lot of Toyotas but none of their cars are the best in their class.
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w2 10:33PM (10/10/2006)
number 2, I too have had a Scion ( a TC) for about a year and 20,000 miles and I have the totally opposite opinion of Toyota as you do.
It is obvious that corners have been cut in getting it to marker as quickly as they did. It squeaks, creaks, rattles and groans like crazy and I feel like the sunroof is going to fall off at any moment. Add in the crappy service I have received at three different dealerships and I doubt I will ever buy another Toyota again, if for no other reason than spite. I'm beginning to think that the whole Toyota reliability thing is an overblown crock of sh*t.
That's the downside of sucking in the youngsters, you better get it right because they will be buying cars for a wrong time.
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Lithous 10:34PM (10/10/2006)
Carlton,
If it makes you feel better about yourself then by all means think incorrectly that I am on medication. I think that is a wonderful thought to have while you practice onanism.
I was writing about the link from user "los angeles toyota". Search for "los angeles toyota" (without quotes, sorry I have to spell everything out) on this page if you know how to do a find-on-page with your browser. The link provided by "los angeles toyota" is a page full of errors of every kind. From grammar to HTML errors. I would assume this person has edit abilities on their webpage but it is pretty bad.
Here it is in case you have trouble, strategic vision predicts that *you* will, carlton... http://www.losangelestoyota.blogspot.com/
This is the type of person taken in by toyota.
Sorry carlton, if I knew the back of the pack was reading my posts I would have spelled every little detail out the first time around. I just thought that seeing a post right above mine with a link named "los angeles toyota" it would be easy to figure out. Sorry for assuming. I'll try to keep that to a minimum.
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FamilyTruckster 10:46PM (10/10/2006)
Excellent posts as always Lithous! Keep 'em coming!
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Elkore 11:22PM (10/10/2006)
Our tC, purchased in sept 2004, Blue, now 65,000 miles. Only issue was the passenger side wiper arm broke, 2 times.
Other gripe? The seatbelt rubs one's neck, so we purchased seat belt clips through a mail orde4r brochure to correct this issue.
The Optima(2006.5) does not surprise me for Winning the Midsized Sedan award.
I knew it smoked the Fusion, Malibu, 500, and the OVER PRICED(by thousands) Accord, Camry.
Kia also won best Minivan(as it should)!
Honda, Toyota? GM/Ford/Chrysler?
Rock On, Kia!
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iQuack 11:32PM (10/10/2006)
I think I'd wait a few years before saying that KIA is better than a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry.
KIA and its Hyundai parent have only recently been considered reliable cars. Both Honda and Toyota have a long history of reliable service. If Hondas and Toyotas cost more than Kias, there's a good reason for that.
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Get a grip 12:01AM (10/11/2006)
poster 11: I personally have owned a 1999 Sonata GLS V6 for 139,000+ miles. Only reason I got rid of it was due to taking my car to soemwhere else other than my normal Hyundai service center, in late 2004.
The radiator started to leak some, and they replaced it, and when I kept having issues, they said" we replaced it with a comparable Ford radiator!"
Makes Sense(lol). It was nearly 6 years old, so I just traded it in for 3,300 dollars for the Scion tC.
Camry loaded liek I would want it? 28,000 dollars. Optima loaded(on sale/after bargaining) like I want it? 20K.
With financing and the differences in taxes, etc, also added in, figure around 10 Grand difference.
Yeah, if the Optima lasts me 6 years, 140,000, I;d be happy, and save a ton of cash, too. 34MPG hwy(see Edmunds, or Motorweek.org's tests).... with 161hp I-4( more than Camry's I-4, which would cost me maybe 24-25K loadedlike I like, which is still 5,500-6K difference, after taxes, 5 year loan, etc... ).
Is the Camry better? yes. Is it 6-10K better? Not for me it ain't, since I drive my vehciles well over 100K, and past pay off.
Seems the people in the survey weren't impressed by a name on the decklid, and that's what counts!
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Will 12:14AM (10/11/2006)
I have to agree with #7 on the craptastic quality of a Scion. We have a tC in our family and it has been loaded with problems. The sunroof gets stuck when you go to close it and trim pieces in the back are falling off.
The service is a problem as well. The car has a recall on it to install laminate over the moon roof for safety issues, but we can't find a dealer who can fit it in their busy schedule. When we do get in to get it done, they don't have the parts. Guess they are busy with other Toyota recalls.
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factofthematter 12:44AM (10/11/2006)
http://paultan.org/archives/2005/09/20/hyundai-rejects-toyota-offer/
This says it all.
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Ex-Military Man 12:26AM (10/11/2006)
poster 13: I know of this recall. our 05 Scion(65,000 miles).... was recalled for the sunroof(some said a rock could hit it when opewn, and it could shtter: funny thing, ours was open at 65MPH, and hit by a rock from a semi, and nothing happened ,except it sort of scared us for a second). As for can'rt find a deaalership who can schedule you a time? WHERE IS THIS?
I live in SW Ohio... I NEVER have any issues getting as service appointment, EVER, for that wiper blade arm that stuck, or the recall.
Even got to go in at 1pm on a Saturday for oil changes beofre, so , what gives? Scion has a Customer Service number(800 number) to complain to about stuff like this, SO CALL EM and complain!
That is what they are there for, if you have issues that can't be sdolved via normal "chain of command" at toyota/Scion. what would you guys do in Iraq, if a small things like scheduling a service visit is such a big deal? lol.
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Glen from Hesperia, CA 12:31AM (10/11/2006)
Honda received a well-meaning ranking in quality. Honda has stood for quality and has produced quality products year after year. Toyota was one of the quality manufacturers for many years, but now in their rush to take the number 1 spot from GM, they have put new cars on the market with a multitude of defects. Toyota has literally led the auto industry in recalls this year and has delayed new introductions in an effort to correct their quality control problem. GM...keep working because you have the ability to produce quality automobiles.
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ex-military 12:35AM (10/11/2006)
poster 13: sorry if i sounded rough on ya about my response to your dilemnia(SP?).
Had issues with Chevy once, in 1990( they alled their 800-number "arbitraitor", to settle disputes between you and a dealership....won't get into details, but I called 'em, they agreed with me, spoke ot the dealership, and I got my repairs "fixed"(they messed up, and the parts were under warranty for 1yr/12,000 miles, and they tried to get out of fixing it, and making me pay).
I know if you have an issue with say Hyudnai or Kia, and aren't happy after the 2nd repair( have a friend...) call 800 number, then requested to speak with the District Factory Rep,at the dealership, and watch em move to fix the issue( he called after the first time, they fixed a window gasket, incorrectly, got harrassed and called 800 number, mentioned the DFR, and suddenly, thigns got fixed, and the service center team was all smiles!).
Don;t let them bully ya around. get in their grille(or face, or whatever ya call it these days, lol)... and tell em point blank, fix it, or else!
Don't just complain to us; tell the people jerking you around what's what.
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Ummmmm 3:44PM (10/11/2006)
where do you live that you can not get 1) a serivce appointment for your tC recall, and 2) they can not get the part?
I had the same recall. What did I do? Called on Wed, went in on Saturday at noon. Got an oil change and the sunroof "fixed"(and I told them NOT to rotate the tires every 5,000 miles. I let them do that every 10,000 miles. regular maintainence).
Where do you live?
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isartam 7:47AM (10/11/2006)
It's hard to find anyone saying anything bad about the Aura, which is amazing after all the dismal product from that division over the years:
http://carbuzzard.com/?whatchanged=year&cartype=&col__make=44&col__model=661&col__year=2647
I always thought that Saturn was a good car for people who didn't know any better: first time new car buyers who may have been coming from a 100,000+ mile "preowned" wonder. The Aura, on the other hand, is a winner.
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