2016 Strategic Vision Total Quality Impact Awards
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Best Model: Tesla Model S
Well, the Model S has won yet another award. Tesla's popular sedan received the award for best overall vehicle, owing to the way Tesla manages consumer problems through over-the-air software updates. But we like the performance – Ludicrous Mode! – luxury, and image conveyed by the Model S. It's a brilliant blend of those attributes, and thanks to things like Tesla's SuperCharger network, it manages to more or less erase the range anxiety that was ever present in conventional electric vehicles.
Tesla Model+S Information
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Small Multi-Function Car Segment: Mazda3
For compact cars, the Mazda3 is the total package. With two revvy but efficient engines, a delightful manual transmission, and the enthusiastic handling character present in all Mazda products, the 3 is an everyday commuter car that any enthusiast would be happy to live with.Find this deal in your area
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But the 3 excels beyond its driving character. Its interior is one the best in the compact market, and in hatchback form, Mazda's small hatch is also one of the prettiest cars available for under $30,000. The 3's three trim levels – Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring – cover a wide range of price points, and at the upper reaches, consumers can even add class-above features. The Mazda3 Grand Touring, for example, offers bi-xenon headlights with LED accents, leather seats, navigation, a nine-speaker stereo, and dual-zone climate control standard.Mazda Mazda3 Information
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Mid-Size Car Segment: Subaru WRX
Autoblog liked the Subaru WRX so much we borrowed one for a year-long loan. And we loved every second of it. Subaru pairs its traditional all-wheel drive with a rorty, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and the option of a six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission. The result is a hilarious sedan that ticks all the boxes for enthusiasts but is also reasonably large and spacious. You can haul three friends and their luggage while having fun behind the wheel, even in many unfavorable weather conditions.Find this deal in your area
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We suspect some of the reason the WRX did so well in the TQI is because of the emotional attachment it establishes with its owner and the image it puts out. It's a very fun car, and it looks it, from its World Rally Blue paint to its prominent hood scoop. We're fans of the WRX, and we're thrilled to see its customers like it too.Subaru WRX Information
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Mid-Size APT Car Segment: Chevrolet Volt
There's no better way to put it than this – if you're afraid to take the leap on an electric car, the Chevrolet Volt provides the very best of both worlds.
The second-generation car's extra all-electric range means that for most drivers, they rarely need to top it off with gas. But the presence of an on-board generator eliminates concerns over range anxiety that are present in rivals, like the Nissan Leaf. The new Volt refines the original's package, with a more attractive exterior aesthetic and a better, cleaner cabin.
Chevrolet Volt Information
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Premium Coupe Segment, Premium Convertible/Roadster Segment: Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet won more awards for its cars than any other brand in 2016, and it's largely because the Corvette brought in two awards. America's sports car has always enjoyed a strong emotional following, but the seventh-generation car combines that quality with a thrilling driving character – 455-horsepower from a thumping 6.2-liter V8 – and finally, a quality interior. There aren't a lot of cars that deserve two awards in the same study, but the latest Corvette is one of them.Find this deal in your area
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Standard Convertible Segment: Ford Mustang Convertible
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See Local DealsThe new Ford Mustang Convertible is possibly the best droptop Ford has ever built. The Stang's 5.0-liter V8 gets all the headlines, but the efficient 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder pumps out as much power as a Mustang GT from ten years ago.
But the new Mustang goes well beyond just powertrain improvements. Its interior is lovely and well-appointed and owners can load the cabin down with technology. Under the new sheetmetal, there's an independent rear suspension that finally addresses the Mustang's long-running ride quality issues.The new Mustang isn't just a great convertible, it's an excellent car full stop.
Ford Mustang Information
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Entry SUV Segment: Jeep Wrangler
In other quality studies, the Jeep brand usually gets poor marks. So when a car as old as the Wrangler scores a segment win, it's worth noting. Like the Corvette and Mustang, the Wrangler has always been able to generate a strong emotional response among both owners and off-road enthusiasts, which is no doubt part of what helped it secure a Strategic Vision win.Find this deal in your area
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