Last Updated: September 22. 2010 1:00AM
Toyota leads the pack in Motorist Choice Awards
Japanese automaker nabs 10 of 30 awards in consumer survey
Detroit News Staff
Irvine, Calif. -- Going for cute? Get a VW Beetle or the Volvo C30, if you can afford it.
If sexy is the motor image you're seeking, pick a Corvette or Audi A5.
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And if the bottom line is your prime mover in looking for a car -- and you value other people's opinions -- buy a Honda Fit or Lexus RX Hybrid.
They were among the top picks in this year's Motorist Choice Awards, chosen by actual car buyers. They're the result of 42,000 consumer surveys and data collected by IntelliChoice, which analyzes automotive ownership cost and car values, and the automotive research firm AutoPacific.
A first for this year, the awards were broken up into 15 popular lifestyle categories that shoppers easily identify with, rather than the alternatives based on vehicle size, price and other such factors.
Each category had two picks: one "popular" and one "premium."
"From an emotional standpoint these awards are a reflection of how cars fit into people's daily lives, the tasks they fulfill on a day-to-day basis and the image people have of their vehicles," IntelliChoice Executive Editor Charlie Vogelheim said in a statement. "The cars in these categories not only represent tremendous value, they are also about the image you want to portray to other motorists as well."
"Rather than grouping these cars into stereotypical categories like 'best sedan,' we produced a list of the best cars buyers would themselves categorize, like 'most kid friendly,' " added George Peterson President of AutoPacific. "These awards are a good reflection of the perceptions of the American consumer; showing what they want to drive and why they want to drive it."
Despite a torrent of bad publicity stemming from recalls, Lexus and its parent company, Toyota, came away with 10 of a possible 30 awards for this year's field chosen by motorists. The automaker swept categories including "city car" and "eco-friendly" with their Lexus and Toyota offerings. Other notable awards included Hyundai's new luxury car, the Genesis, earning top marks in the "country club" category for popular brands. From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100922/AUTO01/9220323/1148/auto01/Toyota-leads-the-pack-in-Motorist-Choice-Awards#ixzz10GbLhJb0
