Lincoln was named the highest-ranked premium brand in AutoPacific’s annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. The luxury brand of Ford beat out Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, and Cadillac for the top spot. This news could not have come at a better time for Lincoln. The company is planning a new product rollout plan that will hopefully help regain the confidence of luxury car buyers who have dismissed Lincoln over the past couple of years.
Specific Lincoln vehicles, such as the MKZ sedan, were also number one in their own individual categories, while General Motors’ GMC truck brand was deemed the most satisfying mainstream brand. The best rated overall vehicle, of any individual model, was the redesigned 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Additionally, import car companies still did better in segments like midsize passenger cars, premium luxury models, and minivans. However, Detroit companies won 12 of the 23 individual vehicle categories.
The Vehicle Satisfaction Awards were voted on by over 92,000 people who purchased new vehicles. These individuals focused on 50 separate criteria, which included design, interior comfort, performance, and fuel economy. “Vehicles that score highest in the Vehicle Satisfaction Awards are delivering value and satisfaction across a wide range of attributes,” said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. Here is a complete list of the top-ranked vehicles at the AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards, by segment:
Cars
Premium luxury: Mercedes-Benz S-class
Executive luxury: Lincoln MKS
Aspirational luxury: BMW 3-series GT
Midsize luxury: Lincoln MKZ
Large: Chevrolet Impala
Midsize: Kia Optima
Premium compact: Mercedes-Benz CLA
Compact: Kia Soul
Economy: Chevrolet Sonic
Sports: Chevrolet Corvette
Sporty: Chevrolet Camaro
Hybrid/electric vehicle: Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
Pickup trucks
Heavy duty: Ford F-Series Super Duty
Light duty: GMC Sierra
SUVs
Luxury/large: Infiniti QX80
Midsize: Jeep Grand Cherokee
Crossover SUVs
Premium luxury: BMW X5
Luxury: Cadillac SRX
Large: GMC Acadia
Premium midsize: Toyota Highlander
Midsize: Nissan Rogue
Compact: Hyundai Tucson
Minivan
Honda Odyssey
Photo by Todd Oren/Getty Images for Lincoln