Chevrolet Colorado is one of America's best-loved cars
Chevrolet, Porsche, and Mercedes are producing some of the best-loved cars among American drivers, according to a new survey.
The 2015 Chevrolet Colorado pickup on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The Colorado is among America's best-loved cars.
Jae C. Hong/AP/File
How much do you love yourÌý? Could you put a number on that? Market research firm Strategic Vision posed similar questions to thousands of car owners across the U.S., and their answers reveal the best-loved cars in the country.
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All told, the company polled 44,000 new-vehicle owners, asking them to score their rides in a number of areas. Strategic Vision then tabulated those responses to create something it calls the "Customer Love Index" (which we prefer to call the CLI, thank you very much). Here are a few of the noteworthy findings:
- ²Ñ¾±±ô±ô±ð²Ô²Ô¾±²¹±ô²õÌýÌýas their parents and grandparents, but they sure are enthusiastic about the ones they have. On average,Ìýrespondents under 40 gave their vehicles CLI scores of 470, while scores from their grumpy ol' elders averaged around 400.
- Hybrid owners aren't totally in love with their vehicles. While APT (alternative powertrain)ÌýÌýdeliver good fuel economy, they frequently fail to satisfy on other counts, like styling. As Strategic Vision says, "[E]ven minivans, which are often disparaged as being bland, boring, and completely uncool, obtain higher CLI scores than most hybrid vehicles". The Toyota Prius outshines the competition in part because of its unique looks and high-tech features.
- Strategic Vision found thatÌýeconomy-minded shoppersÌýtend to prefer Asian models, whileÌýluxury fansÌýgravitate toward European marques. Folks who likeÌýtrucks, SUVs, and convertiblesÌýare more often drawn to brands from Detroit.
- Volkswagen (the group, not the VW brand) was the best-loved car company overall. However, Strategic Vision is careful to note that this survey was taken before news ofÌýÌý²ú°ù´Ç°ì±ð.Ìý
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Below, you'll see the full list of best-loved cars, arranged by segment from smallest to largest. Share your thoughts about these or other models in the comments below.
Micro Car:ÌýFiat 500 Hatchback (449)
Small Car:ÌýMazda3 Sedan (438)
Small Multi-Function Car:Ìý Kia Soul (408)
Small APT Car:Ìý Fiat 500e (408)
Mid-Size Car:Ìý Subaru WRX (451)
Mid-Size Multi-Function Car:ÌýÌýSubaru Outback (408)
Mid-Size APT Car:Ìý Toyota Prius / Toyota CamryÌýÌý(354 / 354)
Full-Size Car:ÌýÌýDodge Charger (543)
Near-Luxury Car:Ìý Mercedes CLA-Class (564)
Near-Luxury APT Car:ÌýÌýBMW i3 (474)
Luxury Car:ÌýÌýMercedes S-Class Sedan (563)
Luxury Multi-Function Car:ÌýÌýBMW 3-Series Gran Turismo (466)
Specialty Coupe:ÌýÌýMINI Cooper Hardtop (547)
Premium Coupe:ÌýÌýÌýCorvette Coupe (598)
Standard Convertible:Ìý Ford Mustang Convertible (564)
Premium Convertible/Roadster:Ìý Chevrolet Corvette Convertible (617)
Standard Pickup:ÌýÌýChevrolet Colorado (423)
Full-Size Pickup:ÌýÌýNissan Titan (482)
Heavy Duty Pickup:ÌýÌýGMC Sierra 2500/3500 (467)
Entry SUV:ÌýÌýJeep Renegade (490)
Entry CUV:ÌýÌýHyundai Tucson (451)
Mid-SizeÌýSUV:ÌýÌýDodge Durango (465)
Mid-SizeÌýCUV:Ìý Ford Flex (460)
Full-Size Utility:ÌýÌýGMC Yukon XL (483)
Near-Luxury Utility:ÌýÌýLand Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door (516)
Luxury SUV:ÌýÌýInfiniti QX80 (524)
Luxury CUV:ÌýÌýPorsche Macan (629)
Minivan:ÌýÌýKia Sedona (391)
Best Model:Ìý Porsche Macan (629)
Best Full-Line Corporation:Ìý Volkswagen Group of America (422)