(May 20, 2011) TUSTIN, Calif. — Chrysler and Lincoln were named the top two brands in AutoPacific's 15th annual Satisfaction Awards. Lincoln won the award for premium brand and Chrysler for popular brand.

The awards are designed to help consumers make informed vehicle purchase decisions, the brands that left owners most satisfied. The study by the Southern California-based automotive research firm summarized the results of over 68,000 new vehicle owners.

Carmakers are constantly improving their products and relationships with their customers. They communicate their success by citing the satisfaction of their owners, AutoPacific says.

“Proof of satisfied customers is as good as gold,” says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. “We’ve found that more than one-third of new car buyers are positively influenced by objective awards based on owner ratings when deciding on a new car or truck."

“Vehicles that score highest in the Vehicle Satisfaction Awards are delivering value and satisfaction across a wide range of attributes,” says Peterson. “The winners perform well in 48 separate categories that objectively measure the ownership experience.”

The vehicle — car or truck — registering highest overall satisfaction in 2011 is the Cadillac Escalade Luxury SUV.  The car with the highest overall satisfaction score is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

At the manufacturer level, multiple top-ranked award winners are: Ford with seven wins; Toyota with four wins; and General Motors and Hyundai each with three wins.

“While the economy is strengthening, new vehicle buyers continue to be especially careful in selecting the perfect vehicle for their needs. AutoPacific’s Vehicle Satisfaction Award will help this year’s customers sort through the 262 car and truck nameplates presently available in the United States. A wise purchase decision is like money in the bank,” says Peterson.

Winners by category:

Premium Luxury Car — Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Aspirational Luxury Car — Hyundai Genesis

Luxury Mid-Size Car — Lincoln MKZ

Large Car — Ford Taurus and Toyota Avalon (tie)

Premium Mid-Size Car — Hyundai Sonata

Mid-Size Car — Suzuki Kizashi

Premium Compact Car — Volvo C30/S40/V50

Compact Car — Hyundai Elantra

Economy Car — Honda Fit

Sports Car — Porsche 911

Sporty Car — Scion tC

Hybrid Car — Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

Light trucks

Heavy Duty Pickup — Ford F-Series Super Duty

Large Light Duty Pickup — Chevrolet Avalanche

Compact Pickup — Honda Ridgeline

Luxury Sport Utility — Cadillac Escalade

Large Sport Utility — GMC Yukon

Premium Mid-Size Sport Utility — Jeep Grand Cherokee

Premium Luxury Crossover — Lincoln MKT

Luxury Crossover — Lexus RX

Large Crossover — Ford Flex

Premium Mid-Size Crossover — Ford Explorer

Mid-Size Crossover — Mitsubishi Outlander

Compact Crossover — Kia Sportage

Minivan — Chrysler Town & Country

Hybrid Truck — Lexus RX450h Hybrid