Top Seven Ideal Consumer Vehicles Named by Auto Club
7 September 2000
Top Seven Ideal Consumer Vehicles Named by Auto Club
Business Editors/Automotive Writers
LOS ANGELES--Sept. 7, 2000--The Mercedes-Benz
E320 AWD Wagon and Volkswagen GTI captured the top spot in their
respective categories on the Automobile Club of Southern California's
list of 2000's ideal consumer vehicles.
The Auto Club's Target Car Report released Thursday ranks seven
categories of cars and trucks by features consumers say they want in a
vehicle.
The top five luxury cars listed in the report are:
1. Mercedes-Benz E320 All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) Wagon
2. Mercedes-Benz S500
3. Mercedes-Benz E430
4. Mercedes-Benz CL500
5. BMW 328I
New to the Target Car report this year is a list for mid-priced
vehicles. Heading this list are the following two cars:
1. Volkswagen GTI
2. Subaru Legacy GT Limited Sedan AWD
The Auto Club's "target" vehicle comes closest to possessing the
key features that Auto Club members say they want in the cars and
trucks they drive. Those features, based on periodic member surveys,
include braking, crashworthiness, visibility, handling, ride quality
and fuel economy. The Auto Club's Automotive Research Center tests and
evaluates dozens of cars each year to determine which ones come
closest to being the ideal consumer vehicle.
The Target Car Report also selected the following three vehicles
as the best overall value with the lowest price:
1. Hyundai Accent GL
2. Toyota Echo 2-Door
3. Kia Sephia LS
In addition to the three top car lists, the Target Car Report
ranked SUVs, pick-up trucks, mini-vans and alternative fuel vehicles.
The Mercedes-Benz ML 55AMG ranked top among SUVs, with the Kia
Sportage 4X4 being named the best value.
The Oldsmobile Silhouette Premiere was the top ranked mini-van and
the Mazda MPV ES was ranked the best value mini-van. The Dodge Dakota
Quad Cab Sport Plus was the top scoring pick-up truck. The highest
scoring alternative fuel vehicle tested was the Honda Insight, a
gasoline/electric hybrid passenger car.
"The Target Car program is designed not only to help consumers
select the best vehicle for them, but to keep government and the
automotive industry moving toward better and safer cars," said Steve
Mazor, principal automotive engineer for the Auto Club.
Since most models vary little from year to year, consumers can use
the Target Car report in their research to buy a new or used vehicle.
The report contains data back to the 1996 model year.
New cars have continued the trend to be safer and require less
maintenance, added Mazor. Not only are multiple airbags and
anti-whiplash systems becoming standard, but new cars require longer
intervals between maintenance. Spark plugs can last up to 100,000
miles, many automatic transmissions are sealed, requiring no
lubrication service, and computerized fuel injection constantly
monitors fuel input and keeps engines cleaner for a longer time.
Fifty-eight vehicles (40 cars and 18 trucks) were tested for this
year's Target Car Report. They included new models, older models with
significant design changes and models that had not been tested for
five years. The report also contains information on approximately 200
vehicles tested during the previous five years, which have had minimal
design changes. The Target Car report focuses on cars capable of
carrying four adults with reasonable amounts of luggage or other
items. All categories of trucks are tested.
Copies of the Target Car Report will be available at any of the
Auto Club's 70 offices ($6 for members; $7.50 for non-members). Target
Car Reports may now be ordered by sending a check for the correct
amount payable to the Automobile Club of Southern California. Checks
should be sent to Target Car Report, HO44, 2601 South Figueroa, Los
Angeles, CA 90007. Return addresses must be included with orders.
