Top rated 2007 Ideal Vehicles - Pickups, SUVs, and Minivans:
Large Light-Duty Pickup - Nissan Titan
The Nissan Titan is the Ideal Large Light Duty Pickup among very tough competition. Three areas particularly shine: (1) power and acceleration (2) package related items like passenger room, ease of getting in and out and interior storage and (3) size and appearance of wheels and tires. In part, this can be explained by the fact that the Titan is available only with a large V-8 engine and only in extended cab and crew cab configuration. This focus gives Titan a tightly defined product definition that Nissan designers and engineers deliver well. The irony is that some of the same factors that make the Titan "Ideal" also limit sales potential.
Large Heavy-Duty Pickup - GMC Sierra 2500
The new GMT900 GMC Sierra Heavy Duty Pickup is the Ideal vehicle in this workhorse class. The Sierra is highly rated for its tough-looking exterior styling and handling. In a class that appreciates the General Motors Duramax diesel and Allison 6-speed automatic transmission, Sierra gets high marks for power and acceleration. Wheel and tire size and appearance rate a bit low and might be an aftermarket opportunity, however.
Compact Pickup - GMC Canyon
Owner ratings give the GMC Canyon a win as the Ideal Compact Pickup. GMC designers and engineers have provided a vehicle that has the styling, size, passenger space, power, acceleration and technology GMC buyers in this class require.
Minivan - Hyundai Entourage
A minivan is a utilitarian people mover where function often wins over styling and image. The all-new Hyundai Entourage wins as the Most Ideal Minivan with exterior size, exterior styling and power and acceleration providing just what its target buyers prefer. The outstanding achievement of winning the Most Ideal Minivan Award in its first year out proves that Hyundai designers and engineers understand the American minivan buyer and have provided a vehicle that caters to their needs.
Luxury Sport Utility - Range Rover
While Range Rover may arguably be the most prestigious Sport Utility Vehicle on the market it certainly meets or exceeds the product requirements for its buyers winning the Most Ideal Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle Award for 2007. Land Rover's decades of experience in producing luxurious and capable SUVs coveted by affluent SUV buyers has certainly paid dividends. The Range Rover scores well in all 15 categories, but package considerations such as exterior size, passenger room, cargo space, visibility, and interior storage place the Range Rover at the head of the class.
Large Sport Utility - Ford Expedition/Chevrolet Suburban (tie)
The third-generation Ford Expedition is the Most Ideal Large Sport Utility Vehicle for 2007. Expedition tied for top spot with the all-new GMT900 Chevrolet Suburban, but that should take nothing away from Expedition's victory. They each won top honors in very different ways. Expedition scores well in package categories such as passenger room, cargo space, and interior storage. Wheel and tire size and appearance are also highly rated. The Expedition's independent rear suspension is a clear advantage giving Expedition a fold flat third row seat to maximize rear cargo space that Suburban cannot match.
The GMT900 Chevrolet Suburban is the Most Ideal Large Sport Utility Vehicle for 2007 tied with the Ford Expedition. The tie should take nothing away from Suburban's victory. They each won top honors in very different ways. Suburban scores well in performance categories such as power and acceleration, and handling. Suburban also scores well in technology. Rear cargo space is hampered by a third row seat that does not fold into the floor but must be removed to have a completely open rear cargo area.
Mid-Size Sport Utility - Ford Explorer
The Explorer is the vehicle that launched the modern SUV category in 1991 and Ford has used these years to understand the SUV market better than any other manufacturer. The result is that Ford Explorer wins as Most Ideal Mid-Size SUV with consistently good results across the fifteen rating categories. Ford's planners, designers and engineers understand what buyers of Mid-Size SUVs want. Explorer was over segment average in all 15 categories and scores particularly well with respect to passenger room, cargo room, handling, technology, and power and acceleration.
Compact SUV/Off-Road Vehicle - Suzuki Grand Vitara
Vitara won in its segment with narrow margins in five categories in addition to strong wins for ingress/egress and interior storage. To win an Ideal Vehicle segment Award, a vehicle needs to be an all-rounder. The visibility-challenged Toyota FJ Cruiser and the relatively underpowered Jeep Wrangler may be a little too focused to beat out the more all-purpose well-rounded Suzuki Grand Vitara.
Luxury Crossover SUV - Lincoln MKX
Showing that Ford Motor Company planners, designers and engineers not only know the traditional SUV market better than most with Ideal Vehicle Award wins by the Ford Expedition and Ford Explorer, Ford's all new crossover SUVs win in their categories as well. The all-new Lincoln MKX wins as the Most Ideal Luxury Crossover SUV. MKX is highly rated for exterior style, passenger room, visibility, and level of technology. In fact MKX owners are more likely than segment average buyers to prefer the same level for all attributes tested except for power and acceleration (where they want more, of course).
Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV - Ford Edge
Showing that Ford Motor Company planners, designers and engineers not only know the traditional SUV market better than most with Ideal Vehicle Award wins by the Ford Expedition and Ford Explorer, Ford's all new crossover SUVs win in their categories as well. Ford's new Edge wins as Ideal Premium Crossover SUV. Edge not only wins its category, but has the highest "Ideal" ratings of any SUV overall. Edge is a sales success...and buyers often consider it near ideal. Few buyers would change the exterior size or styling. Both ride and handling are highly rated, as are technology level and interior storage.
Mid-Size Crossover SUV - Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is one of only two vehicles that have won all three AutoPacific awards in 2007 - the Ideal Vehicle Award, the Vehicle Satisfaction Award and the Motorist Choice Award with IntelliChoice. This is an extremely rare occurrence. Honda CR-V buyers like their exterior size, passenger room, cargo room, and level of technology. Some owners would prefer more visibility, and some CR-V owners would prefer more power and acceleration, but overall, CR-V is an Ideal, satisfying Mid-Size Crossover SUV that meets the requirements of the buyer.
Compact Crossover SUV - Hyundai Tucson
The Hyundai Tucson is the Most Ideal Compact Crossover SUV for 2007. Tucson buyers prefer their current exterior size and passenger room, but would like more cargo space. Ease of getting in and out is highly rated, as is interior storage. Buyers also prefer the same size and style of wheels and tires.