One of the country’s most carefully watched measures of customer satisfaction—the 2011 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards—was recently released, and one of the industry’s most lauded manufacturers of high-quality cars and trucks—the Ford Motor Company—led the way with seven different category winners.
Among them was the Ford Taurus, which shared honors as the most satisfying Large Car in America. The Taurus has been a hit with both customers and the media ever since the all-new model first debuted, previously earning notice for leading its segment in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study and the Kelley Blue Book Best Resale Value Awards, to name just a few of its accomplishments. It’s also the most innovative car in its class, boasting technology like Ford’s Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert, adaptive cruise control, Active Motion massaging front seats, a Sony-branded up-level audio system and a high-powered SHO model.
For truck customers, Ford’s Super Duty lineup was the top satisfier among Heavy-Duty Pickups, offering an unbeatable combination of efficiency and capability. Consider: The F-350 Super Duty with dual rear wheels not only has more horsepower and torque than any of its competition, but it’s also the most fuel-efficient truck in its class. Other available key features include:
An electronic locking rear differential
- Trailer Sway Control and Hill Control functionality
- A Tow Haul Mode with engine exhaust braking
- An integrated trailer brake controller
- An exclusive, integrated tailgate step
- The Ford SYNC in-vehicle connectivity and communications system
The Blue Oval’s popular crossover family proved its mettle as well, with the Ford Flex and Ford Explorer satisfying the most customers in the Large Crossover SUV and Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV segments, respectively.
The dramatic Flex provides both style and substance for today’s buyers, and it ups the satisfaction ante even further this year, with a new Titanium model specifically developed for owners interested in custom design. It showcases a painted black two-tone roof, black chrome and metallic alloy accents, 20-inch painted aluminum wheels, “blackout” front light treatments and the proverbial much, much more.
As for the all-new Explorer, its AutoPacific honor has to be considered an impressive stamp of approval for its recent redesign—which also has helped Explorer sales rocket upwards by well over 100 percent so far this year. The Explorer is another Ford able to satisfy owners with best-in-class fuel efficiency, and it also offers the cutting-edge MyFord Touch control interface for its SYNC system, along with content that includes the automaker’s simple-yet-effective Terrain Management System all-wheel-drive setup, Curve Control for added stability while turning, a power liftgate and power-folding third row seat, a full array of Ford safety technologies, and—coming soon—a high-efficiency EcoBoost engine.
Significantly, Ford’s luxury brand also was a big winner in the 2011 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. In fact, Lincoln was rated the most satisfying premium brand in the country, with the Lincoln MKZ, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid and Lincoln MKT all finishing at the peak of their individual segments.
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