The Toyota Prius, which is powered by gasoline and electric motors, has won the highest ranking in a prominent U.S. vehicle owner satisfaction poll.
When Consumer Reports asked owners or lessees if they would get another Prius, 94 percent of 1,640 respondents said they would, beating out the 92 percent score achieved by the Lexus LS430 luxury sedan, the magazine said Monday.
The survey found 32 cars, wagons, minivans, SUVs, and pickups that at least 80 percent of respondents said they would definitely get again.
Japanese companies accounted for 25 of those vehicles. Only one U.S. car, the Chevrolet Corvette, made it to the top group. The rest were European Luxury vehicles and sports cars.
The CR survey also showed satisfaction doesn't always track with reliability. The Mini Cooper and Mercedes-Benz SL were among the most satisfying, even though their reliability records are below average.
Among cars that were least satisfying, domestic vehicles accounted for 12 of the 20 in the lineup; Japanese nameplates accounted for seven. The Land Rover Freelander SUV was the sole European vehicle in the least-liked lineup.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
