What is an ideal vehicle?

I recently posted a reality check "Let your priorities be your guide, but don’t ignore the big picture" encouraging readers to look beyond the latest list du jour to ensure they “understand the intention and methodology, lest something be lost in the sound bite.” While drafting that post was cathartic, it wasn’t enough to stymie my apoplectic reaction from reading the results of AutoPacific’s 2008 Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVA).

Reminding me of the last day of Little League when every player stood up to receive a trophy, these awards condense extensive research down to just 28 vehicle categories. Everyone is a winner… Well, not quite. I think the casual reader may not come out ahead.

AutoPacific asked "…owners [to] rate their new 2008 model year cars and trucks by how closely they come to their ideal, as measured by 15 key vehicle attributes. The cars or trucks that owners would change the least are the most ideal."

Like the many other studies issued by this respected automotive consulting firm, IVA leads to interesting findings, particularly for manufacturers. That said, what jumped out at me was the tie for "Mid-Size Sport Utility" class—one of 11 categories dedicated to SUVs.

A perennial hot segment, contested by myriad high-quality machines, midsized SUVs (along with sedans) have long-been at the heart of the American market.

The winners? The Jeep Liberty and Kia Sorento.

Cue sound effect: Screeching brakes.

Having driven both within the past week, I am dumbfounded that these would be acceptable to any consumer who comparison shopped and test drove other SUVs in this class, let alone be considered ideal.

Both were included in the recently published Consumer Reports August-issue SUV road test group. The Liberty earned the distinction of being the lowest-rated SUV in its class, with lows that include fuel economy, lack of agility, unsettled ride, fit and finish, noise, and braking.

The Sorento had a much stronger showing in our testing, placing it 14th among 24 models in the class. Still, its score was too low for it to meet Consumer Reports’ criteria to be recommended. Feeling like something of a throwback, the Sorento’s low points include ride, agility, steering, fuel economy, and reliability. If you don’t take our word for it, consider that owners surveyed by Consumer Reports rate it near-bottom for owner satisfaction, right above the Chevrolet Equinox and Suzuki Grand Vitara. (Many of our owners in that survey have owned the cars for years, rather than reporting on their brand new car as in the Ideal awards.)

But the Grand Vitara wins an Ideal award too, for "Compact SUV/Off-Road Vehicle." Wait a minute. Isn’t that exactly what the Sorento and Liberty are? The Grand Vitara is all of one inch shorter than a Liberty, and it has much more room inside. Plus the Liberty and Sorento are better off-road than the Grand Vitara.

So what gives? Well, with so many classes in their study, the Mid-Size Crossover SUV category must be where all the more refined models fit, reflecting the trend of SUVs migrating to unibody platforms…

Here, we find the Ford Escape came out on top in the AutoPacific study. However, in Consumer Reports’ testing, we place it 21st out of 24. (We do not distinguish SUV versus crossover SUV for rankings.) Again, its score was too low to be recommended. One big reason for that—the Escape had extremely long braking distances, the worst of any vehicle we’ve recently tested. Most owners probably don’t know that—unless they own a test track. 

Bottom line: Lists have their place as a pre-filtered means for initiating conversation and research. (In fact, CR presents myriad lists that filter our test and survey results to help consumers find the information they seek.) But, as we have said before, it pays to look at the bigger picture. For us, a vehicle that earns a good test score and has average or better fuel economy, safety ratings, and predicted reliability is ideal.

—Jeff Bartlett

You can build your own Top 10 list based on the factors that matter most to you using our New Car Selector tool.

Comments

[Poindexter]

The ideal car is the car that meets my needs today and into the future. My needs include living through crashes, making it from point A to point B without being stranded, and do so with the least amount of stopping for gas.

For me, the last one is a bit more flexible.

[Michael]

I think many people think their own car is "ideal" simply because they don't have much experience with anything else--or because they are so used to what they have that they are wary of, or dislike, anything different. It also depends on what we use our cars for.

Case in point: I drive a Subaru Legacy wagon, and a friend I know used to drive a Chevrolet Lumina. We both did (and still do, in my case) regard these respective cars as close to ideal. However, my friend disliked the Legacy's lower seating position and didn't see the benefits of the AWD, and liked the Lumina for its large trunk (for a sedan), quiet interior, conservative styling and V6 engine. By contrast, I was taken aback by the mediocrity of the Lumina's driving experience in comparison to the Legacy's superior steering and chassis, and could not see giving up the latter's reliability, cargo area, winter performance and (relative) fuel economy.

Having said this, I agree that the AutoPacific results need to be taken with a grain of salt (or two). There are just too many poorly defined "categories" to make any valid comparisons.

[Jon Moss]

My ideal vehicle? Not to have to own one, pay the taxes on it, the insurance on it and transport me bodily from point A to point B.

In an ideal situation, telecommuting would be ideal.

The next most ideal would be a mass transit system that worked like an elevator in a building, but horizontally instead of vertically (or both). I walk a block or two, get in an elevator "car" and it takes me to my destination.

Don't see that happening anytime soon (or in my lifetime).

[truck rack]

Given the tumultuous nature of the energy markets, my ideal is shifting somewhat and I believe I'd prefer an all-electric vehicle over just about anything else. There's one thing that's certain to remain the same into the foreseeable future: Electrical power isn't going anywhere. Having plain old socket juice as the fuel of choice would put any vehicle closer to the top of my ideal list... Hello Tesla Motors!!

[Will Erickson]

When did the Grand Marquis become a luxury car?

[Best Truck]

Best vehicle would be one that requires no fuel to run it! Who knows, in the future we might one day see nuclear powered autos; I doubt it but would it be nice? Hate to be near one of those accidents! :D

[G V Giant]

The perfect vehicle? A lot of people will wince, but it still has to be the minivan. There is still no vehicle, especially with today's models, that can come close to matching the minivan's mix of comfort, versatility, safety, drive-ability, and space. And with new vehicles out like the Mazda 5 and the Kia Rondo, there is one sized for everybody. Between the different ones you have AWD availability (though at present, only on the Toyota). And fuel economy puts to shame any mid-sized SUV, none of which can match a minivan for available space and comfort.

And with the next generation of minivan's also adding hybrid technology, well somebody is going to have to explain why they think the minivan is in trouble. It has no equal, and not just for people who have families.

[jim lagnese]

Looking for an ideal is ridiculous. Imagine having only one tool in your tooolbox. impossible. Some jobs require specialised tools. The rock hill is hardly an offroad test as is the gravel road. Most of the vehicles tested would fail where I would take them. The problem with compromises are that they aren't really great at anything. One other point. It seems that the judgements in CR are from a particular point of view. Not everyone that reads this magazine is a 5'7" shemale tree hugger in comfortable shoes.