Minivan: Owners of Honda Odyssey, Nissan Quest and Toyota Sienna rate the three Minivans so equally it's difficult to tell them apart, reports Peterson. Toyota and Honda owners rate their Minivans ahead on brand reputation, while the Nissan is rated more fun to drive and easier to get into and out of. Nissan's distinctive interior styling rates more strongly among its owners than the more conventional interiors of the Sienna and Odyssey."
Mid-Size Car: "Mazda's style/sport/fun/value heritage pays off for the third year in a row with an entertaining vehicle focused on the driving enthusiast." Regular-sized people who want cargo room and other utility should apparently look somewhere else.
Premium Mid-Size Car: Buick Allure and Nissan Altima head this competitive category for different reasons. "Altima provides its owners a combination of style, size and performance that others in its class do not match. Altima caters to owners wanting distinctive styling and driving enthusiasm." Allure "has a combination of new styling, generous interior space, driving ease and brand image that Buick owners have come to expect."
Entry Luxury Car: "In a broad vehicle segment where Maxima is actually the least expensive entry, it wins with a combination of distinctive styling, good quality, excellent value and a healthy dose of product excitement. Maxima successfully balances value and flair in a way that clearly attracts entry-luxury buyers."
Luxury Car: Jaguar XJ scored "especially strong results for exterior and interior styling, image, fun-to-drive and ease of use. XJ's traditional and sensuous Jaguar styling resonate with its buyers and its dynamic qualities reinforce its outstanding looks."
Luxury/Large Car: Lincoln Town Car owners "are especially fond of exterior styling that communicates affluence without being ostentatious. The strongly rated Town Car interior coddles the driver and passengers in traditional American luxury. What they expect, they get."
Sports Car: Porsche 911 "is first coveted because of its distinctive exterior styling and its brand image. But its quality and driving dynamics put the icing on the cake. The Porsche 911 is the embodiment of a traditional European sports car."
Sporty Car: Pontiac owners "are high in overall satisfaction and rate GTO's vehicle dynamics very strongly. GTO has strong scores in handling, braking, power/acceleration, ergonomics, and visibility. Owner ratings lead us to conclude that GTO is a very easy car to live with and to have loads of fun with." But not in Canada, where it is not for sale and illegal to import.
Large Light-Duty Pickup: Nissan Titan shines for owners because of "its big, powerful V-8 combined with outstanding styling and features provide the top-satisfying product package for 2005." This choice shows where the emphasis on what buyers like is critical, since Titan does less well than most other trucks on traditional quality studies.
Large Heavy-Duty Pickup Truck: Dodge Ram wins primarily because it offers a Cummins diesel, which "gives the Dodge a significant advantage over GM heavy duty pickups powered by the Duramax diesel or Ford Super Duties powered by the Powerstroke diesel."
Compact Pickup Truck: Nissan Frontier has "stronger styling, more comfortable interiors and a better ride, and so has what it takes to be at the head of he Compact Pickup category."
Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle: Volvo XC90 owners rate it "strongly in the reputation of the Volvo brand, feeling safe while driving, front seat room, cargo capacity, interior materials, anticipated resale value, quietness and controls."
Large Sport Utility: Nissan Armada wins here because "it comes from a Japanese brand but is completely tuned for American tastes and sensibilities. Armada is unapologetically made for North America and North America alone, with no compromises or shortcomings."
Premium Mid-Size SUV: Nissan Murano's "distinctive styling and standard CVT clearly differentiate it from other vehicles in its class."
Mid-Size Car: "Mazda's style/sport/fun/value heritage pays off for the third year in a row with an entertaining vehicle focused on the driving enthusiast." Regular-sized people who want cargo room and other utility should apparently look somewhere else.
Premium Mid-Size Car: Buick Allure and Nissan Altima head this competitive category for different reasons. "Altima provides its owners a combination of style, size and performance that others in its class do not match. Altima caters to owners wanting distinctive styling and driving enthusiasm." Allure "has a combination of new styling, generous interior space, driving ease and brand image that Buick owners have come to expect."
Entry Luxury Car: "In a broad vehicle segment where Maxima is actually the least expensive entry, it wins with a combination of distinctive styling, good quality, excellent value and a healthy dose of product excitement. Maxima successfully balances value and flair in a way that clearly attracts entry-luxury buyers."
Luxury Car: Jaguar XJ scored "especially strong results for exterior and interior styling, image, fun-to-drive and ease of use. XJ's traditional and sensuous Jaguar styling resonate with its buyers and its dynamic qualities reinforce its outstanding looks."
Luxury/Large Car: Lincoln Town Car owners "are especially fond of exterior styling that communicates affluence without being ostentatious. The strongly rated Town Car interior coddles the driver and passengers in traditional American luxury. What they expect, they get."
Sports Car: Porsche 911 "is first coveted because of its distinctive exterior styling and its brand image. But its quality and driving dynamics put the icing on the cake. The Porsche 911 is the embodiment of a traditional European sports car."
Sporty Car: Pontiac owners "are high in overall satisfaction and rate GTO's vehicle dynamics very strongly. GTO has strong scores in handling, braking, power/acceleration, ergonomics, and visibility. Owner ratings lead us to conclude that GTO is a very easy car to live with and to have loads of fun with." But not in Canada, where it is not for sale and illegal to import.
Large Light-Duty Pickup: Nissan Titan shines for owners because of "its big, powerful V-8 combined with outstanding styling and features provide the top-satisfying product package for 2005." This choice shows where the emphasis on what buyers like is critical, since Titan does less well than most other trucks on traditional quality studies.
Large Heavy-Duty Pickup Truck: Dodge Ram wins primarily because it offers a Cummins diesel, which "gives the Dodge a significant advantage over GM heavy duty pickups powered by the Duramax diesel or Ford Super Duties powered by the Powerstroke diesel."
Compact Pickup Truck: Nissan Frontier has "stronger styling, more comfortable interiors and a better ride, and so has what it takes to be at the head of he Compact Pickup category."
Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle: Volvo XC90 owners rate it "strongly in the reputation of the Volvo brand, feeling safe while driving, front seat room, cargo capacity, interior materials, anticipated resale value, quietness and controls."
Large Sport Utility: Nissan Armada wins here because "it comes from a Japanese brand but is completely tuned for American tastes and sensibilities. Armada is unapologetically made for North America and North America alone, with no compromises or shortcomings."
Premium Mid-Size SUV: Nissan Murano's "distinctive styling and standard CVT clearly differentiate it from other vehicles in its class."