BANGKOK: 27 November 2007 — Three Nissan models and two Honda models rank highest in their respective segments in new-vehicle design and performance, according to the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2007 Thailand Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM released today.
Now in its fifth year, the APEAL Study is a consumer-reported measure of what excites and delights owners about their new vehicle’s performance and design during the first two to six months of ownership. Redesigned in 2007, the study is comprised of nearly 100 attributes covering 10 vehicle components: exterior; interior; storage and space; audio/entertainment/navigation; seats; HVAC; driving dynamics; engine/transmission; visibility/driving safety; and fuel economy.
The study finds that new-vehicle design and performance in Thailand averages 876 points on a 1,000-point scale in 2007. Visibility/driving safety and fuel economy are the top two components that contribute most to overall satisfaction among customers in the passenger car, utility vehicle and pickup segments. Driving dynamics is also particularly important in the utility vehicle and pickup segments, while vehicle interior is more critical to owners in the passenger car segment.
