According to a recent study from Consumer Reports, Toyota, Ford, Honda and Chevrolet are the brands that stand out in the buyers’ minds.
Toyota leads with a 25-point advantage over Ford in second-place, translating in a five-point gain over last year, probably determined by the automaker solving its safety issues now.
"The key word is 'perception'. Consumers are influenced by word of mouth, marketing, and hands-on experience. Often, perception can be a trailing indicator, reflecting years of good or bad performance in a category, and it can also be influenced by headlines in the media," said Jeff Bartlett, Consumer Reports deputy automotive editor.
Consumer Reports survey ranks the seven key factors by how important they are to consumers when buying a new car - Quality (90%), Safety (88%), Performance (83%), Value (82%), Fuel economy (81%), Design/Style (70%) and Technology/Innovation (68%).
"The key word is 'perception'. Consumers are influenced by word of mouth, marketing, and hands-on experience. Often, perception can be a trailing indicator, reflecting years of good or bad performance in a category, and it can also be influenced by headlines in the media," said Jeff Bartlett, Consumer Reports deputy automotive editor.
Consumer Reports survey ranks the seven key factors by how important they are to consumers when buying a new car - Quality (90%), Safety (88%), Performance (83%), Value (82%), Fuel economy (81%), Design/Style (70%) and Technology/Innovation (68%).