2011 AutoPacific Ideal Vehicle Awards: Premium Luxury Cars

AutoPacific’s 2011 Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVA) are based on 73,000 surveys completed by owners of new cars and light trucks in the United States in the first half of 2011.

Representing the flagship sedans from premium makes, the Premium Luxury Car segment usually houses the latest and most innovative technologies at a premium price point.  These vehicles sit at the top of the pecking order and are usually the pride and joy of an automaker.

This year's AutoPacific IVA Premium Luxury Car winner is the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Read on to see the entire list of category candidates and how they scored.

*NOTE: Results for 2010 Model Year Vehicles are Included in the 2011 Model Year Research Because of Availability. Scores Are Shown Where Sample Sizes Allow

#1 Premium Luxury Car: 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Rank: #1

Score: 1252

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the top ranked Premium Luxury Car in AutoPacific’s 2011 Ideal Vehicle Research.  Its owners indicate that there is little they would change about their new car with a few notable exceptions.  They would like for the E-Class to be easier to get into and out of and they would like more room inside.  They definitely want more power and would not sacrifice power for better fuel economy.  They most like seat comfort, the car’s responsive handling and its styling.  The E-Class handily wins its class outscoring the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 5-Series that were tied for second.

#2: Premium Luxury Car: Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Rank: #2

Score: 1240

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class represents the flagship of the German luxury brand’s lineup. A spacious interior, glass-smooth ride and a wide selection of power plants have made the S-Class one of the top choices in the full-size premium category for decades, and the vehicle also benefits from heavy technological investment that sees it offering innovative entertainment, convenience and safety features.

#3 Premium Luxury Car: BMW 5-Series

Rank: #3

Score: 1240

The 2011 BMW 5 Series is one of the most driver-oriented mid-size luxury sedans on the market. A taut suspension system, available turbocharged six-cylinder or throaty V-8 power and the choice of either a traditional manual or a slick automatic transmission gives the 5 Series an edge when compared against many of its competitors – European and otherwise.

#4 Premium Luxury Car: Jaguar XJ

Rank: #4

Score: 1237

The 2011 Jaguar XJ redesign breaks the full-size luxury sedan’s styling free from its traditional roots and gives it an arresting new visual palette that turns heads wherever it goes. An entirely fresh platform also provides the XJ with the kind of road manners and performance that are expected out of a high end automobile, while maintaining the extensive list of features and exclusive interior design Jaguar is known for.

#5 (tie) Premium Luxury Car: 2011 Lexus LS

Rank: #5

Score: 1234

The 2011 Lexus LS provides reliable, ultra-quiet luxury transportation, and can be had in both extended and standard wheelbase editions. On top of its available V-8 power is the availability of a hybrid model that provides the acceleration of a twelve-cylinder motor while returning the fuel economy of a much smaller motor – a rarity in the full-size luxury market.

#5 (tie) Premium Luxury Car: 2011 Audi A6

Rank: #5

Score: 1234

The 2011 Audi A6 scores points for its quattro all-wheel drive system – especially in climates where rough winter weather is a fact of life. The Audi is also notable for its excellence in interior design, providing one of the most well-appointed passenger compartments in the industry when it comes to materials, layout and functionality.

#7 Premium Luxury Car: 2011 Volvo S80

Rank: #7

Score: 1222

The 2011 Volvo S80’s hallmark is safety. The largest sedan in the Volvo lineup comes packed to the gills with as many of the Swedish automaker’s active and passive passenger protection systems as possible. The vehicle also offers snazzy styling and respectable amounts of interior room to go with its confidence-inspiring design.

#8 Premium Luxury Car: 2011 Jaguar XF

Rank: #8

Score: 1220

The 2011 Jaguar XF continues to lead the resurgent British automaker’s styling charge, providing a clean-slate design that perfectly complements its performance-oriented driving dynamics. Able to carve through switchbacks without upsetting the cup of tea you have balanced on the center console, the Jaguar XF embodies the best of Jaguar’s history and the most promising aspects of the company’s future.

#9 Premium Luxury Car: Infiniti M

Rank: #9

Score: 1215

The 2011 Infiniti M has seen the automaker bring to market perhaps the only true mid-size rival to the BMW 5 Series in terms of providing thrills and excitement when the roads turn twisty. Advanced technology abounds in the Infiniti M – both inside the cockpit and underneath the sedan’s beautiful metal skin – and the vehicle can also be had in a hybrid edition.

#10 Premium Luxury Car: 2011 Porsche Panamera

Rank: #10

Score: 1208

The 2011 Porsche Panamera is sacrilege to purists, but a welcome addition to the performance company’s lineup for anyone who has pined for a Porsche 911 coupe but required the practicality of a four-door design. The Panamera proves that sometimes polarizing styling decisions can be overcome by breathtaking performance and a generous serving of brio.