Mercedes-Benz claim S-Class best car in the USA

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is, according to Mercedes, regarded by consumers as the best car available in the US market.
In an exhaustive customer survey the Mercedes-Benz S-Class was awarded the highest number of overall points for the third time running, and takes not only the best car in its’ segment, but also, Mercedes argue, for the entire US market.
The 2009 APEAL study, which stands for "Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study" by the market research institute J. D. Power, examined how satisfied car buyers were with their new cars after driving them for three months between December 2008 and February 2009.
Roughly 81,000 new car buyers then delivered verdicts on a variety of aspects in a detailed questionnaire. These aspects included: driving characteristics, exterior and interior design, operating functionality, stowage space, but also such issues as the noise made when closing the doors.
Where 1000 points was the maximum achievable, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class scored 887 points – the highest number in any of the categories. Mercedes claim that “this makes the luxury saloon the best car in the US market, as well as the measure of all things in the large premium car segment.”
According to the J.D Power website, “The average APEAL score for all models in 2009 has improved considerably to 779 from 770 in 2008, driven primarily by increased owner satisfaction with fuel economy. First, fuel prices have decreased significantly during the past year, which has reduced owner concerns about gas mileage. Third, automakers are designing models to be more fuel efficient than their predecessors.
The company state that some of the big improvements in vehicle satisfaction reports come from domestic products, particularly from Dodge, Pontiac, Buick and Cadillac. For American consumers wanting to stay with American products, the company reports the following good news:
“The overall gap in APEAL scores between domestic and import models has narrowed considerably during the past several years and is just five index points in 2009, compared with 15 points in 2008 and 27 points in 2007. Among premium models, import nameplates retain a slight edge, while among non-premium models; domestic brands have a similar edge.”
It means domestic manufacturers are heeding the demands of American consumers and are catching up to their international cousins in terms of general build quality and performance. The S-Class’s impressive overall score can't be ignored and Mercedes' claim for best car in the luxury segment is definitely well deserved.