The Passat is ranked highest in the Midsize Car segment for the second year in a row

• The Passat is ranked highest in the Midsize Car segment for the second year in a row
• GTI is ranked most appealing in the Compact Sporty Car segment
• Beetle and Tiguan are ranked second in their segments
• Volkswagen is the highest ranked non-premium passenger-car brand

Volkswagen of America, Inc., today announced that the Passat has been awarded the most appealing Midsize Car in the J.D. Power 2013 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study. This is the second year in a row that the Passat has ranked highest in this hotly contested category, which comprised 14 vehicles for 2013.

The Volkswagen GTI ranked highest in the Compact Sporty Car segment. The Beetle and Golf were second and third respectively in the Compact Car segment, while the Tiguan was second in the Sub-Compact CUV segment. Overall, Volkswagen ranked 14th overall in the Study, outpacing the non-premium average.

“This award further validates the Passat as an exceptionally competitive offering in the mid-size sedan segment,” said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen of America. “It’s very gratifying for everyone in the company and especially for our employees at the Passat plant in Chattanooga that buyers are so pleased with their cars. The Passat is an industry leader in generating conquest sales and this award highlights why that is the case.”

The APEAL study examines how rewarding a new vehicle is to own and drive, based on owner evaluations of 77 vehicle attributes. The 2013 APEAL study is based on responses gathered between February and May of 2013 from more than 83,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2013 model-year cars and trucks who were surveyed after the first 90 days of ownership.

Ramge Rover beats everyone to win J.D. Power APEAL award.

• First time a model outside the large premium car segment has ranked highest among all model in the industry
• Land Rover Brand Ranks 4th

According to J.D. Power 2013 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study released today, the Land Rover Range Rover achieves the highest APEAL score in its segment and of any model in the industry in 2013, which marks the first time a model outside the large premium car segment has done so. The Land Rover brand ranks 4th overall, an improvement of two placements from 6th in 2012. Land Rover's Range Rover was the award recipient for Large Premium Crossover/SUV in both 2010 and 2011.

"It’s a fantastic achievement for the fourth generation Range Rover to be ranked highest in the J.D. Power 2013 APEAL Study,” says Kim McCullough, Brand Vice President, Land Rover North America. “This underscores the investment being made to innovation and engineering across the Land Rover product portfolio and into making this vehicle the most refined, most capable Range Rover ever.”

The lighter and stronger 2013 Range Rover takes luxury and capability to a new level, with greater refinement and enhanced performance and handling on all terrains. As the fourth generation of the Range Rover line, this model was developed from the ground up, capturing the innovative spirit and iconic design of the original model which changed the world of motoring when it was launched over 40 years ago. The new Range Rover was launched last October to acclaim, receiving over 20 awards and accolades globally to date. It is the world's first aluminum unibody SUV, weighing around 700lbs lighter than the outgoing model.

Since going on sale this past December, the fourth generation Range Rover has been received with strong demand across the U.S. Over 6,000 Range Rovers have been sold in the U.S. this year and sales of the model have led to 28 percent year-over-year increase.

The APEAL Study serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle appeal, has been completely redesigned for 2013. The study, now in its 18th year, has been updated to better measure the appeal of today’s vehicles, particularly with respect to the new technologies and features now being offered. Owners evaluate their vehicle across 77 attributes, which roll up into an overall APEAL score on a 1,000-point scale.

The study is used extensively by manufacturers worldwide to help them design and develop more appealing vehicles and by consumers to help them in their purchase decisions. The 2013 APEAL Study is based on responses gathered between February and May 2013 from more than 83,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2013 model-year cars and light trucks who were surveyed after the first 90 days of ownership. The APEAL Study complements the Initial Quality Study (IQS), which focuses on problems experienced by owners during the first 90 days of ownership.