J.D. Power: Volkswagen Passat Most APEAL-ing in Segment

SACO, Maine - Sept. 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Car buyers may be wowed on the dealership lot, but will they continue to love their new vehicles after driving them for several months? This is the question J.D. Power's annual Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study attempts to answer, by assessing owners' gratification with their new vehicles. For the second year in a row, the study has found the 2013 Volkswagen Passat to be the top-rated Midsize Car among new owners.

Owners were impressed with many of the VW Passat's attributes, including owner-reported fuel economy, which scored top ratings. Gasoline versions of the Passat deliver 32 mpg on the highway and 26 mpg combined, while the diesel TDI engine offers 40 mpg for highway driving. The Passat also scored highly in categories including overall performance and design and comfort. The midsize sedan is no slouch when it comes to safety, either, with the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) naming the 2013 VW Passat a Top Safety Pick+, the highest possible rating.

"The Passat checks off all the boxes that drivers are looking for," said Rick Bickford, general manager of Prime Volkswagen, a Volkswagen dealership in Saco, Maine. "It has a top IIHS safety rating,  generous gas mileage and plenty of room, all things that are important to buyers, but they will also find that this is a car that feels special among its competitors, with the performance that VW is known for."

J.D. Power's APEAL Study is in its 18th year and has come to serve as the industry standard measure of new-vehicle appeal. The study asks new owners to evaluate their vehicles on the basis of 77 attributes after 90 days with their vehicles. In 2013, the study engaged 83,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2013-model-year cars in the period from February to May 2013. Vehicles with higher APEAL scores command higher prices and those with higher-than-average scores spend three days less on dealer lots than do those with scores of at least 100 points below the average.

About Prime Volkswagen:

Prime Volkswagen is a Maine Volkswagen dealer serving Portland and Westbrook from its Saco location. Their broad selection of Volkswagen vehicles means that they have something for every budget and lifestyle, whether Maine drivers are looking for a VW Golf, Jetta, Passat or Tiguan. Prime Volkswagen proves to Maine car buyers that purchasing a new or used Volkswagen doesn't have to be a stressful experience. They promise to make sure that it isn't when VW fans come into their Greater Portland dealership at 784 Portland Road in Saco, Maine, or call them at 866-308-0591. Their full selection of new and used vehicles can be viewed online at http://www.primevw.com/ and they can also be visited on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prime-Volkswagen/538744386....