The annual IntelliChoice “Best Values of the Year” awards were given out at the recent Chicago Auto Show, and a surprising name found its way to the top of 16 different areas: Toyota.
While the news coverage of the automaker’s recalls, and congressional investigation, ensues, the Toyota’s legendary quality is still intact – at least for some.
The automaker was recognized for providing the best all-around values in the following categories:
Best Car Value Under $24,000: Toyota Prius
Best Crossover /SUV Value Under $28,000: Toyota FJ Cruiser
Best Crossover/SUV Value Over $28,000: Lexus RX
Best Truck Value Under $28,000: Toyota Tacoma
Best Van Value Under $26,000:Toyota Sienna
In addition, the company was honored in a wide number of individual vehicle segments, including:
Best Subcompact – Toyota Yaris Hatchback
Best Mid-size Car – Toyota Prius
Best Full-size Car – Toyota Avalon
Best Luxury Sports Sedan/Wagon – Lexus IS 350 Sedan
Best Midsize Crossover – Toyota Highlander
Best Luxury Crossover – Lexus RX
Best Mid-size SUV – Toyota FJ Cruiser
Best Full-size SUV – Toyota Sequoia
Best Compact Pickup 2WD – Toyota Tacoma 4×2
Best Compact Pickup 4WD – Toyota Tacoma 4×4
Best Minivan – Toyota Sienna
Now, it’s kind of hard to know what to make of these results, which were announced on February 10, well after the Toyota Recallathon kicked off. Did IntelliChoice make its decisions in early January, then decide it was somehow too late to make new picks? Or is this perhaps part of a growing backlash against the Toyota haters?
After all, the noted auto experts at Edmunds recently studied the information in the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) consumer complaint database, covering from 2001 up to February 3 of this year. The results: When you rank automakers in terms of fewest complaints per vehicle, Smart, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz take the top three spots, but guess which OEM comes next? You asked for it, you got it: Toyota. So while the cause of the recall fiasco remains serious, it’s also important to keep the bigger picture in mind.
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