Design News Auto Survey

    Results in the 22nd annual Design News Auto Survey show that about 18 percent of respondents drive a Ford Taurus, Explorer or Ford pick-up truck. In the survey, 14 percent say that a Ford vehicle would be their choice if they were buying a new car today.
    In the survey's "Under $15,000" category, the Honda Civic was named number one, edging the Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai and Saturn, all of which tied for second place.
    In the $15, - 24,000 price range, the Honda Accord got honors, followed by the Toyota Camry (and other Toyota models) and the VW Jetta.
    In the $25,000 - 34,999 price range, the BMW 3-series led the way, followed by Lexus (300 and other Lexus models), GM, Ford Pickup and Toyota Camry.
    In the $35-44,999 category, the BMW 5-series took honors, followed by Mercedes-Benz and Lexus tied for second, and Volvo.
    BMW got a "hat-trick" in this year's survey, with the BMW M3 and the BMW 7-series tying for the top vehicle in the $45,000+ category, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus tied for second, followed by Volvo.
    Asked to rank alternative fuel technologies, respondents answered that hybrid engines show the most promise, followed by:

    Fuel Cells
    Electric
    Ethanol
    Diesel

    Respondents appear to be quite sensitive to fuel prices. Asked at what point pump prices would affect their car-buying choices, nearly a third (31%) said they'd already reached that point when gas prices went to $2 a gallon. About 48 percent said they'd consider buying a hybrid or electric vehicle today.
    Since 1980, Design News has asked its design engineer readers -- about 17 percent of whom work in auto-related fields -- to name the cars they'd buy on the basis of quality and good engineering, and to compare how each maker's car stacks up against the competition.
    "Design engineers have strong opinions about autos, and with their technical training, they understand quality design and good engineering when they see it," says Karen Augustin Field, chief editor of Design News.
    Design News is read twice monthly by 335,000 engineers who design products ranging from autos to spacecraft. It is published by Cahners publishing Co., Newton, Mass., the nation's leading publisher of specialized business magazines. Design News is the winner of five Folio magazine "Editorial Excellence" award as the top design engineering magazine in the U.S.