Consulting firm AutoPacific just posted the winners of its first ever “ideal” vehicle award. What qualified for an ideal vehicle? One an owner would least likely change.

Huh. I thought car awards were useless before but this takes the cake.

Do awards have any significance any more? Sounds like you can’t open the auto section of the paper or website without reading about a manufacturer, car, truck, or SUV winning an award for such and such qualities. To me, it not only dilutes the so-called major awards like from respected companies such as J.D. Power & Associates or Consumer Reports, but makes one suspicious of the voters. The winners of Ward’s best “Interior of the Year” awards are primarily journalists. Uh, shouldn’t the buying public have some say since they’ll be buying and sitting in these vehicles?

Don’t get me wrong. I also feel more awards are a good thing. Many of the older ones focused on what enthusiasts felt were important features which the public didn’t necessarily agree or care about. Safety is a big one. (Ask SUV buyers.) Same as reliability, best gas mileage, etc. But “sexiest”? Or “Most ugly?” That is extremely subjective and makes the pollster as well as the voters look ridiculous. I think there should be a poll on what polls should be used on vehicles. What do you think?