Best Fleet Value in America
Toyota scoops up 10 trophies in Vincentric’s fifth annual Best Fleet Value in America awards.
Vincentric presents its 2010 Best Fleet Value in America awards, the only fleet-specific valuation award of its kind in the automotive industry. Toyota, the automaker that has taken home the most trophies in the award's five-year history, again had a strong showing by winning 10 categories out of 35.
Ford took home eight awards, while General Motors' four brands claimed seven. Premium brand Volvo won three awards. Volkswagen, a newcomer to fleet, took home two trophies.
Chevrolet Impala Police Edition won in a new category, Police Sedan. Ford Transit Connect won in another new category, Mini Commercial Van, a growing segment in the industry.
The well-received, all-new Ford Taurus won the Large Passenger Car category, an important high-volume category for fleet.
Looking back on the awards' five-year history, Chevy Silverado has won every year in the Full Size Heavy Duty 1 Ton Pickup category and four out of five years in the Full Size Pickup, ½ Ton category. Toyota Tacoma won the Compact Pickup award for the fifth year in a row, as has Toyota Camry in the Mid-Size Sedan category.
How the Awards Are Determined
To determine the Best Fleet Value in America awards, Vincentric used its ongoing comprehensive analysis of lifecycle costs to identify the best fleet values in the industry. The company measured eight cost factors for more than 2,000 vehicle configurations in the 2010 model year, with 20 different mileage/lifecycle timeframe scenarios used in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The more than 16 million lifecycle cost measurements that resulted were then reviewed to determine the winning vehicles.
The eight cost factors that determined overall lifecycle costs were depreciation, fuel, insurance, opportunity cost, financing, maintenance, taxes, state fees and repairs. These costs were integrated with the Vincentric fleet price, which estimates the acquisition cost for each vehicle in the study.
"Our awards look to provide guidance to all types of fleet buyers, including small business fleets, executive fleets and high-volume managed fleets. By segmenting awards into entry level, mid-level and premium level vehicles, buyers have guidance for a broad range of fleet vehicles," says David Wurster, president of Vincentric. "In addition, by using 20 different mileage/lifecycle timeframe scenarios, we've taken into account a wide variety of driving and ownership patterns."
Variance in winners from year to year is primarily due to fluctuations in pricing and incentives, as well as changes in residual values. To qualify, manufacturers must meet minimum thresholds based upon commercial and government (non-rental) fleet sales.
The vehicle segments and the winners of Vincentric's Best Fleet Value in America awards for the 2010 model year are listed below. In addition, a review of each winner and further information about the study is available at www.vincentric.com.
2010 Model Year Winners of Vincentric's Best Fleet Value in America Awards
Passenger Cars
Subcompact: Toyota Yaris Sedan
Compact, Hatchback: Toyota Matrix Base
Compact, Sedan: Nissan Versa Base
Compact, Premium: Volvo S40 2.4i
Compact, Advanced Fuel Technology: Toyota Prius I
Mid-Size Sedan: Toyota Camry Base
Mid-Size Sedan, Premium: Audi A4 2.0T FrontTrak
Sedan, Advanced Fuel Technology: Toyota Camry Hybrid
Large: Ford Taurus SE FWD
Large, Premium: Lincoln MKS FWD
Police Sedan: Chevrolet Impala Police Edition
Prestige: Mercedes-Benz GL 550
Wagon: Volkswagen Jetta S
Wagon, Premium: Volvo V50 2.4i
Utility Vehicles and Crossovers
Crossover, Compact, Mid Level: Toyota Rav4 Base 2WD 4cyl
Crossover, Compact, Premium: Volvo XC60 3.2 FWD
Crossover, Mid Size: Toyota Highlander Base 2WD 4cyl
Crossover, Mid Size, Premium: Cadillac SRX Base FWD
Crossover, Large: Ford Flex SE FWD
Crossover, Large, Premium: Lincoln MKT FWD
Crossover, Advanced Fuel Technology - Volkswagen Touareg TDI
SUV, Compact: Toyota FJ Cruiser 2WD
SUV, Mid Size: Toyota 4Runner SR5 2WD V6
SUV, Large: Chevrolet Tahoe Commercial 2WD
SUV, Large, Premium: GMC Yukon Denali 2WD
SUV, Premium, Advanced Fuel Technology: Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTec
Sport Utility Truck: Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2WD
Pickup Trucks
Compact Pickup: Toyota Tacoma Base Reg Cab 2WD
Full Size Pickup, 1/2 Ton: Chevrolet/GMC Silverado 1500/Sierra 1500 Work Truck Reg Cab 2WD 119
Full Size Heavy Duty Pickup, 3/4 Ton: Chevrolet/GMC Silverado 2500HD/Sierra 2500HD Work Truck Reg Cab 2WD
Full Size Heavy Duty Pickup, 1 Ton: Ford F350 XL Reg Cab 2WD SRW
Vans
Mini Van: Dodge Grand Caravan SE
Mini Commercial Van: Ford Transit Connect XL
Full Size Cargo Van: Chevrolet Express G1500 Cargo SWB
Full Size Passenger Van: Ford E150 XL Wagon
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