The Genesis G90 was ranked the most satisfying vehicle by owners in a recent AutoPacific Inc. survey.

The G90, the flagship sedan for new Korean luxury brand Genesis, was ranked the “most satisfying vehicle” on the market in a new survey of U.S. automobile owners.

Barely a year old, the Genesis brand itself came in third in the 2017 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards, the annual study conducted by consulting firm AutoPacific Inc. and Detroit-based Lincoln took the top spot among all brands in the VSA, toppling last year’s winner Tesla.

Unlike studies that focus on quality – what is known as a things-gone-wrong study – the VSA attempts to “look at the big picture, which includes owners’ experiences with their vehicle’s quality and safety, but also goes deeper into the heart of the ownership experience,” said AutoPacific President George Peterson.

This isn’t the first time Genesis has scored well, however. The brand ranked second in the recently released J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey, just behind Kia but ahead of Hyundai, all three of the Korean carmakers landing in the IQS Top 10.

(To see why GM and VW are leading the pack for North American auto awards, Click Here.)

The Genesis G90 not only topped the list among all models currently on the market but it set a record high score in the VSA.

Lincoln was the most satisfying automotive brand in the 2017 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards.

Peterson noted it is “exceptional” for a new brand and a new product to “create a new benchmark for excellence,” and pointed to the Genesis strategy of offering a high value for the dollar, while emphasizing customer satisfaction in both its products and its approach to sales and service. For one thing, buyers get free pick-up and delivery when a vehicle needs service or repairs, along with a free loaner.

Not so coincidentally, Lincoln has been rolling out a similar strategy as it attempts to regain its once lofty position among luxury buyers.

(Three large sedans win Top Safety Pick+ kudos, three others fall short. Click Here for the full story.)

Among mainstream brands, GMC was ranked tops in the 2017 VSA, regaining its lead from Kia, which was tops last year.

Along with ranking the many automotive brands available on the U.S., the study looks at individual vehicle segments, such as Midsize Car, Large SUV and Minivan. Japanese brands won eight segment awards, American manufacturers close behind with seven. Korean brands took four VSA Awards, as did European brands.

Nissan won the most VSA Awards of any brand with five, Kia took home two, with Porsche, Honda and Ford each winning two.

Of the award winners, seven were all-new or completely redesigned for 2017, noted AutoPacific. That suggests a shift in an industry where new products have often suffered from quality and other snags during their first year on the market.

“Six of the seven redesigned vehicles, the Genesis G90, Kia Cadenza, Ford Super Duty, Honda Ridgeline, Kia Sportage and Chrysler Pacifica, greatly exceed the scores of their nearest segment competitors – big wins in such a competitive industry,” said Peterson.

(June U.S. car sales tumble…again. Click Here for the full story.)

The 2017 VSA Awards were based on surveys of 54,000 U.S. new car buyers. Below are the winners in each segment:

Highest Satisfaction Premium Brand: Lincoln
Highest Satisfaction Popular Brand: GMC

PASSENGER CARS:

LIGHT TRUCKS: