Automakers with the highest consumer satisfaction rankings
This ends a three-year decline in customer satisfaction and puts the automobile category at the top of ACSI's customer satisfaction rankings, ahead of TV and video players and credit unions.
Even better, the improvements are widespread. Out of 24 companies the ACSI tracked this year, 16 improved in customer satisfaction, and only 5 declined. Additionally, American, Asian and European cars are all nearly equal in satisfaction.
Of course, there is always room for improvement. Although customers seemed to be particularly pleased with performance, dependability and exterior styling, they were least satisfied with gas mileage and warranties.
Number 1: Lincoln
Impressively, Lincoln managed to top the American Customer Satisfaction Index for 2016 with a score of 87. This is a great accomplishment for the American car company, and it significantly outperformed its corporate parent, Ford.
Number 2: Honda
Honda gained 6 percentage points on the American Customer Satisfaction Index for 2016. Although it's just behind Lincoln, Honda can still lay claim to having the highest satisfaction of any Japanese automaker.
Number 3: BMW
BMW is tied with Toyota in the American Customer Satisfaction Index for 2016 with a score of 85. This is the second year in a row the two companies have had the same satisfaction score.
Number 4: Toyota
Toyota's score of 85 lands the world's biggest automaker in fourth position in the American Customer Satisfaction Index for 2016.
Number 5: GMC
Number 6: Infiniti
Infiniti also made a big jump in satisfaction score. Last year the luxury brand was the lowest-ranked Japanese brand. With a new score of 84 on the American Customer Satisfaction Index for 2016, Infiniti is now the third highest-ranked automaker from the land of the rising sun.
Number 7: Lexus
For the third year in a row, Lexus has maintained it's customer satisfaction. Since 2014 Lexus has always scored an 84 in the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Unfortunately for Lexus, many other companies made major improvements in satisfaction, leading Lexus to drop to the number seven slot.
Number 8: Subaru
Subaru recovered from its dip in satisfaction last year. The all-wheel-drive-centric brand scored 84 in the 2016 American Customer Satisfaction Index. However, the gains weren't enough for Subaru to stay in the top five, this year dropping back to eighth. But an 84 is still a strong score.
Number 9: Audi
Audi jumped from 18th to 9th place this year thanks to a 6% improvement in the American Customer Satisfaction Index for 2016. The German luxury brand had a score of 83, which wasn't enough to beat BMW, but did allow it to surpass Mercedes-Benz.
Number 10: Chevrolet
Number 12: Ford
Ford managed a solid improvement in this year's American Customer Satisfaction Index, but Chevrolet managed to best the Blue Oval's score of 81. At least Ford can take solace in the fact that Lincoln, managed to top the list.
Number 13: Hyundai
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Hyundai is the second automaker to have a steady score in the American Customer Satisfaction Index for 2016. Like last year the Korean brand received a score of 81 points. However, in a year when many automakers made substantial improvements, Hyundai was knocked down a few places to 13th.
Number 14: Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes continued its satisfaction decline from last year. The company saw a 3.5-percent drop in last year's American Customer Satisfaction Index, and it dropped again this year by 2-percent to 81. This makes Mercedes the least satisfying German luxury brand on the list.
Number 15: Mazda
Mazda was well above average in the American Customer Satisfaction Index last year, but significant gains by other automakers has brought up the average to 82. This year, Mazda falls just below the average line, maintaining its score of 80.
Number 16: Nissan
Nissan managed to reverse its decline in satisfaction from last year. In the American Customer Satisfaction Index for 2016, Nissan picked up 3 points for a score of 80, matching Mazda.
Number 17: Buick
Buick earned a 17th-place showing on the American Customer Satisfaction Index for 2016 with a score of 79. This marks a slight decrease from last year when the brand had a score of 80.
Number 18: Cadillac
Cadillac According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index for 2016, "The Standard of the World" is now below average. Cadillac dropped a point this year to 79, and that would have been average last year, but improvements by other companies brought the average up to 82.
Number 19: Chrysler
Chrysler made a significant improvement in satisfaction, going from 74 to 79 on the American Customer Satisfaction Index for 2016. This may still leave the company with a below average score, but it's a much better place to be than second to last, as it was last year.
Number 20: Kia
Number 21: Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi still sits low among Japanese automakers on the American Customer Satisfaction Index. However, it did improve by 2 points to nab a score of 79 and hold its ranking at 21.
Number 22: Dodge
Dodge managed to earn a score of 78 on the American Customer Satisfaction Index for 2016, which is an improvement of two points. However, that's only enough to move up one place on the board, and it's no longer the best-performaning Fiat Chrysler brand.
Number 23: Jeep
Jeep improved its American Customer Satisfaction Index score by 3 points to tie Dodge at 78. Unfortunately for Jeep, it still has come in third to last on the board.
Number 24: Volkswagen
Number 25: Acura
From second place last year, to dead last this year, Acura had a serious stumble. The company is now the lowest-ranked Japanese brand with a score of 76 in the American Customer Satisfaction Index for 2016. The company saw an 8-percent drop from its previous score of 83.
Acura has already suffered from a bit of an identity crisis, and a drop in satisfaction doesn't help the company. However, considering the gains corporate parent Honda made, it shouldn't be too hard for the company to turn things around.
