Honda tops Ford as America's favorite auto brand in new survey

Market research firm Harris Interactive has revealed that Mercedes-Benz and Honda are the two strongest auto brands in America according to its survey of more than 38,000 people.

The survey, known as the 2012 Harris EquiTrend study, puts a number to all of those warm and fuzzy feelings people have toward a particular brand as a way to measure its equity. Broken down a different way, the survey points out that American's favorite automotive brands are German and Japanese.

Mercedes took top honors in the Luxury Automotive Brand of the Year for the second year in a row. It was followed by BMW, Lexus, Cadillac and Acura.

In the Full Line Automotive Brand of the Year category, Honda grabbed the top spot, beating out Toyota, Ford (last year's winner), Chevrolet and Nissan. (Apparently Harris' definition of "full line" differs a bit from ours, as brands like Subaru and Hyundai were also included).

Harris doesn't provide much guidance about what sort of questions it asked to survey takers, but the final results seems to closely resemble America's sales totals as well. This suggests people tend to like what they buy, or at least like what they've bought. Scroll down to read the press release to see what Harris says are America's favorite in-car audio brands, motorcycle marques, tire companies and so on.    

Read more here                            

Honda Odyssey

The 2012 Honda Odyssey offers incredible, cutting-edge technology, impressive fuel efficiency and multiple sophisticated safety features, making this a top-notch family favorite.

The 2012 Honda Odyssey comes in five trim levels: The LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Touring Elite

2012 Honda Odyssey LX

3.5-Liter V6 engine with 248 horsepower and 250 ft-lbs of torque power

18 mpg city / 27 mpg highway*

AM/FM/CD with MP3 playback and 5 speaker audio system, Radio data system, audio input jack

Seats 7, driver’s seat with 8-way power adjustment, wide-mode adjustable second-row seats with walk-in feature, one-motion 60/40 split third row, reclining rear seats, and front and rear air conditioning

17” Steel wheels, privacy glass in rear, rear defogger and wiper, remote power door locks and trunk release, and power mirrors and windows

2012 Honda Odyssey EX

3.5-Liter V6 engine with 248 horsepower and 250 ft-lbs of torque power

18 mpg city / 27 mpg highway*

Bluetooth wireless technology, i-MID with 8” Screen, 2GB CD-Library, USB audio interface for iPod, and memory card slot

Seats 8, power-sliding doors, heated power side mirrors, tri-zone automatic climate control system with humidity control and air filtration, removable front center console with storage, second-row integrated sunshades, and multi-function second-row center seat

17” Alloy wheels, Anti-theft system, HomeLink Remote system, illuminated steering wheel-mounted cruise/audio/phone controls

2012 Honda Odyssey EX-L

3.5-Liter V6 engine with 248 horsepower and 250 ft-lbs of torque power

18 mpg city / 27 mpg highway*

XM Satellite Radio, Bluetooth wireless technology, i-MID with 8” Screen, 2GB CD-Library, USB audio interface for iPod

Leather-trimmed interior, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, rearview camera with auto-dimming, power moonroof, and 4-way power adjustable passenger seat

Power tailgate, center back storage, Cool Box, and Optional DVD rear entertainment system, and Optional Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation system

2012 Honda Odyssey Touring

3.5-Liter V6 engine with 248 horsepower and 250 ft-lbs of torque power

19 mpg city / 28 mpg highway*

AM/FM/CD audio system with 7 speakers and one subwoofer, audio input jack, USB connectivity, XM Satellite Radio, 15GB audio memory and hard drive, and programmable multi-information display

Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation system with voice recognition, multi-angle rearview camera, Honda DVD rear entertainment system,

18” Alloy wheels, 6-speed automatic transmission, heated power side mirrors with integrated turn indicators, reverse gear tilt-down on side mirrors, acoustic windshield, body-colored parking front/rear sensors,

2012 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite

3.5-Liter V6 engine with 248 horsepower and 250 ft-lbs of torque power

19 mpg city / 28 mpg highway*

AM/FM/CD Premium audio system with 12 speakers including subwoofer, 5.1 surround sound theater mode, and Honda DVD Ultrawide rear entertainment system with HDMI technology

Blind spot information system, high-intensity discharge headlights with auto on/off, and power glass sunroof

Safety Features

Front, rear and third row head airbags

Dual front side-mounted airbags

Remote anti-theft alarm system

Rear door child safety locks

Child seat anchors

Stability and Traction Control

The 2012 Honda Odyssey was built with the family in mind. With several safety features, comfort and convenience, the Honda Odyssey is an oasis for everyone in the family.

*Based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Honda CR-Z

Honda is proud to mark the 2012 Honda CR-Z as the first 6-speed Production Hybrid vehicle. The Honda CR-Z is a Sport Hybrid with unique Sport and ECON modes.

The 2012 Honda CR-Z is available in the Base model and an EX model.

2012 Honda CR-Z

1.5-Liter 4-cylinder hybrid engine with 122 horsepower and 128 ft-lbs of torque

31 mpg city / 37 mpg highway*

AM/FM/CD player with MP3 playback, audio input jack, USB connection, and speed sensitive volume control

Cloth front bucket seats, one-touch power windows, electric speed-proportional power steering, LED brake lights, and 16” alloy wheels

3-mode drive system: ECON, Normal, and Sport

2012 Honda CR-Z EX

1.5-Liter 4-cylinder hybrid engine with 122 horsepower and 128 ft-lbs of torque

31 mpg city / 37 mpg highway*

Bluetooth wireless technology, leather steering wheel, and dual-zone climate controls

High-Intensity Discharge (HID) head lights, textured aluminum pedals, blue back lit gauges, Multi-Information Display and optional Navigation system

Safety Features

Front head airbags

Dual front side-mounted airbags

Ventilated front disc/solid rear disc brakes

Engine immobilizer

Turn signal mirrors

Stability and Traction Control

Remote anti-theft alarm system

Advanced IMA Hybrid Technology and 3-mode drive system give the 2012 Honda CR-Z an edge on the competition and adds to the Honda driving experience.

*Based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Honda Crosstour

Honda Crosstour

The 2012 Honda Crosstour Hatchback offers gracious cargo space, luxury interior design and the comfort of a family SUV.

The 2012 Honda Crosstour comes in two different trims: The EX and EX-L. Both trims are 2WD, with an optional 4WD on the EX-L model.

2012 Honda Crosstour EX

3.5-Liter V6 engine with 271 horsepower and 254 ft-lbs of torque

18 city mpg / 27 highway mpg*

AM/FM/6-Disc CD player with MP3 playback, audio input jack, USB connection, and Bluetooth wireless technology

Cloth front bucket seats, 10-way power adjustable driver seat, 4-way power adjustable passenger seat, power glass sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, and rearview mirror with rearview camera display

5-speed automatic transmission, 17” Alloy wheels, front wheel drive, Halogen head lights with auto-on/off, heated power side mirrors, rear privacy glass, and hidden removable utility box

2012 Honda Crosstour EX-L

3.5-Liter V6 engine with 271 horsepower and 254 ft-lbs of torque

18 city mpg / 26 highway mpg*

XM Satellite Radio with 3 months of provided service

Leather-trimmed seats, multi-level heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, 2-position memory driver seat, memory-linked side mirrors with reverse gear tilt-down, and automatic dimming rearview mirror

18” Alloy wheels and Remote Power Sunroof

Safety Features

4-Wheel ABS

Side curtain airbags with Rollover Sensor

Tire Pressure Monitoring system

Child seat anchors

Daytime running lights

Stability and Traction Control

Rear child safety door locks

With the space and design of an SUV and the fuel efficiency of a mid-size car, the 2012 Honda Crosstour is a top-choice.

*Based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

2012 Honda Accord Coupe

The 2012 Honda Accord Coupe is an affordable midsize car that offers excellent scores in safety performance. The 2012 model provides a roomy interior for passengers.

The 2012 Honda Accord Coupe is available in 4 different trim options: LX-S, EX, EX-L, and EX-L V-6

2012 Honda Accord Coupe LX-S

·        2.4-Liter, 16-Valve, DOHC, i-VTEC® 4-Cylinder Engine that produces 190 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque

·        22 miles per gallon city / 33 miles per gallon highway*

·        Drive-by-Wire™ Throttle System, Air Conditioning with Air-Filtration, Illuminated Steering Wheel-Mounted Audio and Cruise Controls

·        160-Watt AM/FM/6-Disc In-Dash Audio System, USB Audio Interface

·        17-inch Alloy Wheels, Projector-Beam Halogen Headlights, Vehicle Stability Assist

2012 Honda Accord Coupe EX

·        2.4-Liter, 16-Valve, DOHC, i-VTEC® 4-Cylinder Engine that produces 190 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque

·        22 miles per gallon city / 33 miles per gallon highway*

·        One-Touch Power Moonroof with Tilt Feature, Heated Power Side Mirrors, Power Windows with Auto-Up/Down for Both the Driver's and Front Passenger's Windows, Premium Interior Accents

·        270-Watt AM/FM/6-Disc In-Dash Premium Audio System with 7 Speakers, Including Subwoofer, Bluetooth Hands Free Link, Steering Wheel-Mounted Phone Controls

2012 Honda Accord Coupe EX-L

·        2.4-Liter, 16-Valve, DOHC, i-VTEC® 4-Cylinder Engine that produces 190 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque

·        22 miles per gallon city / 33 miles per gallon highway*

·        Leather-Trimmed Seats, Heated Front Seats, Driver's Seat with 10-Way Power Adjustment, Including Power Lumbar Support, Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control, XM Radio

2012 Honda Accord Coupe EX-L V-6

·        3.5-Liter, 24-Valve, SOHC i-VTEC® V-6 Engine that produces 271 horsepower and 254 lb-ft of torque

·        19 miles per gallon city / 29 miles per gallon highway*

·        18-Inch Alloy Wheels, Rear Decklid Spoiler, HomeLink Remote System, Available Close-Ratio 6-Speed Manual Transmission, Driver's Seat with 2-Position Memory

·        Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with Voice Recognition option

Standard Safety Features

·        Dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags

·        Dual-chamber front side airbags with passenger-side occupant position detection system

·        Side curtain airbags

·        Anti-Lock Braking System

·        Child-proof rear door locks

·        Daytime Running Lights

·        Vehicle Stability Assist

The 2012 Honda Accord Coupe is a reliable vehicle for its owners. The Accord also offers an option for a more powerful V-6 engine.

  

*Based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.