Just_me

Kelley Blue Book (KBB) and its marketing research team have listed the brands that car buyers find to have the most exceptional ‘exterior styling’ in each vehicle segment. The results come from a study conducted by Brand Watch, KBB’s newest automotive research study. Though styling is a subjective matter, it still plays a major role in most car buying decisions and can easily persuade a buyer towards a particular vehicle.

Nissan was voted to have the most stylish non-luxury sedans in the market, beating out more popular makes Toyota and Honda. Ford managed to win two top spots, taking honors in the truck and non-luxury SUV segments, while BMW also had two top places with wins in the luxury SUV and luxury sedan segments. The category that we’re all interested in, convertibles and sports cars, was taken by Porsche, followed closely by Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar.

“As vehicle reliability reaches near-parity in the market, we predict that exterior styling will play an even bigger role in building new-vehicle sales and brand equity,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst at KBB. “The results of the Brand Watch study demonstrate that the industry is, and should be, placing great emphasis on what their vehicles look like.” Follow the jump to see the top three makes in each segment.

Convertibles/Sports Cars
1. Porsche
2. Mercedes-Benz
3. Jaguar

Trucks
1. Ford
2. GMC
3. Chevrolet

Minivans
1. Dodge
2. Toyota
3. Honda

Luxury SUVs
1. BMW
2. Lexus
3. Mercedes-Benz

Non-Luxury SUVs
1. Ford
2. Toyota
3. GMC

Luxury Sedan
1. BMW
2. Mercedes-Benz
3. Infiniti

Non-Luxury Sedan
1. Nissan
2. Honda
3. Toyota

The Artist

should show the ppl that mind MB design..
MB got most top 3´s of all german brands
way to go MB

Yannis

So Toyota , Ford , Chevrolet are in the same league when it comes to exterior design with BMW and Mercedes? I wouldn't be proud if i were you.

The Artist

well not really.. in MB´s categorys they arent..

i couldnt care less about the design of minivans and trucks..

mercmad

MB not top of the Luxury sedan group... Im shocked

Mr. Mercedes

It's US Based.

That Audi isn't even in there and Lexus is, is utter tripe from a global perspective. Also, Mazda has been far more successfull in terms design then either Toyota or Honda. As a range they have been far more consistent than either of the two.

Merc1

Do I sense a little resentment because Audi didn't make the list? Clearly you decided to ignore the fact that MB and nothing from Ford/GM/Toyota are in the same categories.

You must realize that if Audi didn't make the list, the list isn't worth much anyway since we know that Audi has the best looking lineup from top to bottom.

M

Merc1

As I look at this list further I'm realizing just how utter blind and/or cluess we Americans are about styling. There is no way in hell anything from Toyota or Nissan looks like squat. Like others have said, Mazdas even Hondas look better, but especially Mazdas.

The only catergory that is utterly correct is the sports car/convertible category. When you look at a 911, a 911 Cabrio, SL or XK Coupe/Cabriolet you see why the brands are MB, Porsche and Jaguar. Undeniable!

No way in hell a Lexus SUV looks better than an Land Rover or even the Audi SUV. Only the blind (and or reliability worshipers) would put Lexus over Land Rover in SUV styling.

In the non-luxury SUV category I can see Ford being there because the Edge and Expedition look ok, but Toyota? Wrong again. Mazda for one has two new crossovers (CX-7 and CX-9) that look better than anything Toyota has! GMCs look ok I guess, especially the Arcadia.

Want proof that people who care about surveys so much are cluess about actual "car" aspects of their cars? Look at the non-luxury sedan category. No way in the world Honda (bland), Toyota (one decent looking vehicle, the Camry SE), and Nissan (all ugly as hell) could be better looking than Mazda and VW. This group wouldn't know a good looking car if they were run over by one!

M

Just_me

one thing is for sure - Bangle was spot on! People do like Bangle

Yannis

Bangle is American so his vision of design is closer to US standards.

I also agree that Mazda should had been in that list. Ford's design is a joke compared to them.
Also Saturn could had been there. Opel designers are very good , and Saturns are rebadged Opels.