All-new and redesigned vehicles serve as the catalyst for the automotive industry's most appealing lineup in recent history, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2000 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study.

Of the 47 all-new or redesigned vehicles introduced in 2000, 14 rank in the top three in their respective segments, resulting in an all-time high APEAL industry average. The study, in its fifth year, is based on responses from 101,768 new-vehicle owners.

Toyota models rank highest in three of the 15 vehicle segments with the Avalon, Land Cruiser and Tundra. The Tundra is the industry's first non-domestic full-size pickup truck to top its segment.

For the second consecutive year, three Volkswagen models -- Beetle, Jetta, and GTI -- also capture top segment rankings. The Beetle outranks the new Chrysler PT Cruiser, which came in second in the compact car segment. The Subaru Forester and Mercedes-Benz S-Class both top their respective segments, making it the first time either a Subaru or a Mercedes-Benz model has ranked highest in a segment in the APEAL study.

The Chevrolet Corvette continues to set the APEAL standard in the sports car segment, achieving the top ranking for the fourth year ina row, while the BMW 3 Series tops the entry luxury category for the second year in a row with its coupe, convertible and sport wagon redesigns.

For the fourth year running, the Dodge Dakota dominates as the most appealing compact pickup. The Honda Odyssey ranks highest in the compact van segment for the second straight year, followed closely by the Toyota Sienna. The Ford Econoline ranks highest in the full-size van segment, followed by the Chevrolet Express and the GMC Savanna.

The Nissan Pathfinder decisively tops the compact SUV segment, while the new BMW X5 ranks highest in the luxury SUV segment, followed by the Lexus LX 470 and RX 300.

The 2000 APEAL study comprises eight specific areas of vehicle performance and design, including more than 100 attributes that uncover what consumers like and dislike about their new vehicles. These areas include vehicle styling; engine and transmission; comfort and convenience; ride, handling and braking; seats; heating; ventilation and cooling; cockpit and instrument panel; and sound system. Headquartered in Agoura Hills, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services firm. J.D. Power and Associates can be accessed through the Internet at http://www.jdpa.com.