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NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The Chrysler PT Cruiser is the favorite "premium compact car" and the Toyota Avalon is the favorite "premium midsized car" among women, according to a survey in the current issue of Good Housekeeping magazine.

The magazine's suvey was based data from marketing firm J.D. Power and Associates' Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) survey. Looking at responses from 40,000 women who had bought a new car, minivan or SUV in the past year, the magazine and J.D. Power determined the factors that contributed most to women's satisfaction with their new vehicles. Safety was the most important overall factor, according to the magazine.

Performance and handling, including maximum acceleration, were slightly more important to women than to men, according to the magazine. Performance was important to 92.6 percent of women and 91.3 percent of men.

"Our goal with the What Women Want Auto Study is to help car manufacturers best to cater to the needs of their female consumers," said John Kupsch, technical director of the Good Housekeeping Institute.

Fifty-nine percent of all car purchases are made by or influenced by women, yet very few automakers are specifically targeting female consumers, according to the magazine.