This study introduces a multi-criteria decision-making framework for evaluating sedan automobiles in the Saudi market. The framework incorporates comfort measures relevant to users, including air-conditioning (A/C) strength and cabin noise level. These parameters are crucial in the context of Saudi Arabia’s climate and are often overlooked in conventional car assessment methods. The methodology employs the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Factor Rating Method, and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to quantitatively evaluate vehicles based on their technical performance and user preferences. A survey of 431 respondents identified the most influential factors in car-purchasing decisions and established a preferred price range of 50,000 to 100,000 SAR. Experimental testing was conducted on six sedans, divided equally between small and mid-sized categories, using anemometers and sound-level meters to measure air conditioning (A/C) output and interior noise levels. Statistical analysis using Minitab indicated a significant relationship between A/C strength and car type. Differences in noise level were not statistically significant, which may be attributed to the limitations of the sample size. The results demonstrate that integrating climate-specific comfort factors with multi-criteria evaluation methods enhances the accuracy of vehicle comparisons, supporting more informed decision-making for consumers and manufacturers in hot-climate regions.
Human Factors and Ergonomics Competition
A Multi-Criteria Car Evaluation Method with User-Relevant Comfort Measures
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