Law and Rights
JD Power does a quality survey every once in awhile on motor vehicles a few months after they are sold new. The results can be interesting and many consumers use it as a guide to overall quality of a brand or model line.
In this year's survey, announced June 2006, Porsche had the highest quality cars (at that price, they ought to be), followed by BMW and Mercedes (ditto that comment). Toyota's Lexus luxury brand came next, followed by Nissan's Infiniti luxury brand.
Meanwhile, the Ford Mustang took the mid sized sporty car segment award and the Ford Fusion took the mid sized car quality award. Although 14 of the 2006 Ford models have been recalled, the Mustang and the Fusion weren't among them (at least not as of June 29, 2006).
JD Power based the study on its survey of more than 63,000 people who bought or leased 2006 model cars and trucks, after 90 days of ownership.
The real shocker for many people? Hyundai beat out Toyota for the Number 1 spot as "non premium" (read, cheap) brand make in quality. Hyundai has come a long, long way from its early "dead dog" days.
The survey results aren't that surprising, seemingly once again proving the old adage of "you get what you pay for." Although some 5,000 Porsche Carrera vehicles were recalled in early 2006, that's nothing compared to the numbers other manufacturers have to deal with sometimes. For instance GM announced one recall that covered over 800,000 trucks. In another recall, there were 425,000 Chevy and GMC vans at one time.
But we aren't just GM bashing. Even the usually high quality Nissan can mount a pretty good size recall. Take, for instance, 85,000 2006 Altima vehicles that risk catching fire. I guess that what happens when you don't step up to the Infiniti?
Wondering if your car was recalled? You can quickly check our Recall List by clicking here.
Top model in each category:
? Subcompact car: Kia Rio/Rio Cinco and Suzuki Aerio (tie)
? Compact car: Toyota Corolla
? Compact sporty car: Mazda MX-5 Miata
? Compact premium sporty car: Porsche Cayman
? Entry premium car: Lexus IS 250/IS 350
? Midsize premium car: Lexus ES 300
? Large premium car: Lexus LS 430
? Premium sporty car: Lexus SC 430
? Midsize sporty car: Toyota Solara
? Midsize car: Toyota Camry
? Large car: Pontiac Grand Prix
Truck/Multi-activity vehicle segments
? Compact MAV: Hyundai Tucson
? Midsize MAV: Toyota Highlander
* Large MAV: Toyota Sequoia
? Midsize premium MAV: Lexus GX 470
? Large premium MAV: Lexus LX 470
? Large pickup: Chevrolet Silverado LD
? Midsize pickup: Ford Ranger
? Van: Chrysler Town & Country
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Law and Rights
German & Japanese Cars Top the Quality Survey
JD Power does a quality survey every once in awhile on motor vehicles a few months after they are sold new. The results can be interesting and many consumers use it as a guide to overall quality of a brand or model line.
In this year's survey, announced June 2006, Porsche had the highest quality cars (at that price, they ought to be), followed by BMW and Mercedes (ditto that comment). Toyota's Lexus luxury brand came next, followed by Nissan's Infiniti luxury brand.
Meanwhile, the Ford Mustang took the mid sized sporty car segment award and the Ford Fusion took the mid sized car quality award. Although 14 of the 2006 Ford models have been recalled, the Mustang and the Fusion weren't among them (at least not as of June 29, 2006).
JD Power based the study on its survey of more than 63,000 people who bought or leased 2006 model cars and trucks, after 90 days of ownership.
The real shocker for many people? Hyundai beat out Toyota for the Number 1 spot as "non premium" (read, cheap) brand make in quality. Hyundai has come a long, long way from its early "dead dog" days.
The survey results aren't that surprising, seemingly once again proving the old adage of "you get what you pay for." Although some 5,000 Porsche Carrera vehicles were recalled in early 2006, that's nothing compared to the numbers other manufacturers have to deal with sometimes. For instance GM announced one recall that covered over 800,000 trucks. In another recall, there were 425,000 Chevy and GMC vans at one time.
But we aren't just GM bashing. Even the usually high quality Nissan can mount a pretty good size recall. Take, for instance, 85,000 2006 Altima vehicles that risk catching fire. I guess that what happens when you don't step up to the Infiniti?
Wondering if your car was recalled? You can quickly check our Recall List by clicking here.
Top model in each category:
? Subcompact car: Kia Rio/Rio Cinco and Suzuki Aerio (tie)
? Compact car: Toyota Corolla
? Compact sporty car: Mazda MX-5 Miata
? Compact premium sporty car: Porsche Cayman
? Entry premium car: Lexus IS 250/IS 350
? Midsize premium car: Lexus ES 300
? Large premium car: Lexus LS 430
? Premium sporty car: Lexus SC 430
? Midsize sporty car: Toyota Solara
? Midsize car: Toyota Camry
? Large car: Pontiac Grand Prix
Truck/Multi-activity vehicle segments
? Compact MAV: Hyundai Tucson
? Midsize MAV: Toyota Highlander
* Large MAV: Toyota Sequoia
? Midsize premium MAV: Lexus GX 470
? Large premium MAV: Lexus LX 470
? Large pickup: Chevrolet Silverado LD
? Midsize pickup: Ford Ranger
? Van: Chrysler Town & Country
Subscribe in a reader- You Think Toyotas Ran Away? Here Comes Lexus
A while back Toyota went through a lot of recalls for its unintended acceleration recalls and cases. Lexus did some too. Well, here comes Lexus again. Federal safety investigators just announced that nearly 134,000 of the Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h hybrid...
- Consumer Reports' Top Vehicles For The Money Includes
Each year Consumer Reports April issue of its magazine releases the list of best vehicles for the money - and the worst. Best of Value, you could call it. Based on a mix of how well a vehicle performs in the magaine's tests and also the anticipated...
- What Cars Have The Best Resale Values?
A good way to realize that the conomy is rebounding is when you start seeing more positive articles about car ownership again. Let's face it. Car sales are a major driving force in the economy, perhaps even moreso than home sales. Well, if that's...
- Toyota Down, Subaru Up, Go Figure
In a stunning upset, Toyota reliability fell below both Honda and Subaru in the Consumer Reports reliability report just out. In fact the Toyota quality is such a problem right now that Consumer Reports director of auto testing bluntly said that Toyota...
- Toyota Keeps Its Customers Longer Than Anyone Else
Quality counts. As 2006 came to a close, toyota scored another prize. Automotive News announced that Toyota leads the industry in keeping new vehicle buyer customers coming back to Toyota products, according to a study just released by JD Power and Associates....