Porsche is tops in quality study
Hyundai ascendent in J.D. Power ranking
J.D. Power and Associates says that the Porsche brand easily led its 2014 Initial Quality Study, although Power noted that the overall number of problems in all cars is increasing as more complex new technologies are introduced.
The survey, which ranks brands and individual models for fewest problems per 100 vehicles in the first 90 days of ownership, is the auto industry’s top measure of new-car build quality, as well as in meeting buyer expectations.
“The acid test is customer satisfaction,” said Matthias Müller, chairman of Porsche’s executive board. “We are delighted we can meet the high quality demands of Porsche drivers.”
In other highlights, Power credits the Hyundai brand for a dramatic move into the auto industry’s top-tier of quality. It jumped from 10th in last year’s study, to fourth place this year — making it the top mainstream brand, after three high-price nameplates: Porsche, Jaguar and Lexus.
Hyundai also had three winners and two runners-up in the study ranking best individual models by vehicle type.
It was General Motors, however, that for a second consecutive year, had the most individual models winning their vehicle segments.
The bottom tier of brands — those with the most problems per 100 vehicles — were Fiat, Jeep and Mitsubishi.
Hyundai credits its rise this year to having focused on trouble spots in last year’s survey.
“Go after the big ones; make measurable improvements,” says Dave Zuchowski, CEO of Hyundai Motor America, about his improvement philosophy.
The overall industry average this year was 116 problems for every 100 cars, up from 113 last year.
There were two big reasons, according Power. First, more allnew models came to market, and those typically have more problems than models on the market longer as bugs are worked out. Second, new vehicles are coming packed with more new technologies, such as voice recognition, Bluetooth phone and audio pairing and fancy infotainment systems that can befuddle consumers. Buyers can rate something they don’t like as a problem, even if it works as designed.