Time is a precious commodity for today’s new-vehicle buyers. Long working hours and lengthy commutes make it harder for people to perform daily chores,
and families with two working parents simply don’t have a spare moment, or frequently a spare dollar, to deal with unexpected time and financial stressors. Considering the inconvenience that comes with a trip to the dealership for auto repairs, it comes as no surprise, then, that vehicle quality is a primary consideration for today’s new-vehicle buyers.
Each year, the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS)SM surveys consumers who have purchased new model-year vehicles and have owned them for at least 90 days. The 2007 IQS measures consumer satisfaction with vehicle design and mechanical quality: design quality to gauge how the vehicle works (i.e., control operation and layout) and mechanical quality to determine how the vehicle is assembled and functions. Awards are given to the top-ranked models in 19 vehicle segments, as well as to assembly plants that produce vehicles with the fewest reported defects.
This year’s IQS results are based upon approximately 97,000 responses from verified purchasers and lessees of new 2007 model year cars and trucks. Key findings of the 2007 IQS include:
- Vehicle quality levels have remained stable since 2006. Overall, the industry is on par with the 2006 IQS study results.
- New product launches remain problematic for many manufacturers. For every new redesigned model that is introduced without quality concerns, three new redesigned models perform worse in initial quality than their predecessors.
- Modern technology integration remains a challenge for automakers. Even when the technology works as intended, steep learning curves result in customer dissatisfaction. Based on IQS survey results, consumers want technology to be easier to understand and use.
- Ford Motor Company shows dramatic quality improvement in this year’s study, particularly its Land Rover and Lincoln divisions. Land Rover was the most improved nameplate in the 2007 IQS, and Lincoln rose from No. 12 to a No. 3 overall industry ranking behind No. 2 Lexus and Porsche, which is the highest ranked nameplate in the study. Mercury and Ford also performed well in the 2007 IQS.
- Mercedes-Benz also showed dramatic improvement in the nameplate rankings, largely on the strength of these segment award recipients: the S-Class (which ties for the award with the Audi A8 in the large premium car segment), the E-Class, and the SL-Class. The Mercedes-Benz M-Class was also one of the study’s most improved models year over year.
Subcompact and Compact Cars
Midsize and Large Cars
Sporty Cars
Premium Cars
Multi-activity Vehicles (MAV)
Premium MAVs
Pickups and Vans
