2005 Lexus LS 430 Road Test

Lexus also ranks highest in J. D. Power's Sales Satisfaction Index, tied with Jaguar, and highest in the 2004 APEAL study

Lexus dealers were the highest rated automotive retailer in J. D. Power's Canadian Customer Commitment Index. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

(Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout). Along with Toyota, Lexus dealers were the highest rated automotive retailer in J. D. Power's Canadian Customer Commitment Index as well.

The only survey done this year, in which Lexus doesn't rank in first overall, is the Customer Service Index, in which it placed 5th out of 37 nameplates, behind Lincoln, Buick, Infiniti and Cadillac.

So how do its rivals fare in the 2004 dependability study? Volkswagen, a brand name that was once synonymous with reliability, is worst off in 33rd position out of 37 nameplates. Believe it or not, Mercedes-Benz, also believed by most to be a stalwart performer, ranked in 28th place overall and second to last among premium carmakers, not including Volvo which ranked 30th. Jaguar is only slightly better than Mercedes, in 25th; and its one thing be get beaten by a

None of the competition deliver on dependability to the same level as the LS. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

Japanese luxury carmaker, but bested by British firm must chafe M-B's ego a great deal. Saab, BMW, Lincoln, Cadillac and Infiniti round are all above average, with the rival Japanese nameplate second behind Lexus in premium brands.

While reliability isn't quite as sexy as styling, for instance, or performance, it won't really matter how much prettier an Audi A8 might look, or how much more resplendent the Volkswagen Phaeton interior may appear, or for that matter how much more cachet the Mercedes-Benz brand delivers at the club, when you're stranded on the side of the road. None of these brands deliver on dependability to the same level as the LS.