J.D. Powers Initial Quality Survey Contradicts Strategic Vision
Who makes the highest quality cars? Well that depends on which research company you investigate? And what exactly does quality refer to? Reliability, recalls, interior fit and finish or perceived quality, panel gap widths or exterior welds? All are quality issues and each will negatively or positively affect a vehicles quality rating, depending on the format used to accumulate the data.
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| Strategic Vision surveyed over 31,000 new car buyers on their new car experience, and BMW came out number one. 2004 5-Series shown not among cars surveyed. (Photo: BMW) |
Strategic Vision (SV), a California based research company, recently released its annual Total Quality Index, ranking BMW first among brands and Volkswagen the top multi-line automaker.
SV surveyed over 31,000 buyers at least 90 days after their purchase of a 2003 model that they bought between October and November of last year. The TQI rating system is based on a combination of expectations realized, general quality, emotional attributes such as styling as well as the dealer experience before, during and after the sale.
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| After winning the top spot four years ago Ford is making a comeback, grabbing two awards this year. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Following a pattern that goes back decades, imports continue to overshadow the domestics in most quality tests, but according to Strategic Vision General Motors are showing the most improvement of the Big 3. New owners gave GM top ratings in three segments and helped it tie in a fourth. In a comeback Ford, four years since achieving a first place position, beat out the rest of the manufacturers in two segments.
The SV rating system incorporates survey information gathered from new vehicle buyers, virtually the same source used by J.D. Powers & Associates for determining its Initial Quality Survey (IQS) winners and losers.