xcel
09-06-2006, 03:10 AM
Gap between luxury and non-luxury brands was cut in half to just 15 problems per 100 for 2003 models. (http://autos.msn.com/advice/article.aspx?contentid=4022547)
MSN Autos - Sept. 4, 2006
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2003_Ford_Ranger.jpg
Ford Ranger EPA 24/29 - Most dependable midsized P/U in 2003.
In a study of three-year-old vehicles, models from Lexus and Toyota garner top spots in eight of the 16 segments.
The dependability of non-luxury vehicles has improved to almost reach the levels of luxury-brand vehicles, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS).
The Vehicle Dependability Study measures problem symptoms experienced by original owners of three-year-old vehicles (2003 models). The vehicles are scored based on the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100).
The gap between luxury and non-luxury brand was cut in half to just 15 PP100 for 2003 models. J.D. Power attributes this to quality improvements with non-luxury brands-primarily in the ride/handling/braking and engine/transmission categories.
This shift was underscored by the top-ranked brands. Toyota's Lexus division was the top-ranked brand in this study for the 12th year in a row, and Cadillac ranked fourth. The other three brands in the top five were non-luxury brands-Mercury and Buick in second and third respectively, and Toyota in the fifth position.
"The industry continues to make improvements in long-term vehicle quality, and not just among luxury makes that benefit from smaller production volumes on the assembly line," said Neal Oddes, director of product research and analysis for J.D. Power and Associates. "Many high-volume, mass-marketed brands have acquired a foundation of quality products from which to challenge the normally strong performances of the luxury brands. What this means for consumers is that they don't necessarily have to spend a lot of money to get a high-quality used vehicle, and vehicles with high long-term dependability ratings retain more of their original value than brands with lower dependability ratings. This pays off for the consumer when it's time to trade in their vehicle."
In addition to topping the brand list, Lexus vehicles topped four of the 16 segments: GS as top Midsize Premium Car; LS 430 as Large Premium Car; SC 430 as Premium Sporty Car; and GX 470 as Midsize Premium Multi-Activity Vehicle (MAV). Toyota also topped four segments, with Honda placing three vehicles as segment leaders.
Vehicles from General Motors topped four segments, and vehicles from Ford Motor Company were at the top of two segments.
Both the MINI and Kia brands showed great improvement in this year's study. MINI, which was first included in the study last year, saw a 27 percent year-over-year improvement in PP100. Kia had a 22 percent increase in quality, and has improved more than any other brand in the last three years.
Here are the segment leaders from the 2006 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study:
Top Vehicles By Category
Sub-Compact Car
Toyota Echo
Compact Car
Honda Civic
Compact Sporty Car
Mazda Miata
Midsize Sporty Car
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Midsize Car
Buick Century
Large Car
Mercury Grand Marquis
Compact Premium Sporty Car
Honda S2000
Entry Premium Car
Acura CL
Midsize Premium Car
Lexus GS
Large Premium Car
Lexus LS 430
Premium Sporty Car
Lexus SC 430
Compact Multi-Activity Vehicle
Toyota RAV4
Midsize Multi-Activity Vehicle
Toyota Highlander
Large Multi-Activity Vehicle
GMC Yukon/GMC Yukon XL
Large Pickup
Toyota Tundra
Midsize Pickup
Ford Ranger
Van
Honda Odyssey
Midsize Premium Multi-Activity Vehicle
Lexus GX470
Large Premium Multi-Activity Vehicle
Cadillac Escalade
Top Ten Nameplates
Lexus 136 PP100
Mercury 151 PP100
Buick 153 PP100
Cadillac 163 PP100
Toyota 179 PP100
Honda 194 PP100
Jaguar 210 PP100
BMW 212 PP100
Infiniti 215 PP100
Lincoln 220 PP100
MSN Autos - Sept. 4, 2006
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2003_Ford_Ranger.jpg
Ford Ranger EPA 24/29 - Most dependable midsized P/U in 2003.
In a study of three-year-old vehicles, models from Lexus and Toyota garner top spots in eight of the 16 segments.
The dependability of non-luxury vehicles has improved to almost reach the levels of luxury-brand vehicles, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS).
The Vehicle Dependability Study measures problem symptoms experienced by original owners of three-year-old vehicles (2003 models). The vehicles are scored based on the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100).
The gap between luxury and non-luxury brand was cut in half to just 15 PP100 for 2003 models. J.D. Power attributes this to quality improvements with non-luxury brands-primarily in the ride/handling/braking and engine/transmission categories.
This shift was underscored by the top-ranked brands. Toyota's Lexus division was the top-ranked brand in this study for the 12th year in a row, and Cadillac ranked fourth. The other three brands in the top five were non-luxury brands-Mercury and Buick in second and third respectively, and Toyota in the fifth position.
"The industry continues to make improvements in long-term vehicle quality, and not just among luxury makes that benefit from smaller production volumes on the assembly line," said Neal Oddes, director of product research and analysis for J.D. Power and Associates. "Many high-volume, mass-marketed brands have acquired a foundation of quality products from which to challenge the normally strong performances of the luxury brands. What this means for consumers is that they don't necessarily have to spend a lot of money to get a high-quality used vehicle, and vehicles with high long-term dependability ratings retain more of their original value than brands with lower dependability ratings. This pays off for the consumer when it's time to trade in their vehicle."
In addition to topping the brand list, Lexus vehicles topped four of the 16 segments: GS as top Midsize Premium Car; LS 430 as Large Premium Car; SC 430 as Premium Sporty Car; and GX 470 as Midsize Premium Multi-Activity Vehicle (MAV). Toyota also topped four segments, with Honda placing three vehicles as segment leaders.
Vehicles from General Motors topped four segments, and vehicles from Ford Motor Company were at the top of two segments.
Both the MINI and Kia brands showed great improvement in this year's study. MINI, which was first included in the study last year, saw a 27 percent year-over-year improvement in PP100. Kia had a 22 percent increase in quality, and has improved more than any other brand in the last three years.
Here are the segment leaders from the 2006 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study:
Top Vehicles By Category
Sub-Compact Car
Toyota Echo
Compact Car
Honda Civic
Compact Sporty Car
Mazda Miata
Midsize Sporty Car
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Midsize Car
Buick Century
Large Car
Mercury Grand Marquis
Compact Premium Sporty Car
Honda S2000
Entry Premium Car
Acura CL
Midsize Premium Car
Lexus GS
Large Premium Car
Lexus LS 430
Premium Sporty Car
Lexus SC 430
Compact Multi-Activity Vehicle
Toyota RAV4
Midsize Multi-Activity Vehicle
Toyota Highlander
Large Multi-Activity Vehicle
GMC Yukon/GMC Yukon XL
Large Pickup
Toyota Tundra
Midsize Pickup
Ford Ranger
Van
Honda Odyssey
Midsize Premium Multi-Activity Vehicle
Lexus GX470
Large Premium Multi-Activity Vehicle
Cadillac Escalade
Top Ten Nameplates
Lexus 136 PP100
Mercury 151 PP100
Buick 153 PP100
Cadillac 163 PP100
Toyota 179 PP100
Honda 194 PP100
Jaguar 210 PP100
BMW 212 PP100
Infiniti 215 PP100
Lincoln 220 PP100