Quality win for Hyundai

HYUNDAI has emerged as one of the biggest winners in the latest JD Power and Associates quality survey in the United States, climbing from 11th place to third behind Porsche and Lexus respectively.

Porsche averaged just 91 problems per 100 vehicles to knock Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus from the top spot. The result was partly attributed to the Cayman, which topped the compact premium sporty car segment, and has effectively ended any lingering doubts over the build quality of the Cayenne 4WD.

Considered a leader in the quality stakes, Toyota moved up three spots from seventh last year – but it was not enough to beat Hyundai.

In fact, this is the second time in three years Hyundai has beaten Toyota, effectively being the top mass-market nameplate.

Jaguar, which has boasted that its quality perception lags reality, fell from second place last year to fifth but still managed to rank above the industry average.

Land Rover was in last place (out of 37), while the top US domestic brand was seventh-place Cadillac.

Porsche’s number one ranking is significant because it jumps from 32nd last year, making it the top European nameplate.

Of the other Europeans, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi were well below the industry average of 124 problems per 100 vehicles. Audi ranked 18th, Mercedes-Benz 25th and BMW 27th.

Lexus and Toyota models continue to dominate initial quality rankings, capturing 11 out of 19 segment awards this year. Lexus models ranked highest in every segment in which they compete.

The LS430 also tied with the Porsche Cayman for having the fewest quality problems in the industry. Other top-ranking Lexus models include the IS250, IS350, ES330, SC430, GX470 and LX470.

Of Hyundai’s individual models the Tucson, Sonata, Elantra and Tiburon and all-new Grandeur were singled out for their quality.

Hyundai’s third place was not the result of buyers with low expectations impressed with a merely capable vehicle, according to JD Power executive director of quality and customer satisfaction, Joe Ivers.

"Hyundai quality has improved considerably," he said. "We’re seeing (more buyers defecting) to Hyundai from credible quality players than ever before."Hyundai’s score did not include sister brand Kia, which finished below average in 24th spot. Hyundai has one of the best warranty deals in the US, offering 10 years/160,000km.

JD Power recalibrated the survey this year with more detailed questions. The study was based on responses from 63,607 owners and lessees of 2006 model-year cars and trucks surveyed after 90 days of ownership.

It asked 217 questions (up from 135 last year) to provide car-makers with richer information to improve problem solving and drive product improvement.

The survey was also split into categories.

One category counted design shortcomings, the other defects and malfunctions. Brands like GMC, Mitsubishi and Nissan did well in design but poorly in build quality.

On the flipside, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Buick had strong quality scores but low design scores. The extreme example was BMW, Mr Ivers said.

Its defect score was as good as Toyota’s, but the design of poorly executed door locks, window and mirror controls and audio system interfaces (including iDrive) hammered its overall score to well below average.