Lexus and Toyota models continue to dominate the JD Power US market initial quality rankings, taking 11 out of 19 segment awards in 2006.
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Lexus models rank highest in every segment in which they compete and the flagship LS430 ties with the Porsche Cayman for having the fewest quality problems in the industry.
Despite a recent spate of high-profile recalls, JD Power said Toyota remains a quality benchmark, capturing five model level awards – for the Corolla, Solara, Camry, Highlander and Sequoia – more than any other non-luxury brand.
Porsche and Lexus lead the luxury brands, while Hyundai, Toyota and Honda set the pace among non-luxury brands. Averaging just 91 problems per 100 (PP100) vehicles, Porsche tops the overall nameplate rankings. Porsche’s success can be partly attributed to the all-new Cayman, which tops the compact premium sporty car segment. Porsche is followed in the rankings by Lexus, Hyundai, Toyota and Jaguar, respectively.
Hyundai ranks among the top three nameplates in the study for the first time in the history of IQS. Highlights include a top ranking for the Tucson small SUV in the compact multi-activity vehicle (MAV) segment, and top-three segment performances for the redesigned Sonata and new Azera, as well as the Elantra and Tiburon.
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By GlobalDataHonda also maintains its position as a quality leader. Although Honda does not receive any awards outright, five Honda models rank among the top three of their respective segments.
Other nameplates receiving model awards in 2006 include Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Kia, Mazda, Pontiac and Suzuki.
Assembly plants
Toyota receives a total of four assembly plant quality awards from JD Power for producing vehicles yielding the fewest defects, including the Platinum Plant Quality Award for its Iwate, Japan, plant, producer of the Lexus ES330.
The Iwate plant averages just 32 PP100. Plant awards are based solely on scores for defects.
Among North and South American plants, the General Motors Oshawa #2 plant in Ontario, Canada, which produces the Buick LaCrosse and Pontiac Grand Prix, receives the Gold Plant Quality Award for a second consecutive year. Toyota’s Georgetown, Kentucky, plant, which produces the Avalon, Camry and Solara coupe/convertible, and DaimlerChrysler’s Windsor, Ontario, Canada plant, which produces the Pacifica, Town & Country, Caravan and Grand Caravan, tie for the Silver Plant Quality Award.
In the Asia Pacific region, Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji, Japan, plant, which produces the Lexus SC430, receives the Silver Plant Quality Award. Toyota’s Kyushu, Japan, plant, which produces the Lexus IS250/IS350, Lexus RX 330/400h and Toyota Highlander/Highlander Hybrid, and American Honda’s Saitama, Japan, plant, which produces the Acura RL, Acura TSX and Honda CR-V, tie for the Bronze Plant Quality Award.
Magna Steyr, the Graz, Austria, plant that assembles under contract for traditional manufacturers, receives the Gold Plant Quality Award for Europe. Magna Steyr produces the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz E-Class/Wagon and the Saab 9-3 Convertible. BMW’s Dingolfing, Germany, plant, which produces the BMW 5, 6 and 7 Series, receives the Silver Plant Quality Award, and Porsche’s Valmet, Finland, plant, which produces the Cayman and Boxster, receives the Bronze Plant Quality Award.
Design critical to quality perceptions
JD Power noted that the way in which technology is integrated into new vehicle design, particularly interior features and controls, is considered by consumers to be as important to quality as are defects and malfunctions.
The Initial Quality Study, which serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of ownership, was completely redesigned for 2006 to capture problems experienced by owners in two distinct categories—quality of design and quality of production (defects and malfunctions).
“New vehicles today are often packed with new technologies that unfortunately can be complicated and frustrating for the average consumer when their integration is not well executed,” said JD Power research chief Joe Ivers.
“In the eyes of consumers, design flaws can have as much of an impact on their perceptions of quality as can a defect. Yet, many manufacturers have tended to address quality solely on the plant floor without considering design factors.”
Based on both design quality and production quality considerations, the study finds that automakers can vary widely in their performance on these two components. Brands with the fewest defects and malfunctions include BMW, Chrysler, Hyundai, Lexus, Porsche and Toyota. Brands with the fewest design problems include GMC, Hyundai, Jaguar, Lexus, Nissan and Porsche.
“Without considering both quality factors, one might fail to recognise vehicles that are, in fact, excellent in certain ways,” said Ivers.
“For example, BMW vehicles have among the fewest defects and malfunctions, along with Toyota. But BMW approaches controls and displays in a way that creates some problems for customers, leading to more design-related problems overall than Toyota incurs. Automakers differ significantly in how they define quality and what parts of the organisation they hold accountable for it. Clearing both critical quality hurdles is an accomplishment experienced by only a limited number of brands.”
The 2006 Initial Quality Study is based on responses from 63,607 purchasers and lessees of new 2006 model-year cars and trucks surveyed after 90 days of ownership.
