Strategic Vision has released its 2008 Total Quality Awards, which measure new vehicle owner satisfaction -- not simply short- or long-term reliability. Buyers who respond to the surveys rate many aspects of the ownership experience including the quality of dealer service during the buying process, vehicle performance, and styling.
Overall, the highest score for the survey this year went to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan -- achieving 950 in Strategic Vision's Luxury Car segment -- making it the single automobile that owners are most satisfied with following purchase. The ratings are based on the responses of 20,655 buyers who purchased a 2008-model year vehicle in September, October, and November 2007.
But what about the Trucks and SUVs?
Ford and Toyota moved ahead of the pack with the addition of the Scion xB winning the Small Multi-Function category, Lexus RX350 squeezing ahead of the Land Rover LR2 for Near Luxury SUV.
Buyers rated the following vehicles tops in their segments:
Minivan: Honda Odyssey
Small SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe
Medium Crossover: Ford Edge
Medium SUV: Toyota 4Runner
Large SUV: Toyota Sequoia
Near Luxury SUV: Lexus RX 350 ; Land Rover LR2
Luxury SUV: BMW X5
Standard Pick-Up: Honda Ridgeline
Large Pickup: Chevy Avalanche, Chevy Silverado 1500
Heavy Duty Pickup: Ford F-250/350
Small Multi-Function: Scion xB
While we wonder how dramatic a change would be effected by extending the survey response window longer than three months, Strategic Vision's Total Quality Index is still an interesting read and will no doubt be used by Ford to tout improving quality.
Source: Strategic Vision and Motor Trend