Top 10 Best Automakers in Initial Quality: 2017
Korean automakers top this year’s J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study.
New vehicle quality hit an all-time high this year, improving eight percent compared to last year. The annual study measures the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100) during the first 90 days of ownership, with a lower score reflecting higher quality. Quality improved across seven of the eight categories measured, with 27 of the 33 automakers in the study improving their quality compared to last year.
SEE ALSO: Top 10 Worst Automakers in Initial Quality: 2017
This year’s study is based on responses from nearly 80,000 buyers and lessees of new 2017 model year vehicles. They were surveyed after 90 days of ownership and the study was fielded from February through May 2017. This year’s industry average improved from 105 to 97. Here are the top 10 automakers that have the best initial quality score starting with number 10 and increasing in quality as the list progresses.
Nissan
Nissan once again finishes in 10th place, after scoring 93 in this year’s study. Last year, the Japanese automaker scored 101 compared to the industry average of 105.
Lincoln
Like Nissan, Lincoln stayed consistent year-over-year with a ninth place finish in 2017. This year, Ford’s luxury division scored 92 compared to last year’s 96.
Hyundai / Chevrolet / BMW (tie)
Hyundai saw a drastic drop after rising to third in last year’s study with a score of 92. This year, the Korean automaker finishes in eighth place after owners reported 88 problems per 100 vehicles. In Hyundai’s defense, however, the company is actually tied with two other automakers.
Chevrolet, which also scored 88 this year is tied with Hyundai and one other automaker. Last year, the American automaker landed in sixth place with a score of 95.
The third automaker with a score of 88 is BMW. In 2016, the German automaker finished in fifth, ahead of rivals Mercedes-Benz and Audi. This year, it does the same.
Ram / Ford (tie)
One of the most improved automakers on this year’s list is Ram, rising to fifth place with a score of 86. Last year, Ram performed worse than the industry average with a score of 114.
Ford also improved from last year’s study, where it finished 11th overall with a score of 102. This year, the American automaker rose to fourth place with a score of 86.
Porsche
Porsche slips a spot to third place this year, after finishing second in 2016 with a score of 84. The German automaker, known for its sports cars, scored 78 in this year’s study.
Genesis
Hyundai’s new luxury brand is off to a hot start. Genesis wasn’t represented in last year’s study, but this year it quickly rose to second place with a score of 77. The separation of Genesis models from Hyundai’s lineup likely explains why Hyundai dropped a few spots this year.
Kia
For the second year in a row, Kia takes top honors in the J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study. This year, the Korean automaker scored 72 compared to last year’s 83.
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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The Hyundai family of cars is truly a force to be reckoned with. The well known 10 year warranty is clearly a financial driving force for quality.
These list seems about as ridiculous as a Rolling Stone list.