J.D. Power and Associates has released their 2011 Vehicle Dependability Study. The study researched the number of problems vehicle owners reported on their particular make and model. J.D. Power and Associates ranked vehicle makes and models based on owner vehicle problems per 100 units basis, requiring a sufficient sample size to make an assessment. This study provides information about which are the most reliable small cars.
In the study, J.D. Power polled 43,700 original owners on problems experienced during the past 12 months on 2008 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership. This research provides good information about how car makes and models are performing overall after two to three years in use.
According to the study, the most reliable subcompact car was the Honda Fit, with the Toyota Yaris and Hyundai Accent in the top three. Although the Fit is typically a little more expensive that many other subcompacts, it offers spacious cargo room for its size and tops many small car-rating lists. In the compact car class, the highest rated model for reliability was the Toyota Prius with the Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Matrix making the top three.
In the compact sporty-car class, the Mazda MX-5 Miata was found to be most reliable followed by the Scion tC. In the compact multi-purpose vehicle class the Scion xB was the highest ranked model followed by the Chrysler PT Cruiser.
Overall among automotive brands, the most reliable car company was Lincoln, which may surprise some. This was the first time in its history that Lincoln has taken the top sport. Lincoln owners reported an industry best 101 problems per 100 vehicles. Lexus at 109, Jaguar at 112, and Porsche at 114 followed Lincoln. Toyota, the only non-luxury brand in the top 5 most reliable 2011 car brands, was next at 122.
On the other end, the study found that the least reliable car company was Mini. Mini owners reported 221 problems per 100 vehicles. Mini, the British auto company that is owned by BMW, makes the Cooper, Clubman, and Countryman models. BMW finished mid-pack with a score of 164 but did have the highest ranked “Entry Premium Crossover/SUV” with the X3. Jeep, Land Rover, and Dodge followed Mini as the companies with the worst reliability with scores of 214, 212, and 206, respectively.
On a positive note for Mini, J.D. Power and Associates has released the results of its 2011 customer satisfaction survey, officially known as the U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) StudySM, and Mini finished first for greatest customer satisfaction for dealer service among mass-market brands. Lexus finished first among luxury brands. Suzuki ranked lowest in customer satisfaction with dealer service among mass-market brands while Land Rover finished lowest among luxury makes. This seems to indicate that while Minis have reliability issues, when Mini owners are at the dealer, they have a positive experience.
While the data in the dependability study does not reflect the state of 2011 models, this information can help consumer predict the durability of a model for a new or used car purchase. This information about the most reliable small cars can really help new and used car buyers, as reliability is very important for a car.
Originally posted 2011-03-22 16:12:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
