J.P. Power: Guangzhou Honda Models Rank Highest in 2 of 7 Vehicle Segments

Shanghai. November 2 (Gasgoo.com) - J.D. Power & Associates published the results of their 2007 Initial Quality Study in China on October 31, and Guangzhou Honda models rated highest in two of seven vehicles segment. Below is an excerpt of the 2007 IQS China report:

Tianjin FAW, Changan Suzuki, FAW Toyota, Beijing Hyundai and Dongfeng Nissan each rank highest in one vehicle segment.

Redesigned for 2007, the study captures problems experienced by new-vehicle owners within the first two to six months of ownership. Vehicle problems are examined in two distinct categories—quality of design and quality of production (defects and malfunctions)—and across eight factors: vehicle exterior; driving experience; features, controls and displays; audio, entertainment and navigation; seats; heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC); vehicle interior; and engine and transmission. Overall performance is determined by problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with lower scores indicating a lower rate of problem incidences and higher quality. 

Guangzhou Honda models rank highest in initial quality within two segments, with the Honda City (118 PP100) leading in the entry midsize segment and the Honda Odyssey (92 PP100) ranking highest in the MPV segment for a fourth consecutive year.

The Tianjin Xiali (273 PP100) ranks highest in the compact car segment, while the Suzuki Swift (157 PP100) tops the rankings in the premium compact car segment for a second consecutive year. In the midsize car segment, the Toyota Corolla EX leads with 118 PP100.

New to the study in 2007 are the lower premium midsize and upper premium midsize segments. In the lower premium midsize segment, the Hyundai Sonata (94 PP100) ranks highest, while the Nissan Teana (89 PP100) tops the upper premium midsize segment.

The study finds that initial vehicle quality in China averages 202 PP100, with owners most frequently reporting problems dealing with the engine and transmission, followed by the driving experience and vehicle exterior. These three problem categories comprise 63 percent of the total problems experienced across the industry in China. Conversely, engine and transmission, driving experience and vehicle exterior problems represent only 44 percent of problems reported in the U.S. market.

The 2007 China Initial Quality Study (IQS), now in its eighth year, is based on evaluations from 9,720 owners who purchased a new vehicle between October 2006 and June 2007. The study includes 93 vehicle models among 41 different makes. The study was fielded from April to August 2007 in 24 major cities across China. The redesigned IQS is based on a new symptom battery that includes 228 problem areas—up from 135 in previous years—to provide manufacturers with richer information to improve problem determination and drive product improvement.