Published: March 8, 2018, 8:55 AM
Updated: October 11, 2021, 10:28 AM
Vehicle dependability on the rise
Text by Mark Toljagic
There’s welcome news for shoppers who come to expect a positive ownership experience after dishing out large for a new car or truck. After four years of slipping quality scores, consumer research firm J.D. Power recorded a significant uptick in vehicle dependability in its 2018 survey involving almost 37,000 American owners of three-year-old models. Overall vehicle dependability improved 9% compared to last year, the first time the industry average score has gone down (down equals better) since 2013.
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Higher retained value means better trade-in
The 2018 study recorded the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100) during the past 12 months by original owners of 2015 model-year vehicles. Buyers looking for the most trouble-free models not only save money during ownership, but are rewarded with higher retained value – which can mean more money in their wallet at trade-in time. And you don’t have to spend a lot to get a quality ride: some of the most affordable brands and models have risen to the top of the rankings, while some of the most expensive reside below the industry average. Here are the most dependable brands, presented in reverse order with the top-rated auto brand shown last.
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Big improvement in ranking
Nissan saw a big improvement in its ranking when it reduced its problem score by 37 PP100 compared to last year’s tally, lifting it from well below the industry average to just above it. It’s the best showing ever by Nissan in the J.D. Power study. The previous year’s poor ranking may be attributed to Nissan’s troublesome continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), found in popular models such as the Altima and Pathfinder, that have exhibited hesitation, jutters and complete failure in some instances.
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Improved CVT durability
Nissan appears to have improved CVT durability in newer models starting in 2015, hence the uptick (the automaker provides an extended warranty on its CVTs, but that doesn’t mean roadside breakdowns are eliminated). Models getting honourable mentions in J.D. Power’s dependability ratings by vehicle segment include the Versa sedan, all-electric Leaf hatchback and Frontier midsize pickup.
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Oscar-worthy performance
Ford’s luxury brand has gotten a big visibility boost thanks to pitchman and Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, whose cool reflections on the marque has moved a lot of metal off dealers’ lots. But has he moved the needle in terms of quality perceptions? Last year Lincoln languished in the nether region of the rankings, only slightly better than the industry average. This year’s study puts Lincoln in 10th position from the top, tied with Nissan, and a great deal better than domestic rival Cadillac.
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Exceptionally good execution
The 2015 model year saw the introduction of the MKC compact luxury crossover based on the Ford Escape, which benefited from an exceptionally good execution of Lincoln’s design language. However, MKC owners complain about dead batteries and unresponsive Sync infotainment and navigation controls. It was the midsize MKX crossover that earned an honourable mention in J.D. Power’s premium SUV category, the lone Lincoln recognized.
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Consistency over the years
The world’s largest automaker has demonstrated remarkable consistency in the J.D. Power surveys over the years, placing it high among the most dependable nameplates in the industry. It’s no surprise, then, another study revealed that Toyota customers (along with Subaru and Honda buyers) are the most loyal to their brand when it came time to buy a new model. Dependability frequently begets customer loyalty. J.D. Power reveals the Prius hybrid was the highest ranked compact car and the Tacoma was the winning midsize pickup.
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Toyota still rides Camry
The heavily revamped Toyota Camry received an honourable mention in the midsize car category, while the Camry-based Venza crossover – a Canadian favourite – was recognized in the midsize SUV category. Toyota did slip from a strong third-place finish in last year’s brand rankings as Chevrolet and Buick seized several category wins away from the Japanese automaker in the latest study.
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Owners have not been enamoured with iDrive
Don’t make the mistake of equating the vaunted European brands with sterling dependability as it’s not always the case. BMW has not often cracked the top 10 in the U.S. Dependability Study – and consider just how poorly it fared in J.D. Power’s European-market studies. In the United Kingdom it finished fourth from the bottom last year, while consumers ranked it second from the bottom in its home market of Germany. Its turbocharged four-cylinder engines have had some teething issues, and owners have not been enamoured with its iDrive infotainment systems.
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BMW X1 premium crossover an honourable mention
BMW’s predilection for run-flat tires has aggravated owners due to their rapid wear, high failure rate and expensive replacement cost. Still, BMW has worked hard to resolve reliability issues and enhance the appeal of the performance-oriented brand with more eco-friendly drivetrains. The 2 Series and 4 Series coupes, the 5 Series sedans and X1 premium crossover received honourable mentions in the 2018 U.S. study.
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Far from a laughing stock
Once a favourite target of late-night comedians, South Korean conglomerate Hyundai has come far in a relatively short time. With its appealing designs Hyundai has become a mainstream brand and it’s no longer considered the default discount automaker reliant on price to move inventory. There have been a few missteps during its progression: the power-steering racks in older Elantras have been failing in significant numbers, and the inaugural 2011 Sonata sedans used Alabama-built engines that exhibited metallurgical problems.
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Ever more sophisticated models
The 2.4-L four cylinder in the fully redesigned 2015 Sonata midsize sedan continues to exhibit durability issues. Hyundai is a fast learner and has engineered its way out of a lot of problems by introducing ever more sophisticated models. In the latest study, the Tucson crossover was the highest ranked small SUV in the segment, while the larger Santa Fe earned an honourable mention in the midsize SUV category.
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Ever-improving appealing lineup
General Motors’ baseball-and-apple-pie division has been riding a wave of renewed popularity and good karma (carma?) with its ever-improving lineup of models that appeal to American buyers. For 2015 that included the all-new Colorado midsize pickup and updated versions of the range-topping Silverado HD pickup. The truck models are especially relevant to the American and Canadian markets and, more importantly, didn’t disappoint buyers over three years of ownership.
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Most decorated brand
Chevrolet is the most decorated brand in the latest J.D. Power Dependability Study with its four category wins, including the Malibu (midsize car), Equinox (compact SUV), Traverse (midsize SUV) and Silverado (light-duty pickup). Other Chevrolets garnered honourable mentions in their respective segments, those being the Sonic small car, Trax small crossover, Camaro sporty car, Impala large car, Tahoe large SUV and the Silverado HD heavy-duty pickup.
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Highest ranking ever
Kia’s fifth-place finish in the 2018 Vehicle Dependability Study is the brand’s highest ranking in the history of the J.D. Power survey, an indication of the automaker’s rising stock in trade. While it’s a division of South Korea’s Hyundai Corporation, it’s been garnering kudos from across the industry all on its own. Consider that when J.D. Power conducted its dependability study in the German market last year, it was Kia and not Volkswagen that ranked first among German buyers.
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Comprehensive warranty a major advantage
Kia, like Hyundai, provides a comprehensive five-year warranty on all of its vehicles, which is likely viewed as a major advantage by consumers cross-shopping with other brands. The automaker’s entry-level model, the Rio, was the lone Kia product that won a category (small car) in the 2018 U.S. study, and no models earned an honourable mention.
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Always a tough slog in North America
Nissan’s luxury and performance division has always faced a hard slog in North America (Europe, too), and its 2014 models were riddled with technology hiccups that dragged the brand deep into negative territory in last year’s J.D. Power study. Infiniti’s inTouch electronics were buggy, slow or wouldn’t respond to inputs, owners reported. The Q50 sedan’s Direct Adaptive Steering system was inaccurate and frustrated drivers. The all-season run-flat tires on most Q50 sedans brought subpar handling when the car is driven hard, and owners warned the tires are noisy, unreliable and expensive to replace.
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Debugging high-tech gear paid dividends
Infiniti engineers toiled to debug their high-tech gear in the 2015 models and the work paid dividends: the marque rose from 29th out of 31 brands last year to 4th best this year – an unprecedented improvement. Infiniti garnered one honourable mention in the latest study for its Q40 premium compact, a short-lived refreshening of the former G37 sedan.
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Top-rated mass-market brand
General Motors’ Buick division continues to outshine all of its GM brethren, and has earned the distinction of being the top-rated “mass market” brand in J.D. Power’s dependability study this year. Buick delivers the right mix of sophisticated drivetrains and comfortable ride to a reliably loyal audience. Some say Buick buyers skew a little too old, but the high average age has also shielded the nameplate from overly critical feedback (younger consumers tend to be a harder demographic to satisfy).
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Relying on Opel-developed platforms
Interestingly, Buick relies on former GM of Europe subsidiary Opel for many of its platforms and models. In the latest dependability study, the 2015 LaCrosse earned a segment win in the large car category, while the Verano received an honourable mention in the compact car category and the Regal did likewise in the midsize car segment, as did the Enclave in the midsize SUV category.
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Reaching a broader audience
No longer an exclusive manufacturer of high-performance sports cars, Porsche introduced the Cayenne and Macan sport utility vehicles and its first luxury car, the Panamera, to appeal to a broader audience and avoid bankruptcy. Purists were horrified at first, until they recognized it was a self-preservation strategy. The new products were so well received by the buying public, they enriched the German automaker sufficiently to allow it to craft better sports cars in the 911, Cayman and Boxster.
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Obsession with meticulous engineering
Porsche has usually occupied a lofty position in J.D. Power’s dependability rankings over the past decade due to its obsession with meticulous engineering that was the creed of founder Ferdinand Porsche. Porsche did not win any segments this year, although the impressive Macan earned an honourable mention in the compact premium SUV segment.
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Tops for 7th consecutive year
For the seventh year in a row, Toyota’s premium Lexus brand is recognized as the most dependable nameplate in North America. Lexus began dominating the J.D. Power dependability studies soon after Lexus showrooms opened in Canada in 1991. By marshalling Toyota’s history and expertise in building reliable and durable vehicles, Lexus became the beneficiary of all that knowledge and skill, a freshly minted brand that never lost its lustre.
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Four models in winners' circle
Lexus has four models in the winners’ circle in the 2018 dependability study by segment: the CT hatchback ranked highest as a small premium car, the ES sedan was the top-ranked compact premium car, the GS earned the midsize premium car title and the RX won the midsize premium SUV segment. The gas-electric hybrid versions of these models bolstered, rather than hindered, their dependability scores. Honourable mentions included the new-for-2105 NX compact premium SUV and the GX midsize premium SUV.
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