#1 - Toyota
#2 - Hyundai (!) and Honda (tied)
#3 - BMW
by the Editors of MSN Autos
Overcoming a reputation for poor vehicle quality, Korean brands make significant strides in initial quality.
Lexus continues as the brand with fewest problems per 100 vehicles; the SC430 recorded the best score by any vehicle since the study began. The Honda Element was the highest ranking Entry SUV, helping Honda to a second-place tie with Hyundai in the corporate rankings. Chevrolet earned the top two places for Full-Size SUVs, with the top spot going to the Suburban.
Korean automotive brands have topped both European- and domestic-branded vehicles in initial quality, according to the 2004 Initial Quality Study (IQS) released by J.D. Power and Associates.
The 2004 model year showed considerable improvement in initial quality across the industry, with an 11 percent drop in initial quality problems compared to 2003.
Hyundai had the largest improvement of any nameplate with a 29 percent advance over 2003, moving them to seventh place—a leap of sixteen positions in one year.
Other nameplates that recorded significant improvements for 2004 include Honda (23 percent), HUMMER (23 percent), Land Rover (22 percent), Jaguar (20 percent) and Mercedes-Benz (20 percent).
Lexus continues to set the pace as the nameplate with the best IQS score of 87 problems per 100 Vehicles (PP100), despite a 14 percent drop in initial quality. The Lexus SC 430 recorded the best score ever, with only 44 PP100.
Comparing corporations, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. continues to lead the industry with 101 problems per 100 Vehicles (PP100), one of four corporations below the industry average of 119 PP100. Hyundai Motor America moved up to tie with American Honda Motor Co. for second position, both with a score of 102 PP100. BMW of North America was also under the industry average with 116 PP100.
Korean-branded vehicles have improved 57 percent over the past six years, with Hyundai improving 62 percent during that time period. During the same time period, Japanese- and domestic-branded vehicles have both improved by 32 percent, while European-branded vehicles have improved by 22 percent.
#2 - Hyundai (!) and Honda (tied)
#3 - BMW
by the Editors of MSN Autos
Overcoming a reputation for poor vehicle quality, Korean brands make significant strides in initial quality.
Lexus continues as the brand with fewest problems per 100 vehicles; the SC430 recorded the best score by any vehicle since the study began. The Honda Element was the highest ranking Entry SUV, helping Honda to a second-place tie with Hyundai in the corporate rankings. Chevrolet earned the top two places for Full-Size SUVs, with the top spot going to the Suburban.
Korean automotive brands have topped both European- and domestic-branded vehicles in initial quality, according to the 2004 Initial Quality Study (IQS) released by J.D. Power and Associates.
The 2004 model year showed considerable improvement in initial quality across the industry, with an 11 percent drop in initial quality problems compared to 2003.
Hyundai had the largest improvement of any nameplate with a 29 percent advance over 2003, moving them to seventh place—a leap of sixteen positions in one year.
Other nameplates that recorded significant improvements for 2004 include Honda (23 percent), HUMMER (23 percent), Land Rover (22 percent), Jaguar (20 percent) and Mercedes-Benz (20 percent).
Lexus continues to set the pace as the nameplate with the best IQS score of 87 problems per 100 Vehicles (PP100), despite a 14 percent drop in initial quality. The Lexus SC 430 recorded the best score ever, with only 44 PP100.
Comparing corporations, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. continues to lead the industry with 101 problems per 100 Vehicles (PP100), one of four corporations below the industry average of 119 PP100. Hyundai Motor America moved up to tie with American Honda Motor Co. for second position, both with a score of 102 PP100. BMW of North America was also under the industry average with 116 PP100.
Korean-branded vehicles have improved 57 percent over the past six years, with Hyundai improving 62 percent during that time period. During the same time period, Japanese- and domestic-branded vehicles have both improved by 32 percent, while European-branded vehicles have improved by 22 percent.
