In an annual J.D. Power and Associates customer satisfaction survey of U.S. drivers released Thursday, four Honda models topped the rankings for their vehicle segments more than any other automaker.
Honda Motor Company's newly redesigned CR-V small crossover sport utility vehicle, Ridgeline truck and Odyssey minivan all topped their segments in the survey that focuses on the first 90 days of vehicle ownership. For the top spot, the subcompact Honda Fit tied with Toyota Motor Corporation's Yaris.
Mercedes-Benz and BMW AG each had three models at the top premium segments. Mercedes-Benz got the top spot with its midsize E-Class car and large S-class car. Its GL-Class tied with General Motors Corporation's Cadillac Escalade EXT for a top spot in a segment that includes large luxury SUVs and crossovers.
Meanwhile, BMW's 3 Series and 6 Series cars as well as its X5 midsize crossover SUV all received top rankings.
Each had two vehicles at the top rankings were the GM, Ford Motor Company, Nissan Motor Company and Volkswagen AG. They were divided into 19 segments.
Neal Oddes, J.D. Power's director of product research and analysis, said in a statement that models which were first introduced tend to get the highest scores. He added that it is necessary for car makers to get new-vehicle launches right.
For a third consecutive year, Porsche AG was the overall highest-ranking nameplate. The most improved nameplate was bagged by Toyota's youth-focused Scion. Placing 2nd overall was the BMW nameplate followed by DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes-Benz, Ford's Jaguar and Toyota's Lexus - all luxury brands.
According to the surveyor, J.D. Power, the survey gave good news to the Detroit Three automakers. It said that GM had 11 models in the top three spots in their respective segments, while Ford had four that includes the Edge crossover at the top of its segment. DaimlerChrysler had seven, but the Dodge Charger was Chrysler Group's only vehicle to make it to the top three.
Toyota along with the Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands, which are all well equipped with , had eight models in the top three by segment.
J.D. Power said that the survey is in its 12th year now and it gauges "owner delight with the design, content, layout and performance of their new vehicles." It said that the results also offer a lesson for automakers, which often depend on discounts and other incentives to boost sales. It says that in the survey, drivers of some of the higher-ranking vehicles reported getting smaller incentives than those of some of the vehicles with low rankings.
Oddes said that it is essential for manufacturers to integrate those `must-have' features and design elements that will attract buyers. Such features and design elements also reduce the need for large customer cash rebates.
Based in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power said that the 2007 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study is based on the responses which were gathered by mail between February and May from more than 91,000 people who bought or leased new 2007 model-year vehicles.
The said survey is done to jive with J.D. Power's annual initial quality rankings which were released earlier this month. Those rankings showed that Toyota was surpassed by Ford as leader of the pack. Ford grabbed more individual awards than any other automaker for the first time since 1998, when it tied for the top rank.
