Honda tops JD Power survey

Honda vehicles that rated tops were the Civic sedan and hatchback, the CR-V sports utility vehicle, the FR-V compact MPV, and the multiple award-winning Jazz compact. Also lauded was the Honda Accord, which placed fourth in its category.

Honda's Civic sedan is the current, 2007 Car of the Year, while the CR-V is one of nine finalists for the 2008 award.

The JD Power CSI study, now in its fourth year, measures customer satisfaction after between 10 and 21 months of ownership. Satisfaction levels are measured in 77 categories, grouped according to four, weighted factors.

These factors are vehicle quality and reliability (weighted 32%), vehicle appeal (29%), dealership service satisfaction (19%) and cost of ownership (20%). The weightings reflect the importance SA motorists attach to each of the factors. CSI scores are based on a 1,000-point scale.

Honda ranked as SA's most satisfying automotive brand for the second consecutive year with a tally of 873 points, improving its score by 9 points compared to the 2006 results in the process. Mercedes-Benz took second place, with 856 points, followed by Audi, BMW and Volvo.

According to the survey, Honda also performed particularly well in areas of quality/reliability, and service satisfaction.

In the model categories, Honda's Civic took the top spot in the upper small car category with a points tally of 886, ahead of the Mercedes-Benz A-class (859 points) and the Toyota Corolla (837 points).

The Honda Jazz was victorious in the lower small car category, where it topped the scores with 876 points, ahead of Toyota's Yaris (855 points) and the Hyundai Getz (837 points).

In the compact SUV section, the Honda CR-V scored 859 points, outpacing the Kia Sportage's tally of 813 points in the process. And finally, the Honda FR-V took the top compact MPV category slot with 860 points, ahead of the Toyota Corolla Verso (838 points) and the Volkswagen Touran (825 points).

Honda's Accord executive sedan was placed in the top nine cars that achieved five-star status by the JD Power CSI survey. Honda models filled three of the nine five-star rating slots with its Accord, Jazz and Civic.

In addition, the Accord beat rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz C-class and the BMW 3-Series in the process. Its score of 86,2% meant that less than 1% separated it from the class winner.

Overall satisfaction levels in the SA market showed a further improvement in 2007, reaching record levels for the second consecutive year after gaining five points to a 795 point average over the 2006 result.

Vice-president of JD Power and Associates Europe, Middle East and Africa operations, Brian Walters, said Honda's top form in the survey is a testament to the marque's commitment to high quality.

Commenting on the JD Power CSI survey results, Honda SA Managing Director, Hiroaki Shibata, said the company's top scores confirmed its commitment to quality and service.

"This commitment is also evident in similar surveys carried out internationally, where Honda products continue to score highly.

"Honda has built up an enviable reputation for product and service quality, spanning its entire range of vehicles, and we are grateful that the satisfaction levels of our customers reflect our efforts in this regard.

"We remain committed to providing SA consumers with the very best products and services available in the sectors where we are represented, and will continue to strive to improve even further on the customer satisfaction levels achieved," he said.