New Study has Nissan ranked 11th in quality perception

jakoye · 01-29-2010, 02:49 PM

Over on the cars.com blog "Kicking Tires", Nissan is rated 11th for quality perception (meaning what people think the quality of a brand is, even if they don't own a car of that particular brand).

Thoughts?

Quote:

New Study Has Ford Overtaking Toyota in Quality Perception

The situation just keeps getting stickier, so to speak. On the heels of its latest mass recall, a study released Wednesday reports Toyota fell to seventh place for 2010 models — from second place in 2009 — among 20 mainstream brands in perceived quality. Ford, meanwhile, moved from eighth place last year to sixth for 2010. The study ended on January 17, a week before the most recent Toyota recall, but began after the recall of 4.2 million cars over floormats.

Bandon, Ore.-based CNW Market Research conducted the study, which asked 150,000 new-car shoppers, on a 1-to-10 scale, how well they perceived the quality of cars from 36 brands. CNW has been conducting the study for more than a dozen years, with shoppers asked to opine regardless of whether they could afford the brand’s cars.Of the 20 non-luxury brands, Toyota and Honda have ranked first or second from the 1997 to the 2009 model years. But for the 2010 model year, Toyota’s perception dropped to seventh place, with an average score of 8.51 out of 10. In 2009, it was 8.97.
Meanwhile, Ford — whose announcement Thursday of a profitable 2009 blew away analysts’ expectations — vaulted from 14th place as recently as the 2006 model year to sixth for 2010. Here’s how the 20 non-luxury brands stacked up:
1. Honda
2. Buick
3. Mazda
4. Volkswagen
5. Saturn
6. Ford
7. Toyota
8. Hyundai
9. Subaru
10. Chevrolet
11. Nissan
12. Mercury
13. Kia
14. Mitsubishi
15. Dodge
16. Jeep
17. Pontiac
18. Suzuki
19. Chrysler
20. Isuzu

“The problems really began with a small problem: The T100 ‘full size’ pickup was scary bad,” CNW President Art Spinella said in an email statement. “A variety of other recalls on vehicles such as Tundra and warranty issues such as the Multi-Function Display in the Prius added their own black marks. Consumer Reports’ halting a long-time practice of giving an automatic ‘pass’ on any new Toyota product was a major blow.

“The ‘Halt Sale’ directive to dealers impacts not only new vehicles but the used vehicles,” Spinella continued, referring to Toyota’s decision to halt sales of models encompassed by last week’s 2.3-million vehicle accelerator pedal recall.

CNW didn’t return our requests for additional comment, so we chatted with Erich Merkle, president of Autoconomy, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based consulting firm.

The recent recalls have affected consumer perception “to a certain extent,” Merkle said. But another underlying reason for Toyota’s perceptual slide, he said, is its competition — including Ford.

“I don’t know that Toyota’s quality has degraded as much as it means that the bar has just moved higher,” Merkle said. Indeed, the CNW survey shows brands like Mazda, Volkswagen and Ford having steady perceptual gains over the past few years. Toyota, meanwhile, hovered in the same range from 2007 to 2009 before sliding for 2010.

“If you look at things that GM has done, and what Ford has done, and now what Hyundai and Kia are doing, they really provide that look and feel of quality,” Merkle said. “You look at where interiors have gone, and I don’t think that Toyota interiors have gotten worse. In fact, I think they’ve gotten a little better. But you look at the interior of the new Ford Taurus, and it’s outstanding.”

New Study Has Ford Overtaking Toyota in Quality Perception - KickingTires

Zsteve · 01-29-2010, 02:54 PM

what they think! enough said.

IDZRVIT · 01-29-2010, 03:20 PM

Insert face palm. Who cares? I love my Z and don't care about polls or studies or comparisons with Porsches, etc.

kenchan · 01-29-2010, 03:23 PM

yah, ive driven quite a bit of the bread and butter toyota's at rental places and they were all crap. no better than a chevy colt or colbalt watever they're was called.

toyota really needs to get back into the game.

but then again, why is vw in there?

i dont think that survey is very accurate.

Lug · 01-29-2010, 03:29 PM

I find Volkswagon coming in forth as an indication of how clueless society really is!

jakoye · 01-29-2010, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

but then again, why is vw in there?

i dont think that survey is very accurate.

When is people's perception *ever* accurate?

The point of posting this though was that if Nissan's quality is seen as relatively low, this might explain the low sales figures for the new Z. Yes, it's the economy, stupid, but what happens when economic times are bad? People go more for quality and take that more into consideration when making major purchases.

I personally will pay attention only if one of the major quality-tracking firms states that Nissan's quality is low, which so far, I haven't seen (they've always been average or above average).

nuTinmuch · 01-29-2010, 05:31 PM

Pontiac that low?

Buick that high?

I don't even...

They are both GM brands.

spearfish25 · 01-29-2010, 05:54 PM

Kia and Volkswagon even being ON the list kills any legitimacy. You might as well put Land Rover in the top five.

PapoZalsa · 01-29-2010, 06:03 PM

Well we went to 10th place since Toyota sank to the bottom of the list.

BTW, someone was smoking something good with their perception.

TheWeatherman · 01-29-2010, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

Kia and Volkswagon even being ON the list kills any legitimacy. You might as well put Land Rover in the top five.

Hey Spear, watch it with that Land Rover comment! Ha ha ha!

Love those things.

Montez · 01-29-2010, 06:45 PM

I still think that alot of this has to do with all of the problems that and low scores Nissan received for the 2004 to current Nissan Quest (same body), that thing was and is a reliability/maintenance nightmare.

spearfish25 · 01-29-2010, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWeatherman

Hey Spear, watch it with that Land Rover comment! Ha ha ha!

Love those things.

I loved my Defender 90 until the engine started sputtering every time I'd drive it. My first date with a girl, it broke down as we pulled through McDonalds to pick up a Coke for her (not the final destination of the date!). I had to push it through the drive-through as the window person leaned out, waving for me to pull up. Very embarrassing. In retrospect, I think the catalytic converters were shot and were choking the engine. Great vehicles if you're prepared to replace every single part eventually

.

o0javi0o · 01-29-2010, 07:57 PM

yeah right.
2nd Buick...
4th VW????
10 Chevy?

Zsteve · 01-29-2010, 08:13 PM

sounds like we all are doing the samething as the article, unless we have driven all cars for years we cant really do anything but guess ourselves about the rankings.

1slow370 · 01-29-2010, 08:22 PM

haha it's like they drew straws out of hat. Weatherman didn't know you were on here hows it going.

01-29-2010, 02:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zsteve A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: TX Posts: 3,298 Drives: the 2 balled club Rep Power: 21	what they think! enough said. __________________ 2010 LS3 C6 Silver coupe corvette

01-29-2010, 03:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
IDZRVIT A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Halifax Posts: 1,659 Drives: '13 CTS-V, '76 Vette Rep Power: 26	Insert face palm. Who cares? I love my Z and don't care about polls or studies or comparisons with Porsches, etc. __________________ "America.... still builds rockets!" Vette: 355 cid, 400 rwhp '13 CTS-V Coupe: 6.2L LSA, 556HP

01-29-2010, 03:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lug A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,926 Drives: 2006 350Z Rep Power: 19	I find Volkswagon coming in forth as an indication of how clueless society really is! __________________ keep Chubbs in your pocket - Chubbs

01-29-2010, 05:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
nuTinmuch A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,092 Drives: PG 7AT 370Z Rep Power: 17	Pontiac that low? Buick that high? I don't even... They are both GM brands. __________________ nuTinmuch! -- Platinum Graphite 370Z -- Check out my Gallery thread here!

01-29-2010, 05:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Kia and Volkswagon even being ON the list kills any legitimacy. You might as well put Land Rover in the top five. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

01-29-2010, 03:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	yah, ive driven quite a bit of the bread and butter toyota's at rental places and they were all crap. no better than a chevy colt or colbalt watever they're was called. toyota really needs to get back into the game. but then again, why is vw in there? i dont think that survey is very accurate.

01-29-2010, 06:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
PapoZalsa A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Not in Sunny Florida Posts: 6,358 Drives: 16 Nismo w/Tech Pack Rep Power: 4499	Well we went to 10th place since Toyota sank to the bottom of the list. BTW, someone was smoking something good with their perception. __________________ 2009 370Z MB Base w/Sport Package 6MT Modshack's Custom Air Intakes /3M Clear Bra/ Illuminated Kick Plates / F. I CBE w/12" resonators / EVO-R Front Lip / Rear Hatch Wing / Tein S-Tech Springs /Ilegal Tint in the Rep. of VA/4x20mm Z1 Spacers/ Vinyl Roof/Liquid Carbon Designs

01-29-2010, 06:45 PM	#11 (permalink)
Montez Track Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Manhattan Beach, Ca Posts: 604 Drives: 16 LEX GS,09 Z,03Max Rep Power: 16	I still think that alot of this has to do with all of the problems that and low scores Nissan received for the 2004 to current Nissan Quest (same body), that thing was and is a reliability/maintenance nightmare.

01-29-2010, 07:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
o0javi0o Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 458 Drives: '15 ///M3 6MT Rep Power: 16	yeah right. 2nd Buick... 4th VW???? 10 Chevy?

01-29-2010, 08:13 PM	#14 (permalink)
Zsteve A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: TX Posts: 3,298 Drives: the 2 balled club Rep Power: 21	sounds like we all are doing the samething as the article, unless we have driven all cars for years we cant really do anything but guess ourselves about the rankings. __________________ 2010 LS3 C6 Silver coupe corvette

01-29-2010, 08:22 PM	#15 (permalink)
1slow370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: In the D Posts: 3,732 Drives: v8 74 260z ;) Rep Power: 7250	haha it's like they drew straws out of hat. Weatherman didn't know you were on here hows it going.

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