1.6.2012 JD Power completes car ownership study

The results from the JD Power 2012 UK Vehicle Owner Satisfaction Study (VOSS) have been released, with Jaguar being voted as the overall best among 27 manufactures, according to customers.

The survey considers 17,686 car buyers having owned their cars for an average of two years and driven around 360 million miles between them. The study was conducted in January and February 2012, testing 118 models.

Each car is scored according to four main categories – in order of importance, these are vehicle appeal, which includes performance, design and comfort; ownership costs, including fuel consumption, insurance and servicing; vehicle quality and reliability and finally dealer service satisfaction.

On a 1000-point scale, the overall satisfaction among vehicle owners averaged 770 in 2012. The overall winner was Jaguar, which achieved 828 with particular strength in service satisfaction, vehicle appeal and vehicle quality and reliability. Following Jaguar in the rankings were Lexus and Skoda, each with a score of 801. Rounding off the top five positions were Honda, with 797, and Mercedez-Benz with 794.

At the vehicle segment level, the city car category was won by the Toyota iQ, with 818 points, and the Honda Jazz won overall in the supermini class for the ninth year running, with 812 points. The small and large family car segments were won by the Skoda Octavia and the Toyota Prius hybrid, with 804 and 830 points respectively.

The Lexus IS won in the compact executive car class and the Jaguar XF came out top in the executive luxury segment. Mercedes were winners in the MPV category with their B-Class, and the Kia Sportage scoped a win the Compact SUV class.

Independent studies such as this one are a great way to help consumers chose which make and model of vehicle will be most suitable for their needs. If you are looking for a greener model, Next Green Car have reviewed many of the most fuel efficient new models that are available today in the UK – take a look in our reviews section.

J.D. Power