The Hindu : Santro, Ikon, Qualis top initial quality study

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 24, 2002

Business

Business

Santro, Ikon, Qualis top initial quality study

NEW DELHI DEC. 23. Hyundai Santro, Ford Ikon and Toyota Qualis topped the honours in a study conducted by the market research firm J D Power Asia Pacific.

The Santro was ranked ahead of other compact cars like Maruti Alto and Maruti Wagon-R in the 2002 India Initial Quality Study (IQS) that measured vehicle quality.

The Ikon led the entry mid-size car segment followed by Hyundai Accent and Maruti Esteem, a JD Power Asia Pacific release said.

In the multiutility vehicle (MUV) category, Toyota's Qualis topped the list while Mahindra & Mahindra's Bolero and Tata Engineering's Safari followed suit.

Meanwhile, the Santro, Accent and Qualis have come out first in the automotive performance, execution and layout (APEAL) study conducted by J D Power Asia Pacific.

The IQS study was based on responses from over 3,000 new vehicle owners of 29 different models representing 13 makes. It measured the vehicle quality in the first three to five months of ownership and quantified the problems experienced in the categories such as ride/handling/braking, engine and transmission.

The APEAL study measured areas of vehicle performance and design which excite the customers like heating and seats.

According to J D Power, initial vehicle quality has improved in India for the fifth consecutive year.

"The renewed pace of improvement of vehicle initial quality in India is impressive. As problems per 100 vehicles continue to fall, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain the rate of improvement we have been seeing,'' the JD Power Asia Pacific General Manager, Gerrit Kuyntjes, said.

PTI

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