US Cars Rank High in Total Quality

By Perry Stern of MSN Autos

Consumers strive to purchase the highest quality new cars for their money, but it's not always easy to know which vehicles will deliver. Strategic Vision, a consumer-focused research and consulting company in business for more than 30 years, recently announced the results of its 18th annual Total Quality Index study. Strategic Vision measures vehicles via a multifaceted examination of 155 specific aspects of total quality, and also employs a 1-5 quantitative scale to measure experiences that new cars are generating with consumers. This year more U.S. car companies have winners in their respective segments than import brands.

Small car

Winner: Dodge Dart

Runners-up: Fiat 500, Hyundai Elantra

Small multifunction

Winner: Kia Soul

Runner-up: Volkswagen Golf

Midsize car

Winners: Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Volt

Runners-up: Kia Optima, Subaru Legacy

Midsize multifunction

Winner: Honda Accord Crosstour

Runners-up: Volkswagen Jetta Wagon, Subaru Impreza Wagon

Large car

Winner: Volkswagen CC

Runners-up: Dodge Charger, Nissan Maxima

Near-luxury car

Winners: Hyundai Genesis sedan, Audi A4

Runners-up: Lexus ES 350, Toyota Avalon

Luxury car

Winner: Lexus LS 460

Runners-up: Hyundai Equus, Audi A6

Specialty coupe

Winner: MINI Cooper

Runners-up: Volkswagen Beetle, Dodge Challenger

Premium coupe

Winner: Chevrolet Corvette

Runner up: Audi A5

Convertible

Winner: Chrysler 200

Premium convertible

Winner: Chevrolet Corvette convertible

Runner-up: Porsche Boxster

Minivan

Winner: Chrysler Town & Country

Runners-up: Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona

Entry utility

Winners: Volkswagen Tiguan, Toyota FJ Cruiser

Runners-up: Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Subaru XV Crosstrek

Midsize crossover utility

Winner: Chevrolet Traverse

Runners-up: Ford Explorer, Mazda CX-9

Midsize traditional utility

Winner: Dodge Durango

Runners-up: Toyota 4Runner, Jeep Grand Cherokee

Large utility

Winner: GMC Yukon

Runners-up: Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon XL

Near-luxury utility

Winner: Buick Enclave

Runners-up: Lexus RX 350, Cadillac SRX

Luxury utility

Winner: Porsche Cayenne

Runners-up: BMW X5, Land Rover Range Rover

Standard pickup

Winner: Toyota Tacoma

Compare: Midsize 4X4 pickup trucks

Full-size pickup

Winner:Chevrolet Avalanche

Runners-up: Ford F-150, Ram 1500

Heavy-duty pickup

Winner: Ford F-250/F-350