Toyota: Satisfaction All Round
The results of the newly published J.D. Power & Associates 2003 UK Car Customer Satisfaction Study show Toyota models comprehensively trouncing their rivals.
Overall, Toyota claimed the Silver Award for the second consecutive year, runner-up only to its sister brand Lexus. This year Toyota’s performance was stronger than ever, its combined score rising five points to 848 out of a possible 1,000.
Presented in association with What Car? Magazine, the J.D. Power survey analyses customer responses in four key areas: quality and reliability; vehicle appeal; service satisfaction; and ownership costs. More than 24,000 car owners took part, reporting on 36 brands and more than 150 different models. The survey was confined to X and Y registered cars (1 September 2000 to 31 August 2001).
Analysis of individual model ratings shows Toyota achieving the top score in four distinct market segments.
The Corolla saw off all other compact hatchbacks and was sixth overall; the RAV4 was the top-rated 4×4 in equal seventh position; the Toyota MR2 emerged as the best roadster and was 15th overall; and the Celica stole a march among the sports coupes, placed 34th.
Special mention must be made of the Yaris, which on paper was the second-placed supermini and the second car overall, having been the outright top-rated vehicle in 2002. In truth it remains the best-performing car among those you can still buy today, having been bumped down the order by a short-lived model that only ever sold in tiny numbers in the UK.
| CATEGORY |
TOYOTA MODEL |
POSITION |
OVERALL |
| Compact hatch |
Corolla |
1 |
6 |
| 4×4 |
RAV4 |
1 |
7= |
| Roadster |
MR2 |
1 |
15 |
| Sports coupe |
Celica |
1 |
34 |
| Supermini |
Yaris |
2 |
2 |
| Family Car |
Avensis |
3 |
16 |
With three Toyotas in the top 10, plus the Lexus IS200 in third place, the message from the owners themselves is clear: Toyota delivers cars that have immense buyer appeal, that are reliable and that are economic to run and maintain. What’s more when they do require maintenance or repairs, Toyota’s aftersales service is efficient, friendly, thorough and tailored to suit customer needs.
ENDS
