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Industry Report Part 3: What Cars, Trucks, SUVs and Vans Are Best in Initial Quality?

Youll Be Surprised to See Which Models Get Knocked Off the List

While ranking automotive corporations as well as specific nameplates within those automakers, the J.D. Powers and Associates Initial Quality Survey (IQS) also picks the top three vehicles in 18 separate categories, from "Compact Car" to "Premium Luxury SUV."

Starting with the Compact Car segment, which incidentally includes entry compact and premium compact cars, the Toyota Corolla is once again number 1 in the category. Displaced from last years IQS are the Mitsubishi Lancer and Toyota Echo, which were tied in 2003, by the Hyundai Accent which is now in 2nd place, followed by a tie between the Chrysler PT Cruiser

The Toyota Corolla is once again number 1 in the Compact Car segment according to the J.D. Powers and Associates Initial Quality Survey. (Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.)

and Honda Civic for third.

Hyundais Sonata led the Korean upswing as the best vehicle in the Entry Midsize Car category, followed closely by the now discontinued (but still available) Oldsmobile Alero in 2nd and Chevy Malibu in 3rd. Last year the Malibu came 1st, with the Sonata in 2nd place. The Pontiac Grand Am has been ousted from

In the IQS ratings, Buicks Century took top spot in the Premium Midsize Car segment. (Photo: General Motors)

the top three in this category.

Buicks Century took top spot in the Premium Midsize Car segment, followed by the Chevrolet Monte Carlo in 2nd and a then by a tie between the Mitsubishi Galant and Toyota Avalon for 3rd. Displaced are the Mercury Sable which previously held 1st position, the Chevrolet Impala in 2nd and the Buick Regal in 3rd, which incidentally was initially tied with the current 2nd place Monte Carlo.

While losing out in the

Mercury scored highest in the Full-Size Car segment with its Grand Marquis. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

previous category, Mercury scored highest in the Full-Size Car segment with its Grand Marquis. The Buick LeSabre and Ford Crown Victoria, sister car to the Grand Marquis, came in 2nd and 3rd places respectively. While the LeSabre maintains its 2nd place finish the Crown Vic was actually 1st last year, while the 3rd full-size car in the 2003 IQS was the Pontiac Bonneville.

In the Entry-Luxury Car segment Acuras TSX took top spot, while Fords Thunderbird came in 2nd and Cadillacs CTS placed 3rd. While strange to compare four-door sedans to two-place roadsters,

Acuras TSX took top spot in the entry-luxury car category, followed closely by Fords Thunderbird in 2nd and Cadillacs CTS in 3rd. (Photo: Acura)

it is nevertheless the way J.D. Powers rates this category. The CTS is the only model to move forward from last years study, despite dropping one place from 2nd. Knocked out of the segment altogether are the Lexus ES 300 which previously placed 1st and the Acura TL in 3rd.

Lexus did manage to place highest in the Mid Luxury Car category, being a carryover from 2003 with its GS 300/430, outpacing the Cadillac DeVille in 2nd that moved up from last years 3rd and in the process squeezed the Volvo S80 off the chart. The Lincoln Town Car placed 3rd in this years study. Just why J.D. Powers decided the DeVille and Town Car

Lexus swept the first two spots in the Premium Luxury Car segment with the SC 430 roadster and LS 430 full-size sedan. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

should be categorized as midsize luxury cars is anyones guess, especially when the previously mentioned Buick LeSabre and Mercury Grand Marquis/Ford Crown Victoria (the last two which share the same platform with the Town Car) trio are considered full-size.

The first two places in the Premium Luxury Car segment were swept by Lexus, headed by the SC 430, a two-seat roadster, with the LS 430 full-size sedan coming in 2nd. Cadillacs stylish new XLR managed 3rd, replacing rival Mercedes-Benz SL in the process. There were no other losers since the 2003 IQS, only that the two Lexus models were reversed.

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