According to the 2007 JD Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Index Study, Honda is South Africa's top brand for the second year running. Four of Honda's models took top honors in their segments, as did four Toyota models.
The authoritative study, now in its fourth year, measures customer satisfaction after 10 and 21 months of ownership and is published, in its entirety, in the February 2008 issue of CAR Magazine. Four factors measure satisfaction levels in 77 categories: quality and reliability, vehicle appeal, dealership service satisfaction and cost of ownership. These four factors are weighted 32 per cent, 29 per cent, 19 per cent and 20 per cent respectively; reflect the importance SA motorists attach to each - CSI scores are then based on a 1 000 point scale.

The models that did Honda proud are the Civic saloon and hatchback, CR-V, FR-V and Jazz. The Honda Accord also performed well and placed fourth in its category. The Civic saloon is current Car of the Year, while the CR-V is one of the finalists for the 2008 award. Honda ranked as South Africa's most satisfying brand (873 points) for the second consecutive year and improved on its 2006 score. Mercedes-Benz took second place (856 points) followed by Audi, BMW, and Volvo.

The Honda Civic took first place in the upper small car category (886 points), trailed by the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (859 points) and the Toyota Corolla (837 points). In the lower small car category, the Honda Jazz scored 876 points, beating the Toyota Yaris (855 points) and the Hyundai Getz (837 points). The Honda CR-V scored 859 points in its section, way of the Kia's Sportage (813 points). In the compact MPV section, the Honda FR-V won with 860 points, ahead of the Toyota Corolla Verso (838 points) and Volkswagen Touran (825 points).

Out of the nine cars that achieved five-star ratings, Honda filled three of these slots with the Accord, Jazz and the Civic. In the Accord's class, its score of 86,2 per cent meant less than one per cent separated it from the class winner - it also beat the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W203) and the BMW 3 Series in the process.

Four Toyota models also ranked highly in their respective segments namely the Avensis, Hilux, Land Cruiser Prado and Tazz. Other awards were the BMW X5, Fiat Panda and Opel Corsa Utility.

For more details on the results of the fourth annual Customer Satisfaction Index study, we've published the entire study in the February 2008 issue of CAR, including model table, make table and a detailed report of each category's results.

BMW RANKS AS TOP BRAND IN SA

Meanwhile, JD Power and Associates ranked BMW as South Africa's leading passenger vehicle brand. The study was based on input from a sample of more than 8 600 new vehicle owners who purchased their vehicles between January and May last year.

BMW replaced Honda as the top rated brand in SA, with 142 problems per 100 vehicles. It was followed by Honda, Subaru, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo. The 2006 rankings had Honda top with 150 problems per 100 vehicles. Next came BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru, Audi and Hyundai.

The Honda Jazz, in the lower small car category, registered fewer problems than any other model in the country. The five lowest ranked makes in 2007 were Tata (567 problems per 100 vehicles), Volkswagen, Fiat, Opel and Renault.

The top-ranked manufacturing facility was the Mercedes-Benz plant in east London that makes the C-Class. It was followed by the Toyota plant in KwaZulu-Natal.