General Motors and Nissan North America each led five segments (one tie) in the 2005 Total Quality Index (TQI), released Monday by San Diego research firm Strategic Vision. Several new GM products took top honors in their segments. Pontiac’s G6 medium sedan won out over Toyota and Honda entries, as did the Buick Rainier medium sport utility vehicle (SUV). No one corporation dominated, with Toyota leading four segments (2 ties), BMW three (1 tie) Ford three (2 ties), Hyundai two (1 tie), and Honda, Chrysler and Land Rover one each. After a year out of the winner’s circle, BMW reemerged as the top-scoring brand. Nissan North America led as best full-line corporation. Chrysler PT Cruiser continues its winning quality ways by taking the top spot in the "Small Multi-function" category. Unlike J.D. Powers’ Initial Quality Survey, Strategic Vision says its Total Quality Index assesses the complete ownership experience, from buying and owning to driving new vehicles, including attributes and the emotional response to vehicle. More than 40,793 buyers who bought 2005 models in October and November of 2004 supplied data. Buyers rated the following vehicles tops in their segments: (closely ranked scores, if the differences are not statistically significant, are considered ties)
     

TQI Score

Small Car

                                       

Ford Focus/Hyundai Accent/Mazda3 (tie)

860/859/859

Small Multi-Function

Chrysler PT Cruiser / Scion xB (tie)

843/842

Medium Car

Pontiac G6

875

Large Car

Ford 500 / Nissan Maxima (tie)

886/886

Small Specialty Under $25,000

Ford Mustang

915

Small Specialty Over $25,000

Chevrolet Corvette*

905

Near-Luxury Car

BMW 3-Series  

934

Luxury Car

BMW 5-Series / Lexus LS 430* (tie)

911/910

Convertibles Under $30,000

Mini Cooper Convertible

891

Convertibles Over $30,000

Lexus SC430

920

Minivan

Honda Odyssey*

861

Small SUV

Hyundai Tucson

879

Medium Crossover

Nissan Murano* 

880

Medium SUV

Buick Rainier

879

Large SUV

Nissan Armada

906

Near Luxury SUV

Infiniti FX35*

906

Luxury SUV

Land Rover Range Rover / Hummer H2 / Cadillac Escalade* (tie)

908/907/906

Compact Pickup

Toyota Tacoma

852

Full-Size Pickup

Nissan Titan

893

Heavy Duty Pickup

GMC Sierra 2500/3500

883

   

† New segment in 2005

 
   

* 2004 Total Quality Award™ winner

 
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