The Five Best (and Worst) Cars for Initial Quality

The data was reported Wednesday in the J.D. Power 2014 U.S. Initial Quality Study. The study examines problems reported by vehicle owners during the first 90 days of ownership. This year’s results for the initial quality study match the decline seen in J.D. Power’s 2014 on dependability.

The study identified two primary causes for the rise in initial quality problems. First is that brand-new or substantially redesigned models are more problematic than those new cars that have not been changed much. The newly launched vehicles posted a score of 128 problems per 100 vehicles.

And in an echo of the troubles retailers faced in the first quarter of this year, in regions of the United States where winter weather was especially harsh the initial quality scores were worse, putting up an average score of 117 problems per 100 vehicles, compared with 112 problems in regions where the weather was less severe.

The top five nameplates in initial quality and their number of problems per 100 vehicles were:

1. Porsche, 78
2. Jaguar, 87
3. Lexus, 92
4. Hyundai, 94
5. Toyota, 105

The five lowest scoring nameplates and their scores were:

• Fiat, 206
• Jeep, 146
• Mitsubishi, 145
• Scion, 140
• Mazda, 139

Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) placed two models in the top five and one (Scion) in the bottom five. General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) placed highest among U.S. carmakers — Chevrolet placed sixth with an initial quality score of 106, just behind Toyota. Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) placed its Lincoln nameplate at 10th with a score of 109 and its Ford brand in a tie for 12th at the overall average score of 116.

Tesla Motors Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) was not included in the study.

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