Mercedes-Benz tops SA quality awards

B 200 CDI (W 246) 2011

B 200 CDI (W 246) 2011

Published Nov 15, 2012

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New vehicle quality is improving in South Africa, according to research company Ipsos, which says its results for this year are the best they’ve been in the survey’s history.

Previously known in South Africa as the Synovate Quality Awards, but taken over by global company Ipsos in October last year, the survey measures quality in problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) after interviewing 22 000 new-vehicle owners annually.

The respondents are contacted three months after purchasing new vehicles in order to query not only quality issues but sales and service experiences. Not all brands are represented but the survey covers about 83 percent of the SA passenger car market and 98 percent of the LCV market.

BEST OF THE BEST

The best (lowest) score across all the segments went to the Mercedes-Benz B-Class (with 10 problems per 100, followed by the Mercedes M-Class (12 PP100). The Toyota Auris X and Yaris 1.3 tied in third with scores of 13 PP100 each.

Top performer in the Entry segment went to the Toyota Yaris 1.0, while the Mercedes-Benz A-Class was the best Hatch, and Toyota Corolla the top Small Sedan. Audi’s A4 won the Medium Sedan segment, and Merc’s E-Class took top Executive spot. The Audi A5 and Mercedes-Benz SLK tied for first place in the Sports Coupé segment.

The Small Recreational Vehicle segment was led by the Nissan X-Trail and Large Recreational Vehicle winner was the Mercedes M-Class. Top performer in the Multi-Purpose Vehicle category was the Mercedes B-Class. Isuzu’s KB bakkie dominated the Petrol Single Cab and Diesel Single Cab while the Toyota Hilux topped the Diesel Double Cab and Petrol Double Cab segments. Last, in the Three-quarter ton segment the Nissan NP200 came top.

BRAND AWARDS

Brand Category awards were dominated by Toyota, which won Best Volume Passenger Car Brand (tied with Mazda), Best One Ton Double Cab LCV Brand Overall, Best Local Plant Manufacturing Passenger Vehicles and Best Overall Light Commercial Brand. Best Premium Passenger Car Brand went to Mercedes-Benz. Nissan and Toyota shared first position in the category of best Local Plant Manufacturing Light Commercial Vehicles and Isuzu took Gold in the category of Best One Ton Single Cab Light Commercial Brand. -Drive Times

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