Aug 09 2008
Tech-laden cars fare best in J.D. Power vehicle dependability survey; sales geeks already knew this, but it’s fun to have objective proof
As reported by Technoride, for the 14th year in a row, Lexus placed atop the list of J.D. Power & Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which measures problems after three years of ownership. The comprehensive survey found that cars with a high amount of integrated technology were also the most dependable, in general. This is somewhat counter-intuitive, as more technology - such as GPS navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, advanced cruise control, parking sensors, blind spot and traffic cameras, computerized engines, traction control and collision avoidance systems - usually means more opportunity for things to break, but the survey proves instead that tech makes cars better, overall.
The top five ranking brands for dependability were, in order: Lexus, Mercury, Cadillac, Toyta and Acura. The bottom five brands were: Saab, Isuzu, Kia, Suzuki and Land Rover.
