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Total Quality Winners
From Strategic Vision

Chevrolet's Avalanche 1500 took the top spot in the full-size pickup segment.

by the Editors of MSN Autos

Domestic automakers made gains in Stategic Vision's 2003 Total Quality Index, measuring complete ownership experience.
Infiniti won its first TQI award, taking top honors with the G35 in the near-luxury car category.
The highest-rated model was the Porsche Boxster.
Perennial winner Volkswagen Golf has taken a top place in the compact car category six years in a row.

BMW 5-Series
Chevrolet Avalanche
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Ford Excursion
Ford Mustang
Honda Accord
Honda Odyssey
Hyundai Santa Fe
Infiniti G35
Kia Sorento
Land Rover Range Rover
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
MINI Cooper
Oldsmobile Aurora
Pontiac Bonneville
Pontiac Grand Am
Porsche Boxster
Saturn Ion
Subaru Baja
Toyota 4Runner
Volkswagen Golf
Volvo XC90
The Honda Accord was rated best in two categories: midsize car and medium specialty coupes.

General Motors topped all other automakers in the number of vehicles honored in the 2003 Total Quality Index (TQI) Awards from automotive consulting firm Strategic Vision.
Domestic automakers, particularly General Motors, made gains despite imports winning the majority of segments. GM was rated tops in three segments, with a tie in a fourth, by new vehicle buyers.

After four years in the top spot, Ford won in two segments. BMW continued as the highest scoring brand. Cadillac moved into second place ahead of Mercedes and Lexus. Compared to 2002 results, Cadillac was the most improved brand. The Porsche Boxster was the highest-rated model.

Strategic Vision differentiates its results—culled from surveys of nearly 31,000 vehicle buyers—from other quality studies because owners are asked about more than vehicle features and problems that emerged. Strategic Vision said TQI incorporates the experience of buying the vehicle and driving it, too.

TQI is designed to measure the satisfaction of owners with the entire experience of buying, owning and driving a new vehicle. "Our goal was to measure quality as new vehicle owners define it," said Dr. Darrel Edwards, Strategic Vision president, "and that meant the index had to be as complex as people, specifically new vehicle buyers, are."

Honda was the only mulit-segment winner among Japan-based automakers, taking three top spots with the Odyssey and the Accord—both its coupe and sedan versions. Infiniti G35's top spot in the near-luxury category was the first for the brand.

For domestic manufacturers, the San Diego-based firm said five GM-built vehicles led their respective segments, while Ford vehicles earned two spots on the winners' list.

General Motors took top honors in the compact car category with the Pontiac Grand Am. GM placed the Oldsmobile Aurora at the top of the larger car category, sharing the position with the Pontiac Bonneville. The Saturn Ion was rated as the top small car, while the Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 was rated the best fullsize pickup. Ford Mustang Convertible and Ford Excursion took first positions in their respective categories.


Volkswagen remained the highest scoring full-line corporation overall, according to Strategic Vision, with the Volkswagen Golf sharing top honors in the compact car category with the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Grand Am. Volkswagen was followed as the top-scoring corporation by Honda, Nissan and Toyota.

Owners who participated in the survey bought their new vehicles between October and November 2002; they were surveyed after they owned their new model for at least 90 days.

Here are the Total Quality Index winners:

Small Car
Saturn Ion

Compact Car (Tie)
Volkswagen Golf
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Pontiac Grand Am

Midsize Car
Honda Accord Sedan

Larger Car (Tie)
Oldsmobile Aurora
Pontiac Bonneville

Small Specialty Coupe
MINI Cooper

Medium Specialty Coupe
Honda Accord Coupe

Near-Luxury Car
Infiniti G35

Luxury Car (Tie)
BMW 5-Series
Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Convertible (under $30,000)
Ford Mustang Convertible

Convertible (over $30,000)
Porsche Boxster

Minivan
Honda Odyssey

Small SUV
Hyundai Sante Fe

Medium SUV (Tie)
Toyota 4Runner
Kia Sorento

Large SUV
Ford Excursion

Near-Luxury SUV
Volvo XC90

Luxury SUV
Land Rover Range Rover

Compact Pickup
Subaru Baja

Full-Size Pickup
Chevrolet Avalanche 1500

Source: Strategic Vision