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These are J.D. Power's best – and worst – automotive brands for 2019

Based on the firm’s 2019 Initial Quality Study, these five companies' cars see the fewest problems immediately after purchase—and these other five see the most

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The J.D. Power Initial Quality Study is like the first of the year’s doctor’s appointments for the auto industry.

Each year, the marketing information services company measures initial quality by polling owners on issues they may have had with their new 2019 vehicles in the first 90 days of ownership, and giving each automaker a “problems experienced per 100 vehicles” (PP100) rating.

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That rating makes scoring easy to understand—the lower the number, the fewer the problems, and therefore the better the quality.

Overall, J.D. Power says that, for the first time since 2014, data gathered from the 76,256 buyers and leasers polled suggest that new-vehicle quality has not improved, but remains the same as it did last year.

“Automakers continue to make progress in areas like infotainment that attract a lot of consumer attention,” said Dave Sargent, vice-president of global automotive at J.D. Power.

“However, some traditional problems crept up this year including paint imperfections, brake and suspension noises, engines not starting and the ‘Check Engine’ light coming on early in the ownership experience. Also, more people are having issues with their advanced driver assistance systems, which are critical for building consumer trust in future automated vehicles.”

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These are the top five best – and bottom five worst – brands on the list of 32 brands, according to the new J.D. Power rankings. It’s South Korea at the top; Brits, Italians and Swedes at the bottom; and everything else in between.

The Worst

28. Volvo

2019 Volvo XC90

Despite being lauded for the quality interior in its V60 and XC90 Inscription, Volvo once again finds itself on the wrong end of the tally. It’s down to 114 from 122 PP100, which is good; but, with recalls made on 2019 models of the XC60 crossoverover trunk lid failures, the brand is where it should be.

29. Alfa Romeo

If looks could score points on an Initial Quality Study, Italian luxury carmaker Alfa Romeo would not find itself in this list of the bottom five brands. Yet, here it is, looking fine as ever but with a not-so-attractive score of 118 PP100. Recent recalls made to the 2019 Giulia and Stelvio models will not have helped. Alfa, which wasn’t ranked on the list last year, displaced Chrysler as the worst-scored brand from under the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles umbrella.

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30. Mitsubishi

2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

If you’re looking for some hard data to suggest you should purchase a Mitsubishi this year, this is not it. The Japanese brand fell a few spots to third from the bottom this year, getting passed by Volvo and Subaru. The nineteenth-largest automaker in the world sits at 121 PP100, up from 111 in 2018.

31. Land Rover

Despite having the second-worst rating on the list, Land Rover actually improved on its previous score more than any other brand, dropping down from 160 in 2018 to 123 PP100 in 2019. And regardless of this report, Canadian sales of the luxury British brand are up 12 per cent this year

32. Jaguar

2020 Jaguar F-Pace SVR

It’s Brits at the bottom again this year, with Jaguar sliding one position to take over from Range Rover as the worst of the bunch. Like Range Rover, however, Jag’s 2019 rating of 130 PP100 is down from 148 last year. JLR has been struggling, but is trending in the right direction at least.

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The Best

5. Lincoln

Lincoln has managed to climb two spots and sneak into the top five despite actually scoring worse than it did last year. In 2018, Lincoln was ranked seventh in J.D.’s IQ list, with a score of 83 100PP. This year, that number ticked up to 84. Still, Lincoln is one of just two domestic brands in the top five this time around, and one of four above the industry average of 93 PP100.

4. Ford

The second domestic in the top five explains Lincoln’s inclusion. The Blue Oval also scored worse this year (up to an 83 from an 81) but still managed to hold on to a position at the top. Ford has done a good job over the last decade to address transmission and infotainment system issues that used to land it much further down the list. There have still been some issues, including potential fire-causing faults in the F-150, but the brand’s Ford Fusion and Ford Ranger both rank highest in their individual segments.

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3. Hyundai

Hyundai shaved three points off of its score to get it down to 71 PP100 and guard its position on the podium as the third best in terms of initial quality. With a 14-point spread separating Hyundai from the next-best competitor (this year it’s Ford) the South Korean scene is really starting to distinguish itself. The Santa Fe ranked highest in its segment.

2. Kia
2. Kia Photo by J.D. Power

Kia bested its 2018 score by two points (down to 70 PP100) and found itself sandwiched between its Korean brethren on the podium. “Remarkably, 16 of 18 models from Hyundai Motor Group rank in the top three in their respective segments,” J.D. Power’s press release reads.

“These vehicles tend to perform especially well in the areas of infotainment and other electronic components.” The Kia Forte, Rio, Sedona and Sportage all led their segments.

1. Genesis

As Hyundai Motor’s luxury brand, Genesis has been enjoying a successful few years. With the ever-popular G70 besting its segment and only two other vehicles to bring the scores down, Genesis topped the list last year with a score of 68 PP100 and keeps the crown with 63 PP100 this year.

Coleman Molnar picture

Coleman Molnar

Coleman Molnar learned to drive in his family's rusty farm pickup as a teenager and continues the forearm-strengthening tradition today from behind the wheel of his 1983 Volkswagen Westfalia. Spot him in the slow lane, or on Instagram @Lietco
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