EQS Sedan

Segment
Sedan

Buying a new car is a hugely exciting prospect. There's nothing more thrilling than being handed the keys to your new pride and joy, taking in the new car smell, and driving off the showroom floor. But it's also stressful - after all, you're handing over hard-earned cash for a machine you have to live with for some time.

That's why quality and ownership experience surveys are so important. They give you an idea of what a vehicle is like beforehand, in terms of quality, reliability, and even things such as dealership experience. Strategic Vision has recently conducted a Total Quality Impact (TQI) study, and two brands came out heads above the rest.

But before we delve into the results, let's look at the study itself.

The company describes the study as "the automotive industry's most complete measure of the quality of a new vehicle." Vehicle and ownership quality is measured by looking at vehicle problems and severity, tangible aspects (handling and comfort), intangible aspects (vehicle image), and the emotional connection the driver makes with the vehicle.

Luxury brand Mercedes-Benz won in four categories, with the G-Class and GLE-Coupe clinching top honors in the Luxury SUV and Luxury CUV categories, respectfully. Elsewhere, the Three-pointed star shone brightly in the APT (Alternative Power Train) Premium Car class, where the EQS Sedan reigned supreme. Lastly, the now discontinued AMG GT/GT S scooped up an award in the Premium Coupe category.

But in the mainstream sphere, it's Kia that walked away with just as many awards as Mercedes. The Kia K5 didn't just emerge as a winner in the midsize car segment but was one of the strongest contenders overall. Strategic Vision president Alexander Edwards said owners just adore the slick Korean sedan.

"Folks that have worked on that product, rebranding, communications, feature content, and even dealers should be proud of the positive experience their owners have enjoyed, added Edwards. The K5 had one of the highest TQI scores in the study, with buyers enamored with the interior quality.

The Kia Seltos, Carnival, and Sorento Plug-in Hybrid all came out on top in their respective categories.

Overall, the Korean brands performed strongly. The Hyundai Santa Cruz may not dominate the sales charts, but it still emerged victorious in the Standard Pickup category. The Genesis GV70 also placed first in its respective segment, and so did the Elantra Hybrid and Ioniq 5.

General Motors also posted a decent finish, with three winners. The Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Acadia, and Sierra 2500/3500 models all bested their contemporaries. Ford managed just one win, with the Mustang. Of course, people will have varying experiences with the same vehicle, meaning this isn't an exact science. But it does provide some guidance for new car buyers, at least.