U.S. automakers rated below industry average while Japanese and European competitors got the highest marks for appeal and performance in a survey of new-car buyers released yesterday by J.D. Power and Associates Inc.
Even Hyundai Motor Co., the Korean company long known primarily for cheapness, rated higher than General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and the Chrysler Group of DaimlerChrysler AG in the 2003 survey of 102,975 new-car buyers. The survey looked at how consumers rated their new vehicles for performance, execution and layout.
"There's work to be done for the domestics," said Joe Ivers, executive director of quality and customer satisfaction for J.D. Power, the California-based consulting firm whose consumer surveys are closely watched within the industry.
Porsche Cars North America Inc. was the highest-rated overall corporation, followed by BMW AG, Volkswagen AG, Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp.
One of the few bright spots for a domestic car company was that 10 Ford-owned products (including Mazda and Jaguar brands) placed among the top finishers in the survey's 17 vehicle categories.
Otherwise, the news was one grim lowlight after another for a U.S. industry that has ceded a record 43 percent of the marketplace to foreign competitors in recent months.
Detroit's Big Three rely on trucks, minivans and sport-utility vehicles for all their profits, but the survey showed that consumers now find better features in many imports. Over time, that could lead to a seismic shift in sales, Ivers said.
The survey's mid-sized SUV category, for instance, was dominated by Japanese models: Nissan's new Murano ranked tops, followed by the Honda Pilot and the Toyota 4Runner.
One glaring absence from the list was the Chrysler Pacifica, the company's high-stakes entry in the hot market for "crossover," or car-based, SUVs. The appeal survey puts a premium on new products, which get a big bump from consumers who are thrilled with the uniqueness of what they just bought, Ivers said.
The Murano enjoyed such a bump this year, but the Pacifica did not. Chrysler has been counting on the car to help turn the company around from a $1.1 billion loss reported for the quarter ended June 30, but sales have been slower than expected. Ivers said the survey showed that many who bought Pacifica found it underpowered and that respondents criticized it for having poor visibility through the high rear window and over the long hood.
In another alarming development for U.S. automakers, Japanese models took the top two spots in the minivan category -- the 2004 Toyota Sienna finished first and the Honda Odyssey second, while the Chrysler Town & Country came in third.
Given the top reliability ratings of Toyota and Honda products, Ivers said, minivan buyers who make the switch to those brands may never return to the domestics.
The survey also contained some warning signs for European carmakers. All three top-rated luxury cars were Japanese -- the 2004 Acura TSX for entry luxury, Lexus GS 300/430 for mid luxury and Lexus LS 430 for premium.
"The Europeans are not dominating in luxury appeal the way they used to, mainly because the field is becoming more crowded. There are others who are learning to do that," Ivers said.
Even Hyundai Motor Co., the Korean company long known primarily for cheapness, rated higher than General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and the Chrysler Group of DaimlerChrysler AG in the 2003 survey of 102,975 new-car buyers. The survey looked at how consumers rated their new vehicles for performance, execution and layout.
"There's work to be done for the domestics," said Joe Ivers, executive director of quality and customer satisfaction for J.D. Power, the California-based consulting firm whose consumer surveys are closely watched within the industry.
Porsche Cars North America Inc. was the highest-rated overall corporation, followed by BMW AG, Volkswagen AG, Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp.
One of the few bright spots for a domestic car company was that 10 Ford-owned products (including Mazda and Jaguar brands) placed among the top finishers in the survey's 17 vehicle categories.
Otherwise, the news was one grim lowlight after another for a U.S. industry that has ceded a record 43 percent of the marketplace to foreign competitors in recent months.
Detroit's Big Three rely on trucks, minivans and sport-utility vehicles for all their profits, but the survey showed that consumers now find better features in many imports. Over time, that could lead to a seismic shift in sales, Ivers said.
The survey's mid-sized SUV category, for instance, was dominated by Japanese models: Nissan's new Murano ranked tops, followed by the Honda Pilot and the Toyota 4Runner.
One glaring absence from the list was the Chrysler Pacifica, the company's high-stakes entry in the hot market for "crossover," or car-based, SUVs. The appeal survey puts a premium on new products, which get a big bump from consumers who are thrilled with the uniqueness of what they just bought, Ivers said.
The Murano enjoyed such a bump this year, but the Pacifica did not. Chrysler has been counting on the car to help turn the company around from a $1.1 billion loss reported for the quarter ended June 30, but sales have been slower than expected. Ivers said the survey showed that many who bought Pacifica found it underpowered and that respondents criticized it for having poor visibility through the high rear window and over the long hood.
In another alarming development for U.S. automakers, Japanese models took the top two spots in the minivan category -- the 2004 Toyota Sienna finished first and the Honda Odyssey second, while the Chrysler Town & Country came in third.
Given the top reliability ratings of Toyota and Honda products, Ivers said, minivan buyers who make the switch to those brands may never return to the domestics.
The survey also contained some warning signs for European carmakers. All three top-rated luxury cars were Japanese -- the 2004 Acura TSX for entry luxury, Lexus GS 300/430 for mid luxury and Lexus LS 430 for premium.
"The Europeans are not dominating in luxury appeal the way they used to, mainly because the field is becoming more crowded. There are others who are learning to do that," Ivers said.
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