General Motors was among the top-ranked automotive companies in J.D. Power’s 2020 Initial Quality Study, with GM vehicles winning six of the 26 vehicle segments that were judged.
The J.D. Power Initial Quality Study examines problems experienced by owners of new model-year vehicles during the first 90 days of ownership. The organization gives vehicles a score based on the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher initial quality. These reported problems can cover all sorts of different aspects of a vehicle, from the engine to safety systems to in-car electronics and more.
Overall, GM vehicles finished won six of the 26 vehicle segments judged in the IQS awards. These include the following:
- 2020 Cadillac CT5 – Midsize Premium Car
- 2020 Cadillac CT6 – Upper Midsize Premium Car
- 2020 Cadillac Escalade – Large Premium SUV
- 2020 Cadillac XT4 – Compact Premium SUV
- 2020 Chevrolet Malibu – Midsize Car
- 2020 Chevrolet Sonic – Small Car
The Chevrolet Sonic was a standout performer with the lowest number of reported problems of any vehicle included in the study. With just 103 problems experienced per 100 vehicles, the Sonic has cemented itself as the king of initial quality for the 2020 model year. Additionally, every GM brand had a PP100 score that was lower than the industry average of 166 PP100. Chevrolet performed the best with a score of 141, while Buick was second at 150, GMC third at 151 and Cadillac fourth at 162. Cadillac also earned the most segment awards among luxury brands with four.
It wasn’t just GM cars and brands that did well in this study. The automaker’s Yantai Dongyue 2 plant in China, which produces the Buick Envision, received the ‘Platinum Plant Quality Award’ for producing vehicles with the fewest amount of reported defects or malfunctions. The Yantai Dongyue facility also won a Silver Award for plant quality in last year’s J.D. Power IQS study and a Bronze Award back in 2018.
“This success is the result of a focused effort across the entire GM enterprise from design to product development, manufacturing, Customer Care and Aftersales, sales, service and marketing, our dealers and others,” said GM’s vice president of global quality, Tony Francavilla. “We celebrate these wins and will remain focused on delivering quality vehicles for our customers.”
Hyundai-Kia had the most segment awards for an automotive corporation at seven. These included the Genesis G70, Hyundai Tucson, Hyundai Veloster, Kia Forte, Kia Sedona, Kia Sorento and Kia Soul. Somewhat surprisingly, Dodge managed to top the study for singular brands, with a score of PP136. Kia was second among brands, while Chevrolet was third.
Full results from the study are available at this link.
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Comments
Nice to see.
The JD power rankings are usually BS…But as a Cadillac fan, it’s nice to see them on top of SOMETHING LOL
1BadCad: I can’t agree with you on the BS thing. I’ve worked with and trained on JDP and how to correctly read the results years ago. There was a time way back when they said no more using their results unless the dealers agreed to training the sales force to properly read the results. Personally, I found it very helpful.
Love to see so many GM’s up there. As I’ve said for many years, Buick is just a great brand. Glad to see Chevy doing so well and Cadillac moving up. Please keep up the great job GM!
As a footnote: Huge LOL on Toyota, Honda and others being well below average. Glad to see their “quality” is being seen for what it is: nothing more than marketing.
Tesla not looking so good on this list.
General Motors could and should be doing better.. poor leadership is the cause as stockholders need to hold CEO Mary Barra responsible as the glass is clearly half empty.
…What? Did you not see the list? Literally every GM brand is better than the industry average, I’d say that’s pretty damn good.
Omegatalon
Do you have a comment related to this particular article?
And who appointed you the monitor? He’s right… MB is the worst…. if this is so good lets see a monumental media campaign. Someone poo poo’d Toyota, etc… seriously? They are legendary for quality and the JD ButtWorth won’t change that in the mind of the consumer, GM needs to change it by delivering. There is no way GM has better quality than Toyota and only an idiot would believe that…
What do you drive xjug? You’ve been asked so many times but never answer. You seem to be quite the expert on everything automotive so I’d guess whatever you drive is the greatest car of all time?
**ALSO** If you paid attention, this is the JD power list for problems reported during the first 90 days of ownership, not lifetime, nobody actually thinks that GM is more reliable than Toyota.
Xjug: I proudly claim the (very true) statement that Toyota and Honda are exactly where they deserve to be. I’m not sure what type of work you do or what you drive (1BadCad called you out on that one). I’ve been in the automotive industry for just over 18 years total. I have friends who work at Toyota. I dated a lady who works for Toyota. My ex-wife drives a Toyota. I personally sold Honda for 12 years (along side Buick, Cadillac and GMC). I’ve traded in many used cars over the years and many Toyota’s and Honda’s. I stand 100% behind my comments about them. They are no better than average at best. Cheap interiors. Hard plastics all over. Engines and transmissions that are no better than anything else.
The only people who truly believe that Toyota and Honda are “legendary for quality” are people who defend themselves for driving them when many other stellar products exist AND CR. No thank you. I’ll take the meaningful results from JDP any day over CR. Maybe it’s time for you to take you rightful place on some Toyota site?
Dan Berning,
Couldn’t agree more.
Amen.
Toyota’s are perceived as legendary..that’s it. Japanese Quality is not even close to what it once was. How about 3.2 billion dollar recall on rusted truck frames…far from quality.
I’ll take a GM vehicle all day long over a Toyota.
Bottom line is that Detroit is winning again!
Buy AMERICAN made from an AMERICAN company!
Trolls gonna troll…
Can someone recommend Babydolls? Thanks xxx