Buick made a strong showing in the latest 2025 J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), placing high among mass market brands and earning a top spot in the Small SUV segment.
Now in its 39th year, the J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study measures the number of problems that new vehicle owners experience within the first 90 days of owning a new vehicle. The latest 2025 study includes data collected from nearly 93,000 2025 model-year customers as well as real-world repair data. The study scores brands and models based on problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), with lower scores indicating higher perceived quality.
This year’s study revealed a modest improvement in new vehicle quality, with the industry average falling to 192 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), down slightly from 194 in 2024. While premium brands made notable gains thanks in part to Tesla’s quality improvements, mass market brands, including Buick, experienced a minor uptick in reported issues.
Despite the broader trend, Buick stood out for its performance in the Small SUV segment, where the Encore GX took the top slot over three other top finishers, including the Kia Soul, Chevy Trailblazer, and Ford Bronco Sport. Buick’s success contributed to General Motors’ overall strong performance, with GM securing more model-level awards than any other automaker. Chevrolet and Cadillac also received notably wins in other vehicle categories.
Taking a step back, infotainment systems continue to be the most troublesome area for consumers, with complaints centering on the growing use of touchscreens to control basic functions such as climate settings and garage door openers. Many drivers find the lack of physical buttons distracting and less intuitive, a pain point that spans both premium and mainstream segments.
The 2025 study also noted that plug-in hybrid vehicles registered more problems than electric vehicles, a first in the history of the study, while traditional gasoline-powered vehicles had the fewest reported problems overall. Additionally, new models still tend to encounter more initial issues than carryover models, though they often require fewer repair visits.
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