Ford Wins Most Awards in Ranking
The auto maker grabbed most of the awards in 2007 vehicle quality rankings.
Ford replaced Toyota as the industry leader in initial quality rankings, taking the top spot in five of 19 segments in the 2007 survey by J.D. Power and Associates, the Associated Press reports. Porsche again dominated the overall ranking of brands, averaging 91 problems per 100 vehicles as it had last year. That compared with a 2007 industry average of 125 problems per 100 vehicles. Last year it was 124. Ford Motor Co. earned segment awards for the Ford Mustang, Lincoln Mark LT, Lincoln MKZ, Mercury Milan and Mazda MX-5 Miata. Mazda is 33.4 percent owned by Ford. Toyota Motor Corp., which grabbed the top spot in 11 segments last year, captured only four this year -- the 4Runner, Sequoia, Tacoma and Lexus RX350/RX400h. Ford's Lincoln brand took third in overall nameplate rankings, averaging 100 problems per 100 vehicles. It was behind Porsche and Toyota's Lexus luxury brand, which averaged 94 problems per vehicles. The most improved nameplates in the study are Land Rover, Saab and Mercedes-Benz. According to the AP,Mercedes-Benz's improvements have been significant and speedy across its product line. It grabbed the top spot in three segments, and notable was its S-Class going from "worst to first" -- in a launch year. Top ranked vehicles: Subcompact: Kia Rio/Rio5 Compact: Honda Civic Compact sporty: Mazda MX-5 Miata Compact premium sporty: Porsche Boxster Entry Premium: Lincoln MKZ Midsized premium: Mercedes-Benz E-class Large premium: Audi A8/Mercedes-Benz S-class Premium sporty: Mercedes-Benz SL-class Midsized sporty: Ford Mustang Midsize: Mercury Milan Large: Pontiac Grand Prix Compact SUV: Honda CR-V Midsize SUV: Toyota 4Runner Lage SUV: Toyota Sequoia Midsize Premium SUV: Lexus RX Large Premium SUV: Lincoln Mark LT Large pickup: Chevrolet Silverado Classic HD Midsize pickup: Toyota Tacoma Van: Chevrolet Express
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