Strategic Vision has announced its list of best-quality vehicles for 2013, in the 18th annual Total Quality Index.

Named best overall corporation in Total Quality for the eighth consecutive year was Volkswagen Group of America. That company’s luxury brand, Audi, tied with Lexus for best individual brand.

Ford Motor Co. ranked second, followed by a statistical tie for third place between General Motors Corp. and Hyundai Motor Corp..

Company executives noted that for the first time in more than a decade, the study resulted in more domestic winners than imports, as U.S. manufacturers restated their positions in competitive segments.

“There’s no questioning domestic car makers want to lead,” said Alexander Edwards, president of Strategic Vision. “Don’t misunderstand, imports like Hyundai are a force to be reckoned with, and Toyota has regrouped with Total Quality winners Lexus LS, Tacoma and FJ Cruiser.

“However, domestics are running in the tight race also, and it’s now forcing all manufacturers to build the most superior, innovative and holistically quality vehicles possible to gain the hearts and minds of the customer,” Edwards said.

Strategic Vision’s Total Quality concept employs a multivariate examination of 155 specific aspects of quality, and a discriminating scale to measure the most meaningful quality experience products are generating to customers.

The index summarizes the performance of individual models, brands and corporations.

“In our vehicle study we look at over 442 variables, many using a scale that involves love,” said Darrel Edwards,founder and executive chairman of Strategic Vision. “Our ongoing goal is always capturing the hearts and minds of the customer’s decision-making. That is why we use scales that include: 5) I Love It, 4) Delightful, 3) Excellent, 2) Satisfactory and 1) A Failure.

“We use specific aspects of specific emotions to create a scale that captures concrete judgments with great clarity, thus we have Total Quality,” Edwards said.

Among the winners was GM, with its Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Volt, Traverse, Corvette Coupe/Convertible, Avalanche and GMC Yukon all named as Total Quality winners.

Ford Fusion was a co-leader in the competitive mid-sized car segment, with F-250/350 leading heavy duty trucks.

Here’s a list of the No. 1 ranked vehicles in Total Quality in their segments, as rated by new vehicle buyers:

Small Car: Dodge Dart, 884

Small Multi-Function: Kia Soul, 868

Medium Car: Ford Fusion/Chevrolet Volt, 908/907

Medium Multi-Function: Honda Accord Crosstour*, 877

Larger Car: Volkswagen CC, 920

Near-Luxury Car: Hyundai Genesis/ Audi A4 Sedan, 922/921

Luxury Car: Lexus LS, 955

Specialty Coupe under $28K: MINI Cooper Hardtop, 913

Premium Coupe over $28K: Chevrolet Corvette Coupe, 931

Convertible under $30K: Chrysler 200 Convertible, 917

Premium Convertible/Roadster over $30K: Chevrolet Corvette Convertible/Porsche Boxster, 959/957

Minivan: Chrysler Town & Country, 850

Small SUV: Volkswagen Tiguan**/Toyota FJ Cruiser, 885/883

Medium SUV: Dodge Durango, 881

Medium Crossover: Chevrolet Traverse, 900

Large SUV: GMC Yukon, 893

Near Luxury SUV: Buick Enclave, 928

Luxury SUV: Porsche Cayenne, 948

Standard Pickup: Toyota Tacoma, 847

Full-Size Pickup: Chevrolet Avalanche, 896

Heavy Duty Pickup: Ford F250/350**, 892

Heavy Duty Pickup: Ford F250/350**, 892

* denotes 2011-12 leader

Strategic Vision noted that based on the company’s quantitative ValueCentered NVES study, the index was calculated from 17,568 buyers who purchased 2013 models during the period of September-November 2012.
 

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