The results of 2012 J.D. Power Asia Pacific study are here and it has been revealed that vehicle interiors seem to be driving the new-vehicle satisfaction among domestic consumers. Remarkably, Maruti Suzuki receives awards across three segments, while Toyota has been blessed with awards in two segments.
As per J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2012 India Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study SM, the impact of vehicle interiors on satisfaction felt by buyers of new cars has increased consistently over the last four years in the country. The results were released on December 21, 2012 in Singapore.
According to the extensive study, more and more Indian consumers are beginning to take seriously the overall interior quality of their new purchases. Interestingly, visibility on road and driving safety, closely followed by fuel economy, still manage to be the leading drivers of satisfaction among domestic new-vehicle owners. As per results of J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2012 India APEAL, the interior factor has witnessed a 28 point jump as against 2009 along with an 8 point improvement over 2011.
Expressing his opinion on the new findings, Mohit Arora, Executive Director, J.D. Power Asia Pacific, was quoted as saying, “To improve the quality and aesthetics of their models, auto makers have made significant efforts and investments to enhance the overall design and quality of the vehicle interior, even in the small car segment. This is evident in the newly launched models, as well as the refreshed models launched in 2012. Both newly launched and refreshed models perform 17 points higher in the interior factor compared with other models.”
Coming to the findings of J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2012 India APEAL, Maruti Suzuki Estilo and Chevrolet Spark rank highest and are tied in the compact car segment with 837 points each. Reportedly, with a score of 841 Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire compact sedan has topped charts in the entry mid-size car segment for an astonishing fifth consecutive year. Further, Nissan Sunny and Maruti Suzuki SX4 sedans rank highest in the mid-size car segment and are tied with 853 points each. With 866 index points, Honda Jazz has scored the maximum points in the premium compact car segment and performs well across all categories.
Interestingly, Toyota has garnered the maximum points in utility vehicle segments. The Toyota Innova Multi Utility Vehicle (MUV) has topped the ranks in its segment for a sixth consecutive year and scored 872 points, whereas its sibling Fortuner premium Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) scored the maximum 877 points in its class.
Commenting on the price differential between petrol and diesel fuels, Arora added, “The fuel price gap is driving demand for diesel vehicles in India and has made petrol vehicle owners increasingly wary of the amount they spend to run their vehicle. This is reflected in their overall level of satisfaction as well, since they seem more critical of various aspects of the vehicle, such as fuel economy.”
