Pandemic Didn't Stop Honda, Kia and Mercedes from Delivering Highest Quality According to Strategic Vision's 2021 Total Quality Awards

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Despite changes to consumers’ personal mobility behaviors during the pandemic, new vehicle owners continue to love their vehicles. Honda’s product renaissance garnered the brand the most trophies from Strategic Vision’s 2021 Total Quality Awards. Last year’s leaders, the Honda Civic Coupe and Civic Hatchback are joined by the Accord Hybrid, Insight and Odyssey, according to Strategic Vision’s 2021 Total Quality Impact™ (TQI) measure.

“Honda begins with an advantage with customers,” explains Alexander Edwards, President of Strategic Vision. “Regardless of whether they purchased a Honda or not, new vehicle buyers are more likely to state that Honda has stronger reliability and trust. The pandemic created an atmosphere of insecurity in many aspects of people’s lives. Because Honda’s reliability and trust is seen as the foundation of the brand, customers shopped Hondas and (re)discovered the recent Honda model designs. The enhanced styling acted as a cue of thoughtfulness, further magnifying their existing perceptions of the Total Quality of Honda models.”

“However, it is not just Honda where new styling and innovation led to increased quality perceptions,” notes Chris Chaney, Senior Vice President of Strategic Vision. “The Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride are key examples where the combination of styling, innovation and warranty all converge to provide customers with the reassurance they need that they own a vehicle of the highest quality.” In addition to the Telluride, the Kia Stinger and Seltos were also segment leaders.

Luxury models also enhanced quality perceptions with product attributes and the emotions that follow. For example, Mercedes had three winners (S-Class, GLC SUV and G-Class) each leading their respective segments as customers essentially received their “ideal vehicle,” which was high in quality and delivered emotion including safety, prestige and refinement.

Even though the Lexus LC had a greater incidence of problems than others in its segment, it was also ranked the highest in Interior Workmanship, Styling and Versatility among Premium Coupes. Owners specifically acknowledged that their Lexus LC expressed their individuality in a uniquely personal way compared to what they felt other Premium Coupes had to offer.

Below is the full list of the 2021 Total Quality Award winners and scores:

Small Car	Honda Civic Coupe**		619
Small Hatchback	Honda Civic Hatchback*		629
Small Alternate Powertrain (APT) Car	Honda Insight		541
Mid-Size Car	Subaru WRX*		635
Mid-Size APT	Honda Accord Hybrid Sedan		558
Near-Luxury Car	Kia Stinger		679
Near-Luxury APT Car	Volvo S60 Hybrid		650
Luxury Car	Mercedes Benz S-Class*	714
Luxury Hatchback	Audi A5/RS5 Sportback	663
Specialty Coupe	MINI Cooper 4-door Hardtop	649
Premium Coupe	Lexus LC	716
Standard Convertible	Ford Mustang Convertible	612
Premium Convertible/Roadster	BMW 8-Series Convertible	710
Standard Pickup	Jeep Gladiator**	566
Full-Size Pickup	Dodge Ram 1500	576
Heavy Duty Pickup	GMC Sierra 2500/3500	605
Entry SUV	Ford Bronco Sport	605
Entry CUV	Kia Seltos	562
Mid-Size SUV	Hyundai Palisade	605
Mid-Size CUV	Kia Telluride**	644
Full-Size Utility	Chevrolet Suburban	651
Near-Luxury Utility	Mercedes-Benz GLC	644
Luxury SUV	Mercedes-Benz G-Class	684
Luxury CUV	BMW X6	710
APT Utility	Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV	574
Minivan	Honda Odyssey	536

* 2020 Winner

**2019 - 2020 Winner

Strategic Vision is an international consulting and advisory service organization that focuses on understanding and predicting advocacy, conquest and loyalty according to consumers’ personal values and decision-making structures. Strategic Vision’s 26^th annual Total Quality Impact (TQI) report is based on results from the New Vehicle Experience Study® (NVES) surveying over 132,264 new vehicle buyers after the first 90 days of ownership. It incorporates the impact of problems with the vehicle as well as the drivers’ analytical and emotional evaluations of quality. For further information or interview requests please contact Alexander Edwards or Christopher Chaney at [phone], or visit our website at www.strategicvision.com.