© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Quality Declining
The initial quality of new vehicles did not fare well during the last year. With the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to disrupt supply chains — causing low supply and higher vehicle prices — the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Initial Quality Study reported that problems with new vehicles reached the highest levels in the 36-year history of this study. The industry average of 180 problems per 100 vehicles represents an 11 percent increase versus the 2021 initial quality study. Global marketing information services company J.D. Power conducts this important auto industry study annually — one that winning automakers highlight in advertisements and shoppers use to help determine their purchase decisions.
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Many Challenges
“Given the many challenges automakers and their dealers had to face in the past year, it’s somewhat surprising that initial quality didn’t fall even more dramatically,” said David Amodeo, director of global automotive at J.D. Power. “In general, initial quality has shown steady improvement throughout the history of this study, so the decline this year is disappointing — yet understandable. Automakers continue to launch vehicles that are more and more technologically complex in an era in which there have been many shortages of critical components to support them,” Amodeo noted.
© Hyundai Motor America
Determining IQS Winners
An automaker’s initial quality ranking is based on the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles, or PP100. A lower IQS score indicates higher quality. The study is based on responses from 84,165 purchasers and lessees of new 2022 model-year vehicles, surveyed early in the ownership process. For 2022 the IQS study is based on a 223-question survey organized into nine vehicle categories: infotainment; features, controls and displays; exterior; driving assistance; interior; powertrain; seats; driving experience; and climate.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Problem Areas
Infotainment continues to be the category with the highest number of problems, accounting for 60 percent of issues overall. The 2022 initial quality study reveals that smartphone connectivity causes the most headaches among new-car buyers, followed by built-in voice recognition, difficulties with touchscreens and built-in Bluetooth systems. The study also indicates that owners of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles tend to report more problems overall than the owners of non-plug-in vehicles.
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Highest Rankings
The Chevrolet Corvette ranks highest in the 2022 initial quality study with a score of 101 PP100. From a brand standpoint, Buick scored highest at 129 PP100, followed by Dodge, Chevrolet and Genesis. The 2022 study marks the seventh-consecutive year that mass-market vehicles rank higher than premium brands. Genesis earned the highest rating among premium brands with a score of 156 PP100. In addition to evaluating manufacturers, J.D. Power evaluates vehicles in 19 different categories. Here are the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Initial Quality Study vehicle category winners.
© Hyundai Motor America
Small Car — Hyundai Accent
A few years ago, Hyundai updated the Accent with fresh styling that fit well with the rest of the lineup. Last year this affordably priced Hyundai received an updated Smartstream 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 120 horsepower, which achieves as much as 41 mpg when teamed with the new Intelligent Variable Transmission. Even the base-level Accent SE comes well equipped with air-conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity, a 5-inch display screen, a rearview camera, an AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with four speakers, and 15-inch steel wheels.
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Small Premium Car — BMW 2 Series
BMW introduced an all-new 2 Series for the 2022 model year, which represents the second generation of this sporty coupe. Longer, wider and lower than the outgoing model, the new 2 Series has a more aggressive stance with a new turbine-style BMW kidney grille. Vertically arranged bars in the grille functions as air flaps that can be opened or closed depending on engine cooling requirements. The sporty look continues at the rear with darkened taillights and dual exhaust tips. The 2 Series is initially available in two trim levels — the 230i and the higher performance M240i xDrive, which boasts 382 horsepower from its BMW TwinPower turbo engine.
© Kia Motor America
Compact Car — Kia Forte
For the 2022 model year, Kia’s small sedan gets a host of updates. Most noticeable is a new “tiger-nose” grille, a sleeker headlight design, revised front and rear bumpers, and a new trunk lid spoiler. The interior has a standard 8-inch touchscreen display as well as wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The 2022 Forte also comes with the latest advances in driver-assistance systems, including forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist and high-beam headlight assist.
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Compact Premium Car — Lexus IS
The Lexus IS was introduced almost 20 years ago, adding a level of performance to what was at the time Toyota’s relatively new luxury brand. Lexus refreshed the IS last year with bold new styling, improved performance and a more luxurious interior. The 2022 Lexus IS can be configured in two standard trim levels: IS 300 and IS 350. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and buyers can add all-wheel drive to either trim. For those wanting a bit more performance, Lexus added the high-performance IS 500 F Sport to the lineup, delivering 472 horsepower to the rear wheels from its 5.0-liter V8 engine under the hood.
© BMW USA
Compact Sporty Car — MINI Cooper
One of the most recognizable cars on the road, the MINI Cooper has a rich history dating back more than 50 years. The modern-day version of this fun-to-drive small car rejoined the American market in 2002, and since then the brand has expanded — the cars are larger and the line now includes versions with four doors, all-wheel drive and even an electric powertrain. For 2022 the MINI Cooper gets updated with a larger grille that stretches to the bottom of the car, framing an inner hexagon trimmed in chrome. A body-color bar stretches across the grille, housing the license plate and giving the MINI a wider-looking stance. Headlights for the 2022 MINI Cooper have been redesigned and are now LEDs on all trim levels.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Premium Sporty Car — Chevrolet Corvette
After years of rumors about a mid-engine Corvette, Chevrolet introduced the eighth generation of this legendary sports car in 2019 —the first-ever mid-engine Corvette. This revolutionary design for America’s sports car offers more performance, technology and luxury than any previous generation. The C8 Corvette comes with an LT2 6.2-liter V8 engine producing 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. No manual transmission is offered — instead, the engine gets teamed with a quick-shifting dual-clutch 8-speed automatic gearbox. Late last year Chevrolet announced a new Corvette Z06, powered by a new 5.5-liter LT6 V8 engine with a flat-plane crankshaft design. The unit produces 670 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, mated with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission.
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Midsize Car — Chevrolet Malibu
A familiar name in the Chevrolet lineup off and on for more than 50 years, the Malibu received fresh styling and upgraded features for the 2019 model year. Malibu sales are not as high as they once were, since passenger car buyers now tend to opt for crossovers, although Malibu is still the best-selling passenger car in the General Motors portfolio. For Malibu shoppers seeking something special, Chevrolet offers a Malibu RS with a black sport grille, black bowtie emblems, a rear spoiler, dual exhaust and 18-inch machined wheels. Malibu is available with a choice of two fuel-efficient turbocharged engines, including a 2.0-liter unit that produces 250 horsepower.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Upper Midsize Premium Car — Genesis G80
After Hyundai launched the Genesis luxury brand about five years ago, the G80 became the second model in the lineup. Completely updated for the 2021 model year, the car takes many styling cues from the flagship G90: the new G80 wears the large Crest Grille flanked by double-lined quad headlights — now a signature look for the brand. Power comes from either a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine or a V6 powerplant, and both are available with rear- or all-wheel drive. The interior of the G80 exudes luxury thanks to available leather and open-pore wood trim, narrow air vents that span the dashboard, and a 14.5-inch infotainment system display.
© BMW USA
Large Premium Car — BMW 7 Series
BMW introduced the latest version of its flagship sedan for the 2020 model year, offering new technologies and the addition of a 6-cylinder plug-in hybrid. Styling was updated as well — the most noticeable new design element is an exceptionally large kidney grille surrounded by a single-piece frame that is 40 percent larger than the previous model. The 7 Series offers a range of engines; the top tier is a 6.6-liter twin turbocharged V12 that produces 600 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque in the M760i xDrive. The new plug-in hybrid 745e xDrive teams a 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine with an electric motor for a total system output of 389 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque while delivering up to 56 MPGe combined. Earlier this year BMW announced the upcoming 2023 7 Series which not only gets completely redesigned, it will be the first 7 Series offered as a full-electric vehicle.
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Small SUV — Buick Encore GX
Buick added the all-new GX to its Encore lineup for 2020, and the small crossover is already the brand’s best-selling model by a wide margin. The GX features premium styling both inside and out, as well as a more spacious cabin and improved cargo-carrying capacity versus the standard Encore. Two turbocharged engines are offered, including a 155-horsepower 1.3-liter unit with available all-wheel drive. In addition to its long list of standard equipment — which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto — the Encore GX gets the latest in advanced safety and driver-assist technologies.
© BMW USA
Small Premium SUV — BMW X1
Given that SUVs continue to gain popularity and gobble market share, it’s not surprising that the first rung of the BMW model ladder begins with a crossover. In fact, this entry-level BMW is the best-selling crossover worldwide. The X1 received a major update two years ago that included revised exterior styling, a wider stance, new LED headlights, electronic gear shifting and an 8.8-inch display screen. Powering the X1 is a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 228-horsepower, teamed with an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard — xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive adds $2,000 to the base price. Look for an updated BMW X1 arriving for the 2023 model year.
© General Motors
Compact SUV — Chevrolet Equinox
Chevrolet gives the Equinox a thorough refresh for the 2022 model year. The updated crossover features a new grille, slim LED headlights and new LED daytime running lights. The 2022 Equinox has a long list of standard safety features including an updated infotainment system with an available 8-inch display screen, as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Power for the new model comes from a fuel-efficient 1.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 170 horsepower.
© BMW of North America
Compact Premium SUV — BMW X3
The most popular player in BMW’s American lineup, the X3 is available in a range of performance variants, including the high-performance X3 M, which stands out with more aggressive styling and up to 510 horsepower on tap. Last year BMW added a plug-in hybrid to the X3 family via the X3 xDrive30e PHEV, sporting a 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor for a combined output of 288 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. This translates to a 40-horsepower boost over the non-hybrid X3. According to the U.S. EPA, the electric-only range of the X3 PHEV is 18 miles with a rating of 60 MPGe.
© Nissan North America
Midsize SUV — Nissan Murano
One of the more stylish crossovers on the market, the Nissan Murano received exterior updates a few years ago that included a larger, more prominent V-Motion grille flanked by redesigned LED headlights and new LED fog lights. Last year Nissan made the Safety Shield 360 suite of advanced safety features standard on all Muranos, and those systems helped the crossover make the Top Safety Pick + list of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The safety suite includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning and rear automatic braking.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Midsize Premium SUV — Lincoln Nautilus
Responding to an American market that favors crossovers over passenger cars, Lincoln now sells SUVs exclusively. One of the newest models is the five-passenger Nautilus, which resides between the Corsair and Aviator. Nautilus sets itself apart from other crossovers via the signature Lincoln grille flanked by full LED headlights with Lincoln Dynamic Signature Lighting. Last year Lincoln upgraded the Nautilus to a 13.2-inch touchscreen display running the latest version of SYNC, Ford’s communication and infotainment system.
© Mike Meredith, Automotive Content Experience
Upper Midsize SUV — Toyota 4Runner
After 35 years, Toyota’s 4Runner remains one of the few truck-based SUVs left on the market. The 4Runner continues to be powered by a 4.0-liter V6 engine producing 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque delivered through a 5-speed automatic transmission. Even though all 4Runners have an emphasis on everyday driving dynamics, the vehicles are always ready for off-road adventure; to that end, Toyota added a 4Runner TRD Sport to the lineup for the 2022 model year. Designed to complement the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro versions, the TRD Sport gets unique color-keyed accents on the grille, rocker panels and body molding.
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Upper Midsize Premium SUV — Cadillac XT6
An all-new model from Cadillac last year, the luxurious three-row XT6 stands out with a large, expressive grille flanked by a choice of bi-function LED projector headlights or performance LED headlights with a three-element projector array, both of which qualify the XT6 for the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ ranking. This stylish crossover gets the latest safety technology such as forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, front and rear park assist, rear cross-traffic alert and a rearview camera with remote wash.
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Large SUV — Chevrolet Tahoe
An all-new 2021 Tahoe arrived in fall 2020 with modern styling and a new chassis with independent rear suspension, available Magnetic Ride Control and available Four-Corner Air Ride Adaptive suspension. The design adds 10 inches of third-row legroom and 60 percent more cargo room. The standard engine is a 5.3-liter V8 producing 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. Also available are a 6.2-liter V8 producing 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel producing 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque.
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Large Premium SUV — Cadillac Escalade
More than 20 years ago, Cadillac made a brilliant move and created the Escalade — a luxurious version of GM’s full-size SUV. Since that time the Escalade has been among the best-selling luxury SUVs in America, introducing new technology while continuing to grow sales. Last year Cadillac premiered an all-new Escalade, launching the fifth generation of this iconic vehicle with fresh styling, new powertrains and a range of innovative high-tech features. One of the standout items in this luxury SUV is the curved OLED display screen in the dashboard, further setting the Escalade apart from the competition. With twice the pixel density of a 4K television, the colors and images are bright and clear. For those wanting big power to go with their big luxury, Cadillac added the Escalade V packing a 682-horsepower supercharged V8 engine.
