Nissan, ever a car manufacturer you can rely on, is celebrating in recent days thanks to the latest release of the J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study, also known as the IQS. This yearly breakdown of manufacturing prowess has been a particularly eye-opening one for the Japanese automobile master, as it’s seen its quality ranking climb up significant rankings.
Upon the release of the latest IQS, it was revealed that Nissan made significant progress year-on-year when it comes to quality scoring, having leaped from 13th in 2023’s study to 6th overall for 2024.
And, that’s not all. One Nissan vehicle in particular picked up a plaudit the manufacturer was also keen to shout about – its Murano, a fantastic SUV, managed to pick up the coveted Midsize SUV gong for the year.
The IQS is an important marker for vehicle manufacturing quality in the US. Every year, the survey brings together reviews from motorists who are asked to discuss 227 specific issues about their cars within the first three months of leasing or ownership.
The IQS’ data is pretty stringent. It covers ten different categories, covering important aspects of motoring from safety to controls and powertrain.
Nissan’s Murano isn’t a newbie at IQS recognition. In fact, this is the fifth year in a row that the SUV has been named the best in its class. It’s widely known outside the IQS, too, as one of Nissan’s best-made and most reliable vehicles currently available on the market, period.
Vinay Shahani, the senior VP in Nissan Americas’ Marketing and Sales for the US, was thrilled to speak on behalf of the brand in receipt of its ascent up the quality rankings.
“We are honored that our efforts to deliver excellent quality for our customers have been recognized by J.D. Power,” he said to press.
The IQS is an important benchmark that many US motorists use to help decide which vehicles in various categories are worth investing in for the long term. However, it’s also an important barometer for manufacturers to watch, as the rankings are based on the providers with the fewest problems per 100 vehicles produced.
Riding high in this year’s list with the fewest problems per 100 vehicles is Ram (149), Chevrolet (160) and Hyundai (162), with the likes of Kia (163) and Buick (164) not too far behind, Nissan completes the top six with a total of 166.
Those manufacturers languishing down toward the bottom of the list include Dodge, with 301 problems per 100 vehicles. In second-last are Volvo and Audi, both with 242.
Interestingly, at least three manufacturers weren’t eligible for the study criteria, but would regrettably rank pretty low. Rivian and Tesla both had 266 issues per 100 vehicles, and Polestar would have bottomed out the list at 316.
This list is likely to change buyer confidence in either direction – but if you’re a proud Nissan driver, you have even more reason to show off your machine and get behind the wheel!