Currently reading: Jaguar and Lexus take top honours in the 2014 JD Power survey

Latest What Car?/JD Power survey reveals that Jaguar and Lexus are the best manufacturers; Volkswagen's Up voted as most popular model

The What Car?/JD Power satisfaction survey has revealed that Jaguar and Lexus were the most popular manufacturers of 2014.

Jaguar previously secured itself the top position in both 2012 and 2013, after displacing Lexus following its 11-year stint at the top.

Volkswagen's compact city car, the Volkswagen Up, earned itself the title of most popular car, with owners highly rating its reliability, ease of use and efficiency. The Up was followed by the Volkswagen Golf Plus in second place and the Skoda Yeti in third.

Results for the survey, data for which was collected from 15,000 motorists between January and March 2014, were generated by looking at four key areas of satisfaction.

The areas considered in the survey were vehicle appeal (comprising performance, design, comfort and features), vehicle quality and reliability, ownership costs and dealer service satisfaction.

Only cars that sold in excess of 4000 units were included in the survey, totalling 109 models.

2014 manufacturer top 10

1. Jaguar

1=. Lexus

3. Mercedes-Benz

4. Skoda

5. Volkswagen

6. Honda

7. Volvo

8. Toyota

9. Kia

9=. Mazda

2014 top 10 cars

1. Volkswagen Up

2. Volkswagen Golf Plus

3. Skoda Yeti

4. Mercedes-Benz C-class

5. Volkswagen Scirocco

6. Volkswagen Tiguan

7. Lexus CT200h

7=. Skoda Octavia

7=. Volvo V70/XC70

10. Jaguar XF

2014 bottom 10 cars

100. Citroën C1

101. Ford Fusion

102. Smart ForTwo

103. Citroën C4

104. Fiat Grande Punto/Punto Evo

Back to top

105. Ford Ka

106. BMW X1

106=. Citroën C3

108. Alfa Romeo Mito

109. Chevrolet Spark

Visit What Car? for more on the 2014 What Car?/JD Power survey.

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superstevie 1 June 2014

Oh dear. I've went from an

Oh dear. I've went from an unreliable Smart Fortwo in 102nd place, to a Citroen C4 that is one place lower, at 103. However, although I've only had the C4 since Feb, I've done 11000 miles in it already (car is now on 27000 in total and a year and a half old), and have found that nothing has broken off, no rattles, cabin is holding up well, and there have been no faults on it. I'm really pleased with it overall. I know from reading on the C4 forums, that the current shape has proven very reliable for most of them. It may not have the drive of a Focus, or the perceive badge/quality of the Golf, but it is decent enough for the job it was designed to do
Vertigo 1 June 2014

Comparisons

My Jaguar X-type was recently totalled in a collision, and it's been interesting to compare it with the new Mercedes C-class hire car I've been furnished with.

The C-class has more modern cabin equipment, as you'd expect from a car designed 10 years after the X-type, and is a little more composed during cornering.

In every other respect, the Jaguar - and the most reviled Jaguar model of modern times, to boot - knocks it into the weeds. Better handling, better steering, sharper driving experience, smoother ride, less road noise, better engine, better gearbox, easier controls, better parking sensors, better stereo.
To add insult to injury, the Merc comes off as a white-good car, with generic design inside and out. The Jaguar feels special, *by design*. It also never went wrong, and saved my life in the accident that destroyed it.

So yeah, I have no surprise that Jaguar tops these lists. I think the XF may be the best all-round car in the world right now. I'll definitely be replacing my X-type with another Jag, not a Merc.

Roadster 1 June 2014

Vertigo wrote:My Jaguar

Vertigo wrote:

My Jaguar X-type was recently totalled in a collision, and it's been interesting to compare it with the new Mercedes C-class hire car I've been furnished with.

The C-class has more modern cabin equipment, as you'd expect from a car designed 10 years after the X-type, and is a little more composed during cornering.

In every other respect, the Jaguar - and the most reviled Jaguar model of modern times, to boot - knocks it into the weeds. Better handling, better steering, sharper driving experience, smoother ride, less road noise, better engine, better gearbox, easier controls, better parking sensors, better stereo.
To add insult to injury, the Merc comes off as a white-good car, with generic design inside and out. The Jaguar feels special, *by design*. It also never went wrong, and saved my life in the accident that destroyed it.

So yeah, I have no surprise that Jaguar tops these lists. I think the XF may be the best all-round car in the world right now. I'll definitely be replacing my X-type with another Jag, not a Merc.

I've owned a X-Type and it was an excellent car. I think the reason it was vilified was purely down to the looks which didn't suit all tastes but I think it looks great, and more so now, especially the facelifted model. It has presence and an elegance which every 3 Series, A4 and C Class since the X-Type's launch has failed to match. And I know what you mean about the white goods effect. The Jaguar has style and a sense of occasion, especially inside, and it felt like an upmarket, premium car which its German rivals simply don't emulate. I had a E36 3 Series before the X Type and it just didn't have the wow factor and it didn't feel special. And X Type drove and rode better and the quality of the leather and plastics were better than the BMW too. I've also been in the E90 3 Series and no change in opinion from me when compared to its predecessor. The X Type deserved better.

Shrub 30 May 2014

Nothing wrong with an Up!

Good to see the VW UP! at the top. We have two in the family; both fault free, good little cars. Would be even better if VW decided to build that GT version though...