What is a satisfied customer? That is asked in Consumer Reportsone of the largest consumer organizations in the United States and for that they have asked a key question to more than 300,000 car owners: “If you had the chance, would you buy your vehicle again?”
The data comes from the Annual Car Survey they conducted in 202, with new North American market cars from 2020 to 2022 (with minor changes). The satisfaction score is based on the percentage of owners who answered “of course yes” to the question if they would buy the same vehicle (taking into account price, performance, reliability, comfort, enjoyment…).
From Consumer Reports they emphasize that, as in previous years, let’s say “rational” vehicles are not appreciated as much when compared with others that promise luxury, efficiency in consumption or performance that accelerates the pulse. Of course, they have detected a pattern: cars and SUVs with access to the range of premium brands are among the least satisfactory vehicles… because they do not fulfill the promise of luxury. These are the cars that North Americans found least satisfactory according to their survey:
The 10 least satisfying cars
10. Kia Forte: 51% would buy it again
It is not sold in Spain, but it would be a kind of Kia Ceed in a sedan version… and the truth is, it may not fall in love, but we don’t see it as too bad either.
9.Nissan Altima. 51% would buy it again
Another sedan of those that we do not know in Europe, where the general brands no longer make medium sedans because we do not buy them. It doesn’t seem like people are going to remember it very much… or buy it again.
8. Nissan Kicks: 49% would buy it again
It could have been, due to its size and characteristics, a kind of Nissan Juke, but its destination was Latin America, China and other countries… even the United States where it seems that it is not very convincing.
7. Volkswagen Taos: 48% would buy it again
Nor do we see the Taos in these parts, an SUV halfway between the Tiguan and the T-Roc… and that, like them, is based on the MQB platform.
6. Kia Seltos: 48% would buy it again
Another of many SUVs, in this case halfway between the Niro and the Sportage, which is sold in North America and does not seem to like it very much.
5. Jeep Compass: 46% would buy it again
We do not quite understand that the Compass enters the list. Especially since there they keep versions with all-wheel drive without necessarily having to buy the Compass 4xe that we tested.
4. Mercedes GLA: 45% would buy it again
No, the GLA is not a Mercedes if what you are looking for are super-cared interiors and maximum refinement. Of course, we do not believe that buyers of an AMG GLA 45 (with 412 hp) are on this list.
3. Infiniti QX50: 40% would buy it again
The latest version of this model did not reach Europe, but seeing that the Americans do not like it…
2. Mercedes GLB: 39% would buy it again
It offers up to seven seats in a small space. And that little space seems not to be liked too much in North America. It looks like a G-Class on the outside… but then you see that the GLB shares little else with it.
1. Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport: 38% would buy it again
The version with the most dynamic bodywork of the Volkswagen Atlas, an SUV larger than the Tiguan Allspace that convinced us… but it was a bit expensive, perhaps.
The 10 most satisfying cars
What do Americans like? Well, cars that offer something different. Let’s go with the list:
10. Dodge Challenger. 83% would buy it again
The American car in its purest form. And they still like it. Let’s hope that the electric Challenger arrives in Spain… similar to this Charger prototype.
9. Mazda MX-5. 85% would buy it again
It’s small and simple and an average American might not fit inside very comfortably… But you drive it and you enjoy it. That’s why they would buy it again.
8. Toyota RAV4 Prime. 87% would buy it again
The Americans complained about the high prices of the RAV4 Prime (the plug-in hybrid version)… but it seems that after its enormous electric autonomy and the ridiculous consumption that it maintains when there are no more electrons left, it convinces them so much… that they would buy another.
7. Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR 86. 88% would buy again
The Twins Toyobaru They are not the kind of cars that you buy by chance, that you go to the dealership to see a Camry and take the GR86 in the end.
that people buy accidentally. And no salesperson is going to tell someone who came looking for an Ascent that they should consider the BRZ. You might eventually outgrow it, but if you bought one, you probably knew you wanted one.
6. Polestar 2. 88% would buy again
A car that we have yet to test, hopefully soon. Many say that it consumes a lot compared to other electric cars… but in the United States very few regret buying it.
5. Ioniq 5. 88% would buy it again
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has won countless awards around the world. It convinced us when we tried it and its design is certainly striking. Now it takes one more prize, that of the owners, since very few regret having bought them.
4. Ford Maverick Hybrid. 88% would buy it again.
We knew there would be a Ford pick-up. But we imagined it could be the F-150 or the Ranger… not this hybrid Maverick…
3.Rivian R1T. 88% would buy it again
hallucinated. If in the US they love pick-ups… it seems that they also love electric pick-ups like the R1T, which reaches the podium.
2. Porsche 911. 90% would buy it again.
I’m going to exercise a little fanboy… what was wrong with 10% of buyers for not repeating? Did you want something more comfortable? Something bigger?
1. Chevrolet Corvette C8. 94% would buy it again.
I saw it in person on my last trip to the US It’s amazing how beautiful it is. If there were doubts about how American fans would receive the first Corvette with a mid-engine, after a long life with a radically different configuration… well, the C8 has convinced them.
Source: Consumer Reports
