Kiwis rank best and worst cars
Honda, Tesla and BYD have been named as the three best brands for reliability and owner satisfaction by Consumer NZ, after a survey of more than 8,000 New Zealanders.
At the other end of the scale, models from Mazda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi were among the lowest scorers based on a range of satisfaction measures.
Consumer has reviewed 72 cars on practicality, safety and performance. It also compared 20 brands and scored them for predicted reliability and overall satisfaction.
James le Page, product test manager, says brands that scored poorly in the survey include Ford, Volkswagen, Holden, Chrysler Jeep, Ssangyong, Mitsubishi and Mercedes-Benz.
“Obviously, satisfaction is dependent on the owner’s needs and expectations,” he adds. “One person might be interested in a comfy ride and a good stereo. Another may value driving performance above all else.”
The Mazda6, pictured, received one of the lowest scores for satisfaction and reliability, with only 30 per cent of respondents reporting their model was fault-free.
“Mazda6 owners also rated their car poorly for comfort, fuel economy and driving performance,” adds le Page.
Hyundai Sante Fe owners were also among the least satisfied with their ownership experience. Respondents describe it as an SUV to avoid because it “provided poor value for money, due to the costs required to maintain and repair it”.
As for Mitsubishi Outlander owners, the consumer watchdog notes they felt dissatisfied because the fuel economy and driving performance of their cars were poorer than expected.
Electric vehicles
Consumer found among those who currently drive a petrol or diesel car, only 13 per cent say they are likely to buy an EV in the future.
However, compared to owners of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models, owners of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrids were the most satisfied overall.
“Non-EV owners are generally reluctant to embrace an EV, but once they do, it’s hard to go back to driving a petrol or diesel car again,” says le Page.
He points to the price and “range anxiety” as the main barriers to drivers committing to purchasing a fully electric vehicle.
Owners of the Nissan Leaf don’t rate its battery life or real-world range, yet they're among the most satisfied of all drivers.
"Clearly, the overall ownership experience makes up for the Nissan Leaf’s shortcomings, and it highlights the importance of seemingly superficial attributes – like a spacious boot, or comfortable seats.”
