PERFORMANCE OF CARS IMPROVED

Long-term vehicle dependability has improved as 38 per cent of owners said they did not experience any problems with their vehicle, a recent survey said. This is the highest proportion of owners not experiencing any problems since 2012, when 34 per cent of owners did not report any problems, J D Power Asia Pacific 2014 survey said. The study measures problems experienced by original owners of 30-42-month-old vehicles in 169 different problem symptoms across nine vehicle categories. The categories include vehicle exterior; driving experience; features, controls and displays; audio and entertainment; seats; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); vehicle interior; engine; and transmission. The study includes 70 models in 12 vehicle segments like entry compact, compact, upper compact, premium compact, entry midsize, midsize, premium midsize, entry luxury,luxury car and MUV/ MPV, SUV and van segments. According to the survey, the overall vehicle dependability averages 218 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) in 2014, as com[pared to 280 PP100 in 2013. Overall dependability is based on the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles, with a lower score reflecting higher long-term vehicle quality. Although owners of diesel-fueled vehicles in India continue to report more problems overall, compared with owners of petrol-fuelled vehicles, the gap between the two has narrowed over the past three years, IT SAID. In 2014, owners of diesel vehicles report 234 PP100 overall, which is 22 PP100 higher than the number or problems reported by owners of petrol vehicles, compared with a gap of 71 PP100 in 2012.

Across categories, problems with diesel vehicles have improved notably, especially in driving experience, where fewer instances of such problem symptoms as uneven tire wear, excessive misalignment of wheels and unusual suspension noises have been reported, the study revealed. "With improvements in engine technologies and overall vehicle build quality, diesel car owners are reporting fewer noise-related problems than three years ago," J D Power Asia Pacifics executive director Mohit Arora said. While savings in terms of running costs have always been an advantage for diesel car owners, going forward, the ongoing refinements are likely to lead to an enhanced ride-comfort and a more positive ownership experience over the longer-term, Arora added.