Quality gap getting smaller between imports, domestic vehicles

Around where I live in the Washington, D.C., suburbs, very few people drive American sedans. There are plenty of SUVs built by the Detroit Three around my town, but I only know one person who owns an American sedan.

I confess I’m one of those who overlooked domestic-car options despite owning a Detroit-built SUV. (That said, I’d seriously consider buying the new Chrysler 300, which drives like a dream and seems much more expensive than it is. The Buick Verano was almost as impressive to me and is jam-packed with style and pep.)

Still, while American-vehicle quality has increased dramatically in recent years, it hasn’t exactly been a smooth ride. After Ford had a fine showing for reliability in Consumer Reports’ April 2011 issue, the magazine announced in November that the new Ford Explorer, Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus all had below-average reliability in their first year. That sent Ford’s overall reliability rank among 28 major carmakers from 10th place to 20th--the biggest drop for any brand this year.

However, while Ford tanked, Chrysler rose. Jeep moved up to 13th, making it the most reliable domestic brand. All of its models that Consumer Reports reviewed scored “average” in predicted reliability. Chrysler and Dodge moved up 12 and three spots in ranking, to 15 and 21, respectively.

General Motors’ vehicle reliability has improved to average overall, but it’s still not great for many GM models. Consumer Reports recommends just 46 percent of the GM models it has tested.

J. D. Power and Associates is more positive about domestic brands.

“Generally speaking, over the last 10 to 15 years, the quality gap has closed dramatically between import and domestic cars,” said Dave Sargent, vice president of automotive quality at J.D. Power and Associates. “Today, the two groups are pretty much in parity as to the quality.”

J. D. Power’s latest Initial Quality Survey found domestic cars led the pack in six of 21 categories:

• Midsize sporty: Dodge Challenger
• Large car: Ford Taurus
• Compact multipurpose vehicle: Chevrolet HHR
• Large crossover: Chevrolet Tahoe
• Large premium SUV: Cadillac Escalade
• Large pickup: Ford F-150

Sargent says it will be a while before consumers believe it, however.

“The actual gap has almost vanished, but it takes a long time for perceptions to catch up to reality,” Sargent said.