J.D. Power Gives GMC High Marks for Initial Quality
The results are in, and the GMC brand finds its way into the top ten in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study. That’s pretty good for a brand that doesn’t offer cars and has a limited lineup of rugged trucks and SUVs. Let’s see where the GMC brand is placed.
What does the Initial Quality Study mean for GMC?
As the name suggests, the Initial Quality Study (IQS) performed by J.D. Power is an indicator of the customer experience with a vehicle during the early part of ownership. This study used responses from 84,165 new owners and lessees that drive new 2022 model-year vehicles.
The IQS is fairly comprehensive, with 223 points to break down the initial vehicle quality into nine categories, including:
- Powertrain
- Climate
- Driving assistance
- Features
- Controls and displays
- Exterior
- Interior
- Seas
- Driving experience
- Infotainment
This information creates an average number of problems per 100 vehicles or PP100. In this study, the lower the score, the better the IQS results.
Where do GMC trucks and SUVs rank in the IQS?
The GMC brand ranks seventh for initial quality among all car brands, placing it between Lexus and Cadillac. GMC Scored 162 PP100 while Cadillac, the GM luxury brand, scored 163 PP100. Lexus was a bit higher at 157 PP100. All three of these brands are in the top ten in the IQS, and the average industry score was 180 PP100, making GMC a brand that scored well.
What is the highest-ranking car brand in the IQS?
The top-ranked brand in this latest study was Buick. The Buick band scored 139 PP100, which is pretty impressive considering the small number of models in the Buick lineup. These results significantly improved over the 2021 IQS, in which Buck ranked 12th and had 156 PP100.
The runner-up in this study was Dodge at 143 PP100, followed by Chevrolet at 147 PP100. Notice, that this places all four of the GM brands in the top ten for the IQS.
GM is the top automaker according to the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study
You might have guessed that lead-in was coming once you learned that all four GM brands ranked in the top ten for the IQS. GMC wasn’t at the bottom of the four, that distinction goes to Cadillac, but all four brands ranked no worse than eighth during this annual study.
How seriously should you take the IQS? This study has become a measurement of quality for new vehicles, and the 2022 results mark 36 years of J.D. Power offering this study and these numbers. To answer the question, you should take these results pretty seriously.
Nine GM models ranked highest in their categories; none are GMC models
The Chevrolet Corvette earned the distinction as the Best Sports Car and top Overall Vehicle during the IQS. The other eight GM vehicles topping their categories are:
- Chevrolet Silverado
- Chevrolet Silverado HD
- Chevrolet Equinox
- Chevrolet Tahoe
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Buick Encore GX
- Cadillac Escalade
- Cadillac XT6
It’s easy to see where the GMC models might have fallen if it weren’t for the corporate cousin of Chevrolet.
Platinum recognition for a GM plant in Mexico
The GM San Luis Potosi plant in Mexico earned the Platinum recognition during the IQS. This is the highest award for a manufacturing complex and shows this plant builds vehicles with the highest initial quality.
