- Best premium passenger car brand overall
- Top hatch – A-Class
- Multi-purpose vehicle – B-Class
- Top executive – E-Class
- Sports Coupe – SLK Roadster
- Large recreational vehicle – M-Class
The verdict is out – Mercedes-Benz is the best premium car brand overall – as confirmed by South African vehicle owners in the Ipsos Automotive Quality Awards.
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class, B-Class, E-Class, SLK Roadster and the M-Class have all achieved the top spot – Gold – in their respective segments as awarded by the Ipsos Quality Awards (previously known as the prestigious Synovate Quality Awards).
For the past eight years the study results has been presented to the industry and is the largest survey of its kind in South Africa. This extensive survey forms part of Ipsos’s Competitive Customer Experience – a study into vehicle product quality as well as sales and service experience – conducted over a 12 month period between January and December 2011. The score is calculated as Problems per 100 vehicles which is a globally recognised approach.
The lowest score of 10 PP100, is the best in this survey and was awarded to a top performer, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, followed closely by the M-Class with 12 PP 100 and then the E-Class with 13 PP 100.
“Even in its run-out year (2011 when the survey was conducted), the A-Class and B-Class have continued to out-perform their competitors and we are delighted that customers are satisfied with their purchase,” says Selvin Govender, Divisional Manager Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars.
“New-generation models of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class and M-Class models have been introduced this year, with advanced technology, making these vehicles safer and more fuel efficient than their predecessors. We are excited to see that these greatly enhanced products have been well accepted into the market. We are equally excited that the new-generation B 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY is a finalist in the prestigious Car of the Year competition to be held early in 2013,” adds Govender.
“Both our sporty SLK Roadster and our luxurious E-Class sedan have won the hearts of many of our customers and it is no surprise that these superbly engineered and styled premium products have taken Gold. The popular C-Class petrol and diesel models are manufactured locally at our award winning plant in East London achieved a silver and bronze award respectively,” added Govender.
Ipsos are the only global market research company that are controlled and operated by intellectually curious and passionate researchers. This product quality survey is conducted annually and incorporates data from a total of 22 000 interviews.
“Customer feedback from the annual Ipsos Automotive Quality Survey is extremely important to us all at Mercedes-Benz as we continually strive to maintain high quality standards and efficiency at all times. Our mantra, the “Best or Nothing” is our guiding rule,” concludes Govender.
