Buick Encore positioning itself well for the future…

The iconic General Motors brand Buick announced June 19, 2013 that their 2013 Encore model ranked number one in having the fewest customer complaints in the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality StudySM Sub-Compact CUV segment.

According to the study, Buick had 113 fewer problems for every 100 cars.

The ranking is even more remarkable as this year’s marks the initial sales year for the 2013 Buick Encore. The Encore rolled out early in 2013 and more than 10,000 owners have already taken delivery. Half of those customers jumped from other brands to General Motors. Buick came in consistent in the top 10 nameplates every year since the study was redesigned in 2003.

Tony DiSalle, vice president of Buick Marketing said “Recognizing the Encore as a segment leader demonstrates the effort and attention to detail given by our engineers and designers and expected by luxury customers.”

General Motors was also pleased to see their Enclave crossover and Regal sedan was also included in the top three in their segments. It seems there is an overall quality improvement trend in a brand that not so long ago had significant perceived quality control problems.

With the global financial downturn in 2008, automobile quality is more important than ever before.

Since 2009, drivers keep their current car an average of 73 months before trading it in for a new model. In 2006 that figure was 65 months. David Sargent, vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates noted, “This makes vehicle dependability even more critical.”

The Buick Encore is positioning itself well for the future. In the U.S., compact crossover sales are expected to increase by 360,000 units by 2015. Buick has offered U.S. buyers the first domestic luxury crossover in the Encore.

The Encore also has the highest fuel economy of any other crossover and uses regular gasoline, saving $2,100 in fuel costs over the first five years. It is Environmental Protection Agency rated at 33 mpg on highways and 28 in city driving.

After recovering from its painful 2009 bankruptcy, it seems that General Motors Corp. is finally learned to listen to its customers.