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S. Korean cars earn top quality rankings: JD Power

June 18, 2015
The Kia 2015 K900, V8 is on display during the media preview of the Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place in Chicago. Kia placed second on J.D. Power and Associates' annual survey of new vehicle quality, released Wednesday, June 17, 2015. (AP photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

The Kia 2015 K900, V8 is on display during the media preview of the Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place in Chicago. Kia placed second on J.D. Power and Associates’ annual survey of new vehicle quality, released Wednesday, June 17, 2015. (AP photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

By Brian Han

Automobile manufacturers in South Korea can now call themselves the makers of the highest quality cars according to the latest report by J.D. Powers.

The automotive research firm bases their findings primarily on U.S. consumer responses in nationwide surveys.

For the first time, South Korean cars surpassed their Japanese counterparts, the latter of which has taken the honors in many years past.

“This is a clear shift in the quality landscape,” Vice President of U.S. automotive quality at J.D. Power Renee Stephens told the Los Angeles Times. “For so long, Japanese brands have been viewed by many as the gold standard in vehicle quality.”

The survey asks consumers about experiences with their new cars after a 90-day period.

114 reports of problems were logged for every 100 Japanese cars. The number was the same for American cars. But South Korea topped the list with only 90 problems reported per 100 cars.

Porsche vehicles reported 80 problems for every 100 cars making it the highest ranked individual brand followed by Kia, Jaguar and Hyundai in that order.