DETROIT – The GMC Yukon, Sierra 1500 full-size light-duty pickup, and Sierra HD full-size pickup – including the 2500HD ¾-ton and 3500HD 1 ton models – ranked highest in their respective segments in the 2014 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study.

The Sierra HD also achieved the highest score in its segment in the 2013 J.D. Power dependability study, giving it the highest ranking for the second consecutive year.

“The momentum continues at GMC with this recognition,” said Tony DiSalle, vice president of Buick and GMC marketing. “Sierra, our highest-volume vehicle, now has its entire line of trucks ranked as the most dependable.

“Our all-new 2015 Sierra HD and 2015 Yukon full-size SUV have begun hitting dealerships, and we look to build that momentum in 2015.”

J.D Power uses information gathered from owners of 3-year-old, or 2011 model year vehicles, to rank overall dependability.

Source: media.gmc.com

Buick Wins Three 2014 KBB.com 5-Year Cost to Own Awards

DETROIT – Three Buick models were among the winners in Kelley Blue Book’s 2014 5-Year Cost to Own awards announced today:  

• Buick Verano – Entry-Level Luxury Car
• Buick Encore – Luxury Compact SUV/Crossover
• Buick Enclave – Luxury Full-Size SUV/Crossover

Kelley Blue Book’s data for new cars for the initial five-year ownership period is the basis for the awards. Categories include lowest projected depreciation, expected fuel costs, finance and insurance fees, maintenance and repair costs, and state registration fees.

“Buick puts the customer first, not only offering a great portfolio of vehicles, but maintaining quality and dependability long after the vehicle is purchased,” said Tony DiSalle, vice president of Buick marketing.

Depreciation costs for the 2014 Buick Encore were projected to be 35.7 percent lower than the Acura RDX and 63.7 percent lower than the BMW X3.

KBB.com’s 5-Year Cost to Own information is developed using Kelley Blue Book® Residual Values to calculate depreciation costs. Kelley Blue Book calculates total ownership costs for new vehicles by applying a sophisticated valuation methodology along with critical financial data from third-party providers.  

Buick is an international modern luxury brand offering vehicles with sculpted designs, luxurious interiors and thoughtful personal technologies, along with responsive-yet-efficient performance. Buick is attracting new customers with its portfolio of award-winning luxury models in North America and China.

 Source: media.buick.com

J.D. Power study sees new car dependability problems increase for first time since 1998

 

For the first time since 1998, J.D. Power and Associates says its data shows that the average number of problems per 100 cars has increased. The finding is the result of the firm's much-touted annual Vehicle Dependability Study, which charts incidents of problems in new vehicle purchases over three years from 41,000 respondents.

Looking at first-owner cars from the 2011 model year, the study found an average of 133 problems per 100 cars (PP100, for short), up 6 percent from 126 PP100 in last year's study, which covered 2010 model-year vehicles. Disturbingly, the bulk of the increase is being attributed to engine and transmission problems, with a 6 PP100 boost.

Interestingly, JDP notes that "the decline in quality is particularly acute for vehicles with four-cylinder engines, where problem levels increase by nearly 10 PP100." Its findings also noticed that large diesel engines also tended to be more problematic than most five- and six-cylinder engines.

Among individual brands, Lexus has taken the prize for most-dependable nameplate for the third year in a row, registering just 68 problems per 100 vehicles. Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac, Acura and Buick rounded out the top of the class with 104, 107, 109 and 112 PP100, respectively.

Broken down into specific models, General Motors brands continued their success, winning eight dependability awards for its 2011 models, including prizes for the Chevrolet Volt, Cadillac Escalade and Buick Lucerne. Toyota followed that up with seven prizes split between its Lexus, Toyota and Scionnameplates, while Honda tallied six wins.

By Brandon Turkus
Courtesy of http://www.autoblog.com/2014/02/12/jd-power-2014-vehicle-dependability-survey-results/

Buick has best sales year ever, delivers over 1M cars globally

 

If there are any lingering doubts why General Motors held onto Buick while killing Pontiac, Hummer andSaturn, one only has to look at the sales numbers from 2013 for the real answer. Thanks largely to strong sales in China, Buick set a global sales record last year by selling more than one million vehicles.

The lion's share of Buick sales came from China, which sold more than 809,000 units – about four times more Buicks than were sold in North America as a whole. In the US, the Buick Encore proved to be a big hit as the automaker spent the summer trying to keep up with demand of the subcompact crossover. Likewise, China-only models like the GL8 minivan and Excelle sedan (same as the US-spec Verano) were strong sellers in that market.

Helping crest the million-sales mark, Buick more than doubled its sales in Mexico with 2,319 units.

By Jeffrey N. Ross
Courtesy of http://www.autoblog.com/2014/01/08/buick-best-sales-year-ever/