Before purchasing a new or used car, its best to do some homework to ensure the best value for your dollar. Finding a vehicle that’s dependable is certainly a major aspect of getting the best value when purchasing a vehicle. The Internet is a great place to start researching for the most reliable car, but which website has the best information?
This article will examine two popular consumer websites that offer ratings for new and used cars. The information included will cover how to navigate the various website to determine reliability of new and used vehicles as well as the type of information available. The two websites that will be examined are Edmunds and J D. Powers.
Edmunds.com Car Reliability Ratings
Researching information for reliability ratings on Edmunds.com relies on consumers writing reviews directly on the website. Each consumer can write their own comments as well as rate various aspects of the vehicle on a scale of 1 to 10. The numbered consumer ratings will list various categories from performance to reliability, along with an overall rating for the chosen make, model and year.
To access the information on reliability for new vehicles from the Edmunds.com homepage, click on “Car Reviews”. Once car reviews is accessed, go to the drop down menus listed under “Search Test Drives”. Input the vehicle make, vehicle model and vehicle model year. Once this page is accessed, it’s will bring up Edmunds review of the vehicle. A link for consumer reviews will be listed at the bottom of the page.
J D. Power and Associates Car Reliability Ratings
J D. Power and Associates rely on consumer surveys for their ratings on vehicle dependability and other rating categories such as quality, performance, sales and service. Reliability ratings display overall rating, powertrain, body and interior as well as features and accessories. The reliability ratings from JDPower.com can be researched by
- brand
- category (suv, midsize sedan etc.)
- specific models and years
To access the information on reliability from the home page, click on “Autos” then “Ratings”. The web page should display the various categories mentioned above. If brand or category were chosen, the ratings displayed would be a combination of the past 3 model years. The displayed information shows a series of five dots, with 5 gold colored dots having the highest rating.
It’s important to keep in mind that Edmunds ratings rely on a smaller scale of individual consumers responses. J D Powers on the other hand use surveys for their reliability ratings with a much larger total base of respondents. Consumers that respond to Edmunds may have more of a bias due to their negative experience with a particular make and model.
Besides researching reliability ratings before purchasing a vehicle, read about other tips before buying a car or truck. Consumer should also look at a lease option versus a purchase before making a decision. If someone is looking to purchase a used car, they may consider purchasing a certified pre-owned vehicle for added value.
Sources:
J. D. Powers and Associates, website accessed November 13, 2010, http://www.jdpower.com/
Edmunds.com, website accessed November 13, 2010, http://www.edmunds.com/index.html
James Clausen - Clausen received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration in Automotive Management and Marketing at Northwood University, graduating ...
Join the Conversation