Jaguar tops in quality

Auto Zeitung has published its 2006 Quality Report and Jaguar has come out on top over strong competition from European and Japanese luxury car makers.

More than 30 000 readers took part in the survey where they rated 33 brands overall for reliability, product quality and service.

The same Auto Zeitung survey on quality ranked Jaguar in 18th place in 2004 and in 5th place in 2005.

Managing director of Jaguar Cars Bibiana Boerio commented: ?We are delighted with the results of this survey particularly as the votes came from members of the German public.

"Getting the top spot reinforces what we already know about the high standards of quality found in our cars from the prestigious J.D. Power survey conducted in the US.

J.D Power

"In 2005, Jaguar was second for quality meaning it was the highest ranked European nameplate, while our Halewood plant where the X-TYPE is built won the Gold Plant Quality Award in Europe.?

Additionally, a significant part of the survey consisted of questions on quality of service at Jaguar dealerships.

Readers were particularly impressed with staff advisory skills and expertise as well as convenience of arranging test drives and detailed introduction to the product at the hand-over.

Heinrich Lingner from Auto Zeitung said:?It comes as a big surprise that a European brand has beaten the Japanese who have come first for several years running.

"Our readers voted just four European brands into the top ten, the other three were Porsche, Volvo and BMW.?

Jaguar recently launched the all-aluminium XKR, the supercharged version of the new XK that went on sale in March earlier this year.

Jaguar has already taken almost 2 000 orders for the XKR which is expected in UK showrooms in November.