JD Power Survey 2007 - Small family cars

A typically strong showing for Toyota and its fellow Japanese manufacturers in this highly competitive category, with French and Italian models trailing the field.

Small family car league table.

1 Toyota Prius
Rating 86.8%
Overall ranking 1st=
There's nothing new in a Toyota topping its category, but the Prius still represents a genuine first: the company's first hybrid car, and the first hybrid to appear in a JD Power customer survey.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, no other car scored so highly for its low running costs, and fuel costs in particular. Owners also had no concerns with the Prius's hybrid ground-breaking technology. Quite the reverse, in fact: the Toyota was the only model in the small family car class whose mechanical reliability was rated as very good.

Add to that strong scores for everything from how the car drives to its comfort, practicality and styling, and the Prius emerged not just a clear winner in its class, but sits in joint first place in the overall rankings, too.

2 Toyota Corolla
Rating 83.9%
Overall ranking 8th=
Remarkably, the Corolla has received the same score for three years running, and it's a measure of the Prius's strength that the Corolla's class-winning score from 2005 secures it only second place this year.

However, this remains a fine result: above-average ratings in every category, with the build and dealer service scoring particularly well. It was enough to put the Corolla in the top 10 overall, while it and the Prius had the distinction of being the only two cars in this class with five-star scores.

3 Honda Civic
Rating 83.4%
Overall ranking 12th=
The Honda Civic is a consistently strong performer in this survey, and this is its third successive top-three finish in this class.

Scan the results table and you'll find above-average ratings in every area, with the dealer service and vehicle exterior earning the very-good ratings. Quite simply, it didn't put a foot wrong. Owners reported that mechanical problems were few and far between, the build quality good and the drive enjoyable. The cabin layout and styling got a thumbs-up, too.

4 Audi A3
Rating 83.1%
Overall ranking 14th
For the second year running, the A3 finished as the top European small car, and its score jumped from 80.9% last year to 83.1% this year.

Indeed, had it not been for its high servicing costs and a relatively high number of engine problems, it could have muscled its way into the top three in this class.

The A3 scored its highest marks for overall appeal, and owners loved every aspect of their car. Indeed, it was the only car in this class to score very good ratings for its drive, interior and looks.

5 Mazda 3
Rating 81.7%
Overall ranking 18th=
This is only the second time the Mazda 3 has appeared in the JD Power customer survey, and although its score has dropped slightly from last year, it's still good enough to earn a place in the top five in this class.

Owners reported few problems with the build quality, they liked the car's looks and appreciated its comfortable, well laid-out interior. The only slight disappointments were merely average ratings for its mechanical reliability (caused mainly by suspension problems) and the way the car drove.

6 Volkswagen Golf
Rating 80.2%
Overall ranking 40th=
Last year, the Golf and A3 received the same score, but the VW hasn't improved as much as the Audi in 2007. Nevertheless, this is still a thoroughly respectable score.

In particular, Golf owners loved their cars' fuel economy, and were happy with the build quality and reliability. They rated the comfort of the cabin and the quality of the stereo highly, too. The car's looks were rated as just average, while owners reported difficulties with booking their car in for service.

7 Seat Leon
Rating 80.0%
Overall ranking 45th=
It's no surprise the Leon rates similarly to the Golf, as the two cars have much in common. However, the figures reveal a fine 2% jump in satisfaction among Leon owners over last year.

Most noticeably, there were fewer complaints about high insurance costs, and the interior rated more highly. Like Golf owners, Leon owners enjoyed their cars' fuel economy, but they were a little happier with their cars' styling. On the other hand, the Leon rated below the Golf for reliability and build quality.

8 BMW 1 Series
Rating 79.4%
Overall ranking 54th=
The 1 Series' JD Power survey debut is not a very distinguished one, finishing outside the top 50 overall. That said, the BMW scored at least average in every area, and it rated above average for its build quality, ride and handling and styling.

Owners also liked the layout of the dash, but they were very critical of the car's shortage of space and practicality - no other car in the class rated so poorly in this respect.

9 Nissan Almera
Rating 78.9%
Overall ranking 60th=
The Almera's build quality affected its overall score: owners raised concerns about the dash and heating system, as well as the body and exterior fittings. They said the seats were uncomfortable, too, and the layout of the dash wasn't clear.

On the other hand, the car proved pretty sound mechanically, and running costs weren't too steep, while the dealers were rated as above average.

10= Ford Focus
Rating 78.5%
Overall ranking 67th=
Politicians used to refer to 'Mondeo Man' as the embodiment of Mr Average, but the Focus fits that bill far better - in these results, it rates as average in every category except one.

Owners were impressed by the low servicing costs, but they were less keen on the car's styling, cabin layout and seat comfort. However, in almost every other respect — from reliability and build quality to dealer service and practicality — the Focus was decidedly average.

10= Subaru Impreza
Rating 78.5%
Overall ranking 67th=
Ignore the Impreza's running costs, and it would be a potential class winner. Instead, the high costs of fuel and insurance push the Subaru into the bottom half of the table.

Still, owners must think it's a price worth paying, because the Impreza rates as above average in every other category but one. Owners told us its build quality and reliability were above average, as were the dealers, while the performance, ride and handling were excellent. Apart from the running costs, the only bugbear was the poor stereo.

12 Kia Rio
Rating 76.7%
Overall ranking 91st=
According to owners, the best thing about a Rio was the quality of service from Kia dealerships; it was no better than average in any other respect.

They thought that it cost too much to service and fuel, but the real problems were in the Vehicle Appeal categories, where the Rio was rated as poor in every respect. Owners disliked the way the car looks, said the stereo and seats were poor, and that the dash was poorly laid out, while no other car in this class scored so poorly for the way it drives.

13 MG Rover 45/ZS
Rating 76.3%
Overall ranking 94th
The MG brand may soon be returning to showrooms, but if the 45 and ZS are anything to
go by, the new company has plenty of ground to make up. Only the dealer service and running costs were rated as highly as average.

Otherwise, the cars are disappointing: the build quality leaves plenty to be desired, while the stereo and ventilation system gave too many problems, and the transmission was unreliable. Owners said they didn't enjoy driving the car, and that the dash was poorly laid out.

14 Citroen C4
Rating 76.1%
Overall ranking 98th
Never mind the C4's brave styling. These results show that it has inherited too many of its Xsara predecessor's faults. Worst of all, the build quality rated as poor, with the controls, seats and exterior fittings singled out as particularly weak points.

Owners also said they didn't enjoy driving the C4, and that it was uncomfortable to sit in.
On the plus side, owners said the car was reasonably mechanically sound, and thought running costs were acceptable.

15 Vauxhall Astra
Rating 75.9%
Overall 99th=
This is a major slip-up for the Astra, which scored a decent 78.1% in 2006. However, there's no one thing to blame, as it has dropped marks across the board. In particular, owners this year complained about the below average service from their dealers and the high running costs.

Owners also weren't taken with their Astra's styling, its ventilation system, the dash layout, seat comfort or the cabin's practicality. At least the build quality and mechanical reliability were better, albeit still only average.

16 Peugeot 307
Rating 75.8%
Overall 102nd=
This may be a poor result, but the good news is that the Peugeot is moving in the right direction after finishing bottom in this class last year. Nevertheless, owners still don't have many good things to say about their car.

Its suspension and interior are among the most troublesome of any car here, and there's still much work to do to improve its mechanical reliability to match even mid-table cars. Owners also said it was below par to drive.

17 Renault Megane
Rating 75.3%
Overall 104th
Overall, Renault finished in 22nd place, but it's no thanks to the Megane. In fact, this car finishes in the bottom 10 overall.

Part of the blame can safely be attributed to the dealers, who are slated for every aspect of their service, but quality and reliability – or, rather, a shortage of them – are also responsible.

Owners also reported a large number of problems from the suspension, the controls and the exterior fittings, while almost half of the cars had a problem with the engine.

18 Alfa 147
Rating 74.4%
Overall 110th=
You might expect the car that finished bottom of its class to have uniformly bad scores, but that's not the case with the Alfa 147. In fact, owners liked its looks and rated the drive and styling of its interior as no worse than average.

However, they criticised Alfa dealers, and said that service and repair bills were too high and the quality and reliability of their cars were poor.

Owners reported that more than two-thirds of the cars had experienced a problem with their suspension or brakes, a third had interior faults and almost a quarter suffered problems with their transmissions.

Small family car league table.