Subaru’s IQS Quality Moves The Needle Again

Work for Torque News, follow on Twitter, Youtube and Facebook.

How does Subaru rank in initial vehicle quality compared with other automakers? Check out the new 2024 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study results and how Subaru performed against other mainstream and luxury auto brands. The results are in.

Subaru, how is your quality?

How do the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, Forester, Outback, and Ascent SUV's initial quality ranks with other car brands? Unfortunately, Subaru does not have any top models. However, Subaru's brand has improved slightly. Here are the latest results.

According to the new J.D. Power 2024 Initial Quality Study (IQS), Subaru has once again scored above average, marking its second consecutive year. Read my 2023 report here.

This is a significant improvement for Subaru, a brand that historically struggled on the J.D. Power IQS scorecard. The Japanese automaker is definitely on an upward trajectory.

"It is not surprising that the introduction of new technology has challenged manufacturers to maintain vehicle quality," said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power. 

According to J.D. Power, the industry average for mass-market brands (non-luxury) is 181 PP100, which is below the industry average. This means that these brands are outperforming the industry average, reflecting higher vehicle quality.

The J.D. Power Initial Quality Study shows the industry average is 195 PP100, including luxury and non-luxury car brands. Subaru is above average with a score of 183/100, ranking them twelfth overall among all automakers.

Subaru is on the upswing.

Subaru improved by two points over last year's score of 185/PP100. Subaru scored higher than Toyota, with a score of 192/100. First, I'll give you the rankings and then explain what they mean for Subaru customers. 

Here are the top 18 car brands that score above the average. 

  1. Ram 149
  2. Chevrolet 160
  3. Hyundai 162
  4. Kia 163
  5. Buick 164
  6. Nissan 166
  7. Porsche 172
  8. Lexus 174
  9. Ford 179
  10. Honda 181
  11. Mini 182
  12. Subaru 183
  13. Genesis 184
  14. Infiniti 187
  15. Jaguar 188
  16. Mitsubishi 191
  17. Toyota 192
  18. Acura 193

The five bottom dwellers are:

  • Mazda 232
  • Volkswagen 241
  • Audi 242
  • Volvo 242
  • Dodge 301

The J.D. Power IQS study is based on a battery of 227 VOC questions plus relevant repair data, all of which is organized into ten vehicle categories: infotainment; features, controls, and displays; exterior; driving assistance; interior; powertrain; seats; driving experience; climate; and unspecified (unique to repair). 

Did any Subaru model score among the best in its segment?

In last year's rankings, the 2023 Subaru Forester was among the top three models in the Compact SUV segment. This year, no Subaru models scored among the highest models. 

What it means for customers

It's important to note that the J.D. Power IQS study only considers the first 90 days of vehicle ownership. The Power study focuses on infotainment and new technologies that new owners need to become more familiar with. The IQS is not a long-term study of quality issues with the automakers and their specific models.

Plant Quality Awards

Subaru of Indiana Automotive, where the Outback, Crosstrek, Ascent, and Legacy are manufactured, did not receive a Gold Plant Quality Award for North/South America. 

The Gold Plant Quality Awards go to Honda Motor Company's Alliston 2 plant in Ontario, Canada, and Toyota Motor Corporation's Cambridge South plant in Ontario, Canada.

The latest 2024 J.D. Power IQS study reveals Subaru's above-average ranking shows steady improvement in the initial quality of its vehicles—however, no individual Subaru model scores among the best. 

How would you rank your new Subaru model in its first 90 days? 

  • Did you understand what the vehicle's warnings mean? 
  • Did you have problems with the vehicle's Android Auto and Apple CarPlay?  
  • How easy were the features, controls, and displays to use?

We value your experiences and insights. Click the red 'Add New Comment' link below and share your thoughts on your Subaru model's performance in its first 90 days of ownership.

I am Denis Flierl, a top Torque News reporter since 2012. I’ve invested over 13 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role, working with every major car brand. I am an experienced Rocky Mountain Automotive Press member. You'll find my expert Subaru analysis here. Follow me on my X SubaruReportAll Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierlFacebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Subaru

Submitted by Kim (not verified) on June 29, 2024 - 7:45PM

Permalink

I am in my 3rd Subaru, 09 Tribeca USED /OWNED, 18 Crosstrek NEW/LEASED and 2020 NEW Legacy, after lease was up on Crosstrek. My daughter is on her 3rd, 09 USED Impreza, 14 USED Forester and 2011 USED Legacy. My fiancee is a new Subie owner with a USED Forester and was a NEW Chevy truck creature of habit. I have driven all but the WRX/BRZ... I am Techie competent. When I purchased the 18 Crosstrek at the dealer IN Lafayette IN, the dealer offer a "class" of sorts. I lived 3 hours away so I never returned for it. I struggled more with the tech in the 2020 Trail Boss than ANY of the Subarus. All new cars are ALL tech now so unless you will actually READ an Owners Manual (what's that?), zap the QR codes all over in the vehicle and/or refuse to use the inter-webs for assist videos, shame on you and don't complain. The amenities in a Subaru (even a base model) far exceed those above it on the list for the price you pay. I have previously worked for a parts supplier to the BIG 3. I will tell you 1st and foremost, you are not 'getting what you pay for' in terms of quality, resale, MPG, cost of ownership in comparing these other brands. When I purchase a 2014 Kia Optima for $25k and in 2017 it's only worth $14k, there is an issue...
Maybe we need preloaded user settings, Novice, Average, Expert like video games used to have??!! Lord knows.i could use a large font option :-)
I am getting ready to swap my Legacy for a 2024 Crosstrek and am sad to see the Sedan go away, but maybe they have something up their sleeve??!! I can only hope!!

Submitted by Paul (not verified) on July 2, 2024 - 7:46AM

Permalink

I own a 2021 Crosstrek Sport, I love it, it's my second Subaru, I had a 2012 Subaru Impreza,which I sold with 240K miles on it. The only thing I have a problem with is the Android auto not connecting to my phone sometimes, its annoying to keep plugging and unplugging my phone. Paul