Who Is the Fairest of Them All? (That’ll Be Lexus)

KEY POINTS

• Lexus offers its customers the fairest charges of any manufacturer in the UK, according to the new JD Power Dealer Satisfaction Survey, published today by What Car?
• Public opinion also names Lexus as the “most recommended” brand for dealership services and as one of the best in giving “service with a smile”
• Survey results place Lexus a close second overall,  with sister brand Toyota equal fifth
• Strong result in JD Power follows double win in Auto Express Driver Power survey

Lexus’s commitment to delivering the best service in the business has yielded an excellent result in the latest JD Power Dealer Satisfaction Survey, presented by What Car? Increasing its score on its 2012 performance, it demonstrates that being a premium brand does not mean charging over-inflated prices; in fact Lexus emerges as the fairest manufacturer in the UK when it comes to its workshop charges in the opinion of customers.

That strong value-for-money quality clearly has an impact on its status as the brand owners would most strongly recommend to others: the survey records Lexus having the score for positive advocacy among owners. There’s a charm factor at work here, too, with Lexus highly rated for giving “service with a smile”.

What Car? reports: “Lexus owners are happier than ever their dealers, rating them even more highly than last year. They reported seamless, textbook levels of service from the moment they picked up the phone to make a booking, to collecting their car after it had been in the workshop.

“Work was completed on time, cars were returned in mint condition and keys handed back promptly and with a smile. Customers had no qualms about paying their bills, either and they rated the network the best in the survey for fair prices.”

Overall the survey placed Lexus a close second, with Toyota performing strongly, too, in equal fifth place. JD Power found Toyota commands impressive loyalty among its customers, finding 80 per cent would buy another car from their dealer and 88 per cent ready to recommend Toyota Centres, quoting excellent service, attractive premises and professional, friendly and helpful staff.

This strong result is the latest in a strong summer for Lexus dealers and the brand in general. In July, Lexus was announced as number one automotive brand in the Auto Express Driver Power survey. Later in the month, the same survey confirmed Lexus dealers as the best in the business. Over 46,000 readers completed the survey in 2013.