The Ford Ranger has long been a popular vehicle in Thailand, both among buyers and professional motorsports outfits. As the next-gen Ranger prepares to enter production in that country following a $900 million dollar investment into wholly-owned Ford Thailand Manufacturing and the joint-venture AutoAlliance Thailand, the outgoing model has received an average ranking in J.D. Power’s 2021 Thailand Initial Quality Study (IQS).
In the U.S., the Ranger is currently Consumer Reports‘ highest-rated pickup truck thanks to its above average predicted reliability, but in Thailand, that same model ranked third in the extended cab pickup segment of J.D. Power’s Thailand IQS, finishing with a score of 146. Initial quality is measured by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles during the first month of ownership until six months, with a lower score reflecting higher quality. The Ranger was preceded by the Isuzu D-Max Hi-Lander (117 PP100) and Mitsubishi Triton (126) in those rankings, and tied the segment average as well.
The 2021 Thailand IQS is based on the responses from 4,571 new vehicle owners who purchased those vehicles from January through October of 2021. The study measures problems experienced by owners in two categories – design-related problems and defects and malfunctions. The study also polls owners with specific questions related to eight categories – exterior, driving experience, features/controls/displays, seats, audio/communication/entertainment/navigation, heating/ventilation/air conditioning, interior, and engine/transmission.
“The quality and availability of basic features must be foremost when developing a new vehicle,” said Manenatta Jirasevijinda, regional lead of automotive in SEA AUS at NielsenIQ. “Customers have high expectations with all basic features such as availability of rear air conditioning and sufficiency of power plugs/USB charging ports. Vehicle quality is achieved not only from drivers but from passengers, too. Brands must make sure all basic features are fulfilled and suited with each vehicle segment.”
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