The models mentioned in the study were the Siena Fire, in the segment of initial compact cars, the Mille, amongst sub-compact vehicles, and the Punto, in the superior compact category.

The study, resulting from 8,000 interviews conducted via Internet, was based on the assessment from car owners in relation to their vehicles and dealerships with four satisfaction metrics: cost of ownership, vehicle design and performance, post-sales experience, and quality of the vehicle.

In 2012, the overall satisfaction achieved an average value of 754 points, on a scale of up to 1,000 points – an eight-point improvement in relation to the previous year. According to the study, Fiat Automóveis was the brand that improved the most during 2012, gaining 26 points from year to year; that was above the industry’s average.

According to J.D. Power, Brazilian car owners assess the cost of ownership as the most important satisfaction item, with a 46% rating, followed by design and performance, with 22%, and post-sales experience, with 20%. The quality of the vehicle however only got 12% of the votes.

The cost of ownership was highlighted because the owners spend a higher percentage of their income with their vehicles, such as maintenance, repairs, fuel, taxes, insurance, among others, than vehicles owners in other countries.

The study also noticed that the reliability/durability relation is widely considered by new vehicle owners in Brazil when choosing a model. Most of them – 51% - indicated that this is the most important item in the purchased, followed by fuel consumption, with 50%.