These Are The Brands That Customers Love The Most

The dealership experience plays a big role in the overall experience of purchasing a vehicle. A negative encounter will leave a bad taste in your mouth for some time and, possibly, affect your car-buying choices the next time around. On the other hand, excellent service from your local dealers will ensure repeat business and loyal customers for life.

New dealership conceptshave stirred up sales for some brands, but at the end of the day, it's good old-fashioned customer care that is best remembered. The latest J.D. Power Customer Service Index (CSI) Study has found that when it comes to client satisfaction, Lexus and Mini are unrivaled. While buyers of a high-endLexus LSexpect to be treated like royalty, it's refreshing to see mainstream brands ranking nearly as high.

The Japanese brand scored highly, with a total of 897 out of a maximum score of 1,000. Flying the flag for the US is Cadillac. With a score of 880, it cemented a second-place finish and beat Porsche by just one point. Acura came in at 871, with BMW trailing behind at 866. Interestingly, Mercedes-Benz - once a byword for quality and customer care - finished near the bottom with a final score of 849.

Lexus leading the pack comes as no surprise; the brand continues to satisfy its customers and recently placedhigh in a sales satisfaction study.

As for the more mainstream companies, Mini is the brand to beat. The boutique automaker scored an impressive 873 points, clinching first position for a second consecutive year. Hot on its tail is Buick with 872 points. Mazda and Mitsubishi also faired well, scoring 856 and 854, respectively. Surprisingly, Honda, Hyundai, and Kia all scored below the segment average of 844.