Consumer found that only 13 percent of people who drive a petrol or diesel car said they'd be likely to buy an electric car in future, partly because of the price and lack of range. Photo: 123rf.com
Drivers have given the Mazda6 one of the lowest scores for satisfaction and reliability in a consumer survey of more than 8000 people.
Consumer NZ reviewed 72 cars on practicality, safety and performance, comparing 20 brands and scoring them for reliability and overall satisfaction.
Consumer product test manager James le Page said respondents identified 11 well-known brands they thought buyers should steer clear of.
"While our People's Choice winners like Honda, Tesla and BYD stood out for the right reasons, our survey found others like Hyundai and Mitsubishi stood out for the wrong ones," he said.
Car brands that scored poorly for reliability and owner satisfaction included Ford, Volkswagen, Holden, Chrysler Jeep, Ssangyong, Mitsubishi and Mercedes-Benz.
Just 30 percent of respondents said their Mazda6 was fault-free and also rated the car poorly for comfort, fuel economy and performance.
Hyundai Sante Fe owners were also among the least satisfied, telling Consumer the SUV should be avoided, le Page said.
"Owners felt their vehicle provided poor value for money, due to the costs required to maintain and repair it," he said.
"Mitsubishi Outlander owners found their cars' fuel economy and driving performance was poorer than expected, leaving them feeling dissatisfied."
Among those who currently drive a petrol or diesel car, only 13 percent say they would likely buy an electric vehicle (EV) in the future, although EV and hybrid car owners were the most satisfied overall.
"Non-EV owners are generally reluctant to embrace an EV, but once they do, it's hard to go back to driving a petrol or diesel car again," le Page said.
He said price and "range anxiety" were the main barriers to people buying a fully electric car.
"While the price and lack of range are the obvious barriers, environmental factors, such as how we recycle or dispose of EV batteries, have crept higher up the list of concerns," he said.
The Nissan Leaf, despite criticism of its battery life and range, stood out for its high owner satisfaction.
Consumer NZ surveyed 8527 people according to satisfaction attributes including size, fuel economy, comfort, value for money and whether they would recommend or buy the same type of car again.