ISUZU Ute has scooped the pool by winning Canstar Blue and Roy Morgan customer satisfaction awards for 2021, making it the third time the brand has won the Roy Morgan award to rank its D-Max ute and MU-X SUV as the most reliable and value-for-money vehicles in Australia.

The car-maker also took the Car Manufacturer of the Year title after an extensive survey by Roy Morgan in its 2021 Customer Satisfaction Awards. Subaru won Roy Morgan’s Major Car Manufacturer of the Year, based on the size of the company.

Isuzu Ute’s win in the Roy Morgan survey came during the second year of COVID.

Roy Morgan’s CEO Michele Levine said: “Although the past two years have provided an unprecedented challenge to the way of doing business for many companies the emergence of inflation around the world, including in Australia during the last few months, presents a new challenge many are now facing for the first time.

“The ABS inflation reading for the year to March 2022 showed inflation hitting an annual rate of 5.1 per cent – the highest for over 20 years – and the likelihood is that it will continue to increase in the months ahead.

“Rising prices will test the abilities of companies to keep their customers satisfied during the remainder of this year and into the future.

“The 33 businesses honoured in this year’s Roy Morgan Annual Customer Satisfaction Awards have thrived despite the adversity of 2021 and can look forward with confidence to deal with the new challenges of rising prices and interest rates having satisfied their customers at a higher level than any of their competitors.”

Canstar Blue’s annual survey gave the nod to Isuzu Ute based on it receiving a full five stars across all seven categories – the first time an automotive brand has received perfect scores in the survey’s 11 years.

The seven categories are overall customer satisfaction; reliability; value for money; driving experience; after sales service; point of sale service; and car servicing. 

The awards also highlight the popularity of the D-Max and MU-X with customers for customisation and accesorisation.

Canstar journalist Dean Heckscher, who objectively reported on each of the automotive brand entries, said: “Isuzu was the one to beat. It evidently ticks the boxes for those who are after a new car.”

Isuzu Ute Australia (IUA) deputy managing director of service, parts and aftersales, Takeshi (Ted) Yasui, said: “We have always put our customers first, and to be the first brand to receive a perfect survey score is proof of that.”

“Being singled out as the only automotive brand to score five stars for reliability is a real testament to our designers and engineers who have invested over four million kilometres of durability testing in the development of the new-generation Isuzu D-Max and MU-X.”

As part of the 2021 Canstar Blue research, the survey concluded that over a quarter (26 per cent) of all survey respondents said that they had modified or accessorised their new car. 

“Amongst the lifestyle, towing, and touring customers, both the D-Max and MU-X have proven to be the ideal blank canvas for accessory fitment and customisation, with customers able to customise their Isuzu to their specific tastes and requirements from a catalogue of 213 genuine accessories available for fitment,” Mr Yasui said. 

The Canstar Blue Customer Satisfaction award joins the Roy Morgan accolade and a collection of back-to-back annual Drive Car of the Year award wins for the D-Max, and the recent OzRoamer Car of the Year award wins for both the D-Max and MU-X.

By Neil Dowling