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Well you'll get some interesting answers, so I'll kick in my two cents.

I think most people mean one of two things when they say "quality":

one would be "reliability", like say a Toyota Corolla represents "Toyota Quality"

A second interpretation would be what we call "fit and finish"--that is, the car is put together with quality materials, paint and assembly--so the car "looks like" a quality item, regardless if it's not the most reliable car on the road statistically.

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When someone says they want a "quality" car, they are referring to Japanese made.

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Quality would be a vehicle that is reliable and looks good. Fit and finish is solid. That's how I describe 'quality'.

It's definitely from whoever's mouth it's coming though.

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When I think quality, I think of materials used. For Example:Test drive a Pontiac Grand Prix. From the start, you'll notice the VAST amounts of plastic and rubber. The grand prix has its igniton in the dash. If you have a lot of keys, all you hear is metal banging plastic! Then the Engine has a tinny electronic sound and the seats aren't very comfortable. While you're seated, you arm rests on hard unpadded plastic and you have to touch the cheap and flimsy feeling controls to get the whole experience. That is not qualiy!


Sure its cheaper than say a VW passat but you get what you pay for! In a Passat, the leatherette is firm but its comfortable! The engine sounds growlie and great(even the turbo!)! Sure VW uses plastic, but nowhere near the same extent of the Grand Prix! There is comfortable leatherette/vinyl or leather pads where your arms would rest and all the controls feel solid and well put togather! Even the doors close with a solid "thunk!".

On top of that, VW gives you many more features and better quality for a few thousand more. Remember the old saying, "You get what you pay for!"

Quality is subjunctive and I would gladly pay the extra $$$ for a Passat before I would the Grand Prix. Even the old generation Passat is a solid choice against the current Grand Prix.

-Cj

Source: Personal Experience

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I have your perfect answer: the Edmunds article, What Do You Mean By Vehicle Quality?

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Quality, in vehicular terms, is actually more subjective than you may think. Of course, the factors themselves are mostly objective, however when one hops into a car, they judge often by the impression they get from the car's "feel."

For me, what gives me a good quality "feel" is:

1. Material
2. Stability
3. Reliability
4. Comfort
5. Design

Japanese and German brands usually, but not always have good quality. Some say domestic brands have improving quality, but this is only parially true. More than being foreign or domestic, however, is the brand itself, or even vehicle. For example, a Honda has much better build quality than a Mitsubishi, but they both are from Japan. A Malibu is so much more refined than an Aveo, you'd think they were by entirely different companies (oh, that's right... the Aveo is a Korean Daewoo...).

Currently, as for a "mainstream" automaker, the answer to the best quality would probably be Honda. Volkswagens aren't quite as "mainstream," but they do have great refinement. However, Volkswagens have awful reliability, and to buy one would be... well... "suicidal" in car terms.

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