Which car brands are steering in the right direction in terms of their servicing? Isuzu UTE topped our ratings with five-star reviews for that category in 2021.
Considering how much a new car costs, it’s not surprising that some of us can be a bit protective of our new wheels. But regardless of how careful you are, you’ll still have to drop the keys off at the dealership every few months for a service to make sure that everything is running as it should be. Booking in a service might be the furthest thing from your mind when you first pick up the keys to your new ride ─ but buying a car that can easily be serviced, plus potentially covered for the first few services, can save you money and hassle further down the line.
To find out which car maker offers the best servicing for your new ride, we asked more than 2,300 Australian motorists for their feedback on the new car model(s) they bought in the last three years. Brands that received the minimum required survey sample size of 30 responses are compared in this year’s ratings.
Here’s what we found:
The quality (and even price) of servicing may come down to the individual dealership, and what’s required for your particular model. But new Isuzu UTE owners were found to be the most satisfied with the service they received, which could help you narrow down your options if you’re in the market for a new car and are conscious about the ongoing hassle and cost of servicing your wheels.
Our latest survey of more than 2,300 Aussie motorists who have bought a new car in the last three years saw brands ranked in the following order for dealership servicing:
Regardless of which brand you drive off with, below are a few tips to help you get the most out of your service, as well as how to keep your car running smoothly in between those trips to the dealership.
Dropping off your new pride and joy for its first full service can be a bit nerve-wracking ─ particularly as there’s a chance that something’s wrong, or that you might end up left with a larger bill than expected. Thankfully, new vehicles are generally covered by consumer law, manufacturer warranties and servicing deals. This means you’ll typically be covered if something important breaks. But even if you take all necessary precautions, whatever is under the bonnet can be unknown territory for many and it may feel easier to simply go with the flow and not question the costs.
Here are a few tips to keep your servicing bill down and avoid bill shock:
Regularly booking your car in for a service may seem cumbersome, especially when you need your car to get to work and for weekend road trips. But, making sure your car is regularly inspected and fine-tuned will help you save money (and time) in the long run. That’s because it can help prevent small problems from turning into bigger issues. Cars with full-service histories are also said to be worth more when you want to sell or trade them in.
If you’ve got a blown tail light, or the windscreen wipers aren’t working as smoothly as they used to, you can always do a bit of DIY. Retailers such as Supercheap Auto and Repco often stock a variety of replacement parts, allowing you to get your hands dirty, and potentially save you from a large mechanic’s bill. However, be careful you don’t void your new car warranty, so only stick to what you know!
Regularly checking your engine oil, fluid levels and tyre pressure are all easy weekend chores you can do to keep your car running smoothly.
While it may not seem too serious, that blinking light on your dashboard could indicate a problem that could end up costing you big down the line. So, be sure to either book your car in for a service, or at the very least, consult your car owner’s manual for more information.
Reading the fine print may seem a bit overwhelming (and boring), but understanding what you’re actually covered for – in terms of the new car warranty and any capped-price servicing deals – will help you from overspending down the line.
While a new car is less likely to experience major mechanical issues, staying up to date with servicing can help your vehicle stick it out for as long as possible. But make sure to look into all of your options when it comes to a new ride, because each car manufacturer will offer different warranties and servicing deals.
Photo credit: 4 PM production/Shutterstock.com.
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Site Editor, Dean Heckscher. He’s our resident expert on all things automotive, health & fitness, streaming and more. Dean is also one of Canstar Blue’s customer research report producers, helping to turn complicated subjects into easily-digestible information for our readers. He’s passionate about helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services.
Canstar Blue surveyed more than 12,000 Australian adults across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who have bought a brand new car from a dealership in the last three years – in this case, 2,364 people.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey.
Here are the best-rated brands for car servicing from Canstar Blue’s previous ratings:
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