Feb 1, 2004 12:00 PM

Sterling ranks highest among conventional medium-duty trucks in overall product satisfaction, while Hino ranks highest among cab-over engine (COE) medium-duty trucks for the second consecutive year, according to the J D Power and Associates 2003 Medium-Duty Truck Customer Satisfaction Study.

Medium-duty truck satisfaction is based on vehicle quality; vehicle engine; vehicle transmission; ride, handling, and braking; vehicle cab interior; and exterior design and styling.

Sterling, represented in the study by its L-Line and Acterra models, performs better than the industry average in each of the six factors of satisfaction. Peterbilt and Kenworth follow Sterling in the conventional medium-duty truck overall product satisfaction rankings. Peterbilt scores highest in vehicle quality and vehicle transmission, while Kenworth scores highest in ride, handling, and braking.

Hino, which represents 20% of the COE market, scores highest in its segment in five of the six factors of satisfaction, with vehicle transmission the only exception. For the second consecutive year, Hino's biggest advantage is in vehicle cab interior, where it scores considerably higher than its nearest competitor in the segment, according to J D Power.

The study is based on responses from more than 1,600 primary maintainers of two-year-old medium-duty trucks (Classes 5, 6, and 7).