The annual J.D. Power award for customer satisfaction in the stern drive engine category goes to Volvo Penta.


J.D. Power and Associates announced last week that Volvo Penta ranked highest in overall satisfaction among EFI stern drive owners according to its 2009 Marine Engine Competitive Information Study. This is the second year in a row that Volvo Penta has received the award. MerCruiser finished second in a two-company competition. “Customer Satisfaction is a core value of the Volvo Group, and we constantly strive to improve each customer's experience with Volvo Penta engines,” said Clint Moore, President and CEO of Volvo Penta.

And this surprises you why...!?

No real surprise to me, but might be to those who had their nose up Mercs transoms...

Let's see a Cig or a Fountain for sale with VolvoPenta's engines & drives and see how fast it sells....

Sorry. I'm not selling mine for a few years.

This has more to do with mainstream boating that High-Performance anyway. Hi-Po is no more than a sliver of the overall market.

Actually, Mercury/Mercruiser came in LAST in every market segment: Read this.

..and this is the second year in a row that Volvo has beaten Mercury.

PS - Congrats on the Drambuie acquisition!

Thanks... We're putting #6's on it!

Yeah, what he said... I was more referring to the 496 and down stuff (where Volvo is far superior) than the blue motors. Although, Mercs pricing is proud, and warranty support can be questionable - across the board - they have had market share on pure volume. I bet the new Ilmor drive opens up the under 1,000hp market with what looks to be a seemingly great alternative, and to counter - I am also betting Merc starts selling the NXT on its own. Competition is healthy, and can only make the Merc people stand up and take notice.

And I'll second that - Drambuie was one of my "new era" favs, that and Zero Defect - two great boats with colorful histories.