Detroit - Honda took the top ranking among mass-market carmakers in a closely watched US quality survey released on Wednesday, while Ford showed strong gains at a crucial point in its turnaround effort.
The survey represented a setback for Toyota, which slipped to sixth place, and provided some vindication for Ford, which is expected to be overtaken by Toyota as the No. 2 carmaker in the United States this year.
The survey, known as the JD Power and Associates Initial Quality Study, put Ford's Lincoln as the third-highest ranked brand, up from No. 12 a year earlier.
Lincoln trailed No. 1 Porsche and Toyota's luxury Lexus, which ranked No. 2.
The rankings are used in marketing campaigns and seen by some as influential in shaping consumer perceptions.
Honda, meanwhile, eclipsed larger rival Toyota to become the highest-ranking mainstream brand, with strong showings for its Civic sedan and CR-V sport-utility vehicle.
