Consumers are most satisfied with Shanghai Volkswagen among all automobile brands, while Lexus from Japan came in as the most reliable brand among imported cars, a recent survey shows.

The quality index for Chinese independent auto brands increased 14 percent year-on-year, according to the 7th Annual Survey on Customer Satisfaction of China Auto Brands, which was based on a consumer questionnaire conducted in 54 Chinese cities on 58 brands and more than 174 types of cars in a half-year period.

Noting that noise during driving, poor quality of plastic parts and rough interior crafts are among customers' most common complaints, the survey urged automakers to pay more attention to design and the quality of accessories.

The survey, initiated in 2006, was jointly sponsored by the China Product Quality Association, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers and the China Association of the Environmental Protection Industry, along with Beijing-based third-party survey company Lansion.