Porsche and MINI win top honors in the 2024 J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study. Porsche is the highest ranking premium brand for the eighth time in a decade, while MINI ranks first among mass market brands. The BMW 7 Series wins for overall top model.
J.D. Power says owner satisfaction with new-vehicle design and performance is up after an unprecedented two year decline. The study finds that overall satisfaction is 847 (on a 1,000-point scale), an increase of 2 points from a year ago. There's also some good news when it comes to battery electric vehicles. Research shows that satisfaction with non-Tesla battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is at an all-time high (877), surpassing Tesla (870).
“Traditional manufacturers have listened to the Voice of the Customer,” said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power. “They’re launching enhanced vehicles that are more in line with what customers want, including improved interior storage and higher quality materials, as well as ensuring features have ease of use. For BEVs, recent launches from traditional manufacturers have surpassed perennial leader Tesla when it comes to owners’ level of emotional attachment and excitement with their new vehicle.”
Now in its 29th year, the APEAL Study measures owners' emotional attachment and level of excitement with their new vehicle. It asks owners to consider 37 attributes, ranging from the sense of comfort they feel when climbing into the driver's seat to their exhilaration when they step on the accelerator. Vehicle owners' responses to queries about these attributes are aggregated to compute an overall APEAL Index score.
Researchers say infotainment - one of the 10 factors on which the study is based - continues to be an issue for both gas-powered and electric vehicles. Despite satisfaction improving 5 points this year to 823, infotainment remains one of the lowest-scoring categories industry wide. While satisfaction with in-vehicle infotainment systems averages 805, it is higher among owners who use Android Auto (832) or Apple CarPlay (840). J.D. Power researchers say this shows that customers prefer to have the simplistic usability of their phone extended into their vehicle more so than what manufacturers are providing.
Highest-Ranking Brands
Premium Segment
- Porsche ranks highest among premium brands with a score of 891.
- Jaguar (886) ranks second.
- Land Rover (882) ranks third.
Mass Market
- MINI ranks highest among mass market brands with a score of 858.
- Ram (854) ranks second.
- Kia (853) ranks third.
Model-Level APEAL Awards
Hyundai Motor Group is the parent company that won the most model-level awards, winning seven segment awards. It's followed by BMW AG with four (including the highest-ranking model.) Toyota Motor Corporation won three segment awards.
Here are the model winners per automaker:
- Hyundai Motor Group: Genesis GV60, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Carnival, Kia EV6, Kia EV9, Kia Forte and Kia K5
- BMW AG: BMW 2 Series, BMW 7 Series, BMW iX, BMW X4 and MINI Countryman
- Toyota Motor Corporation: Lexus LC, Lexus RX and Toyota Tacoma
- Stellantis NV: Alfa Romeo Giulia and Jeep Wagoneer
- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd: Nissan Titan
- Volkswagen AG: Porsche Taycan
- Jaguar Land Rover Limited: Land Rover Range Rover
- Ford Motor Company: Ford Super Duty
Highest-Ranking Models
The BMW 7 Series is the highest-ranking individual model. Kia K5 receives a model-level award for a fourth consecutive year while Kia EV6 and Kia Carnival each receive model-level awards for a third consecutive year. BMW iX, BMW X4, Genesis GV60, Kia Forte, MINI Countryman, Nissan Titan, Lexus RX and Land Rover Range Rover each receive model-level awards for a second consecutive year.
To see results from the entire study, click here.
