More Drivers Are Happy With Their New Vehicles

New-vehicle owners are feeling more excitement behind the wheel as automakers deliver cars, trucks, SUVs and crossovers that are more satisfying to own and drive. An important pillar of aftermarket success, drivers’ current happiness with the latest vehicle releases was confirmed through the JD Power 2026 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study.

Findings show that overall satisfaction among new-vehicle owners had reached a score of 858 out of 1,000, rising 7 index points for a third consecutive annual increase. This year’s gain is the largest since 2018 and the fifth largest in study history, with APEAL officials attributing the rise to improvements in quality and vehicle experience translating into stronger owner enthusiasm.

“Automakers have made real progress in reducing problems, but JD Power data makes it clear that quality alone isn’t enough,” says Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at JD Power. “Owners are most enthusiastic when their vehicle not only works reliably but also feels thoughtfully designed and offers comfortable interiors, useful storage and technology that’s easy to live with. The brands that get both sides of that equation right see the strongest advocacy from their customers.”

The APEAL Study 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. The APEAL dataset allows automakers to immediately identify the specific features, driving characteristics and styling cues that are resonating most and helping to drive brand loyalty among new-vehicle buyers.

The 2026 U.S. APEAL Study is based on responses from 78,514 owners of new 2026 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership. Key findings include:

• Interior improvements drive the biggest gains in the ownership experience: Nearly every category improves year over year, with interior posting the largest increase (plus-11 points). Owners are responding positively to more functional storage solutions, including better cupholders, phone placement and center console design. Gains in exterior styling and ease of getting in and out (plus-10 points each) highlight the growing importance of everyday usability.

• Even with the gains, new models are delivering less of a “wow” factor: For a fifth consecutive year, newly launched models perform similarly to their carryover counterparts, scoring just 2 index points higher overall. New premium models perform 3 index points below carryover models, while new mass market models outperform carryover models by 12 points. Challenges with infotainment systems, vehicle setup and technology features continue to dampen owner satisfaction, suggesting that many new models are not delivering the visceral excitement owners expect.

• The gap between premium and mass-market brands continues to narrow: The emotional satisfaction gap between premium (excluding Tesla) and mass-market brands has shrunk to just 29 points, down from 66 points in 2008, as mass-market vehicles continue to close the gap on features that once set premium models apart. Premium vehicles no longer hold outsized advantages in areas such as infotainment, exterior, driver-assistance systems, headlight performance and door-closing sound, suggesting owners increasingly define a premium ownership experience by overall execution rather than brand alone.

• Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) posted the biggest gains in owner affinity: While overall APEAL index scores improved across every powertrain type this year, BEVs have seen the largest year-over-year increase (plus-22 points). BEVs outperform internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in nearly every category in APEAL, with the biggest advantage in powertrain satisfaction (plus-109 points).

When it comes to the highest-ranking carmakers, Porsche is tops among premium brands for a third consecutive year and is the only brand to rank above the segment average, with a score of 896. Meanwhile, MINI ranks highest among mass-market brands for a third consecutive year, with a score of 875. Hyundai (858) is second and Kia (857) third.

View the complete visual rank charts for each segment at: jdpower.com/pr-id/2026067.