New-vehicle homeowners at the moment are extra captivated with their car than ever, in accordance with the J.D. Energy 2025 U.S. Automotive Efficiency, Execution and Format (APEAL) Examine,SM launched at the moment. General satisfaction is 851 (on a 1,000-point scale), a rise of 4 index factors from a yr in the past and the very best stage for the reason that research was final redesigned in 2020.
“For 3 a long time, the APEAL Examine has tracked which new autos excite and delight homeowners essentially the most,” mentioned Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Energy. “Producers have made vital developments that proceed to redefine the car possession expertise and have turn into more proficient at translating innovation into significant buyer engagement. Nevertheless, the research finds that homeowners of latest fashions have decrease ranges of satisfaction with car setup and startup—in addition to infotainment programs—in contrast with homeowners of carryover fashions. This means that rising know-how and menu complexity stay persistent challenges for the business.”
Now in its thirtieth yr, the APEAL Examine enhances the annual J.D. Energy U.S. Preliminary High quality StudySM (IQS) and the J.D. Energy U.S. Tech Expertise Index (TXI) StudySM by measuring homeowners’ emotional attachment and stage of pleasure with their new car. The APEAL Examine asks homeowners to think about 37 attributes, starting from the sense of consolation they really feel when climbing into the driving force’s seat to their exhilaration after they step on the accelerator. Automobile homeowners’ responses to queries about these attributes are aggregated to compute an total APEAL Index rating.
Following are some key findings of the 2025 research:
Sophisticated know-how derails proprietor satisfaction with new-model launches: Homeowners of carryover fashions categorical extra emotional affinity for his or her car than do homeowners of new-model launches (852 vs. 846, respectively) for a second consecutive yr. Equally, new fashions—which make up 14% of the business this yr—suffered from decrease high quality efficiency on this yr’s J.D. Energy U.S. Preliminary High quality Examine. Additionally, on this yr’s APEAL Examine, the biggest satisfaction gaps for launch autos are in car setup/startup (by way of the app) and infotainment—gaps which might be particularly pronounced within the premium section, the place carryover fashions rating 48 factors increased for setup/startup and 26 factors increased for infotainment.
Satisfaction extra constant amongst ICE and hybrid homeowners: The research signifies that amongst new-vehicle homeowners, inner combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid autos ship extra constant satisfaction, whereas plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and battery electrical autos (BEVs) exhibit higher year-over-year fluctuations. Notably, satisfaction amongst homeowners of BEVs (860, excluding Tesla) drops 17 factors from a yr in the past when evaluating throughout gasoline varieties, whereas PHEVs (855) enhance 14 factors.Prospects point out that PHEVs and hybrids hit the candy spot for pleasing them with regard to gasoline economic system, vary and charging pace.
Particular person person profiles increase car enchantment: Simply over half (55%) of car homeowners are creating particular person person profiles of their car—options that permit personalization of settings corresponding to seat place and local weather management. The research reveals that premium car homeowners are adopting this characteristic at twice the speed of mass market homeowners, and that when profiles are arrange, homeowners throughout each segments cite elevated emotional satisfaction.
Highest-Rating Manufacturers
Porsche ranks highest amongst premium manufacturers for a second consecutive yr, with a rating of 890. Land Rover (886) ranks second and BMW (881) ranks third.
MINI ranks highest amongst mass market manufacturers for a second consecutive yr, with a rating of 876. Dodge (868) ranks second and GMC (852) ranks third.
Mannequin-Degree APEAL Awards
The company receiving essentially the most model-level awards (for fashions rating highest of their respective section) is BMW AG (5 section awards and highest-ranking mannequin), adopted by Hyundai Motor Group (4 section awards), and Ford Motor Firm and Volkswagen AG, every with three section awards.
The whole listing of award recipients is:
BMW AG: BMW X6, BMW X1, BMW 4 Sequence, BMW X4 and MINI Countryman
Hyundai Motor Group: Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Santa Cruz, Kia K4 and Kia K5
Ford Motor Firm: Ford Tremendous Responsibility, Ford Mustang and Lincoln Nautilus
Volkswagen AG: Volkswagen ID.Buzz, Porsche Taycan and Porsche 911
Basic Motors Firm: Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Hummer EV
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd: Nissan Rogue and Nissan Murano
Jaguar Land Rover Restricted: Land Rover Vary Rover
Toyota Motor Company: Lexus ES
Stellantis NV: Dodge Durango
BMW X6 is the highest-ranking particular person mannequin. Kia K5 receives a model-level award for a fifth consecutive yr. BMW X4, MINI Countryman, Land Rover Vary Rover and Porsche Taycan every obtain model-level awards for a 3rd consecutive yr. Hyundai Sante Fe and Ford Tremendous Responsibility every obtain model-level awards for a second consecutive yr.
The 2025 U.S. APEAL Examine relies on responses from 92,964 homeowners of latest 2025 model-year autos who have been surveyed after 90 days of possession. The research was fielded from June 2024 by way of Could 2025 based mostly on autos registered from March 2024 by way of February 2025.
