Safety Features Score Big, Boosting New-Vehicle Appeal

DETROIT, July 27, 2016 -- Popular driver-assist technologies help make vehicles considerably more appealing to their owners, according to the J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study,^SM released today.

The study finds that new vehicles equipped with safety features such as blind spot monitoring and low speed collision avoidance have overall APEAL scores substantially higher than similar vehicles without the technologies. Overall APEAL scores are higher among the 41% of owners whose vehicles have blind spot monitoring than among those whose vehicles do not have this technology (821 vs. 787, respectively). Similarly, APEAL scores are higher among the 30% of owners whose vehicles have collision avoidance technology than among those whose vehicles do not have this technology (828 vs. 790, respectively).

"Technology-enabled safety features help drivers feel more comfortable and confident while driving their vehicles," said Renee Stephens, vice president of U.S. automotive quality at J.D. Power. "These features are also 'gateway technologies' to autonomous driving capabilities, so the continued level of consumer interest in them will be a critical metric to watch as the industry evolves toward including more automation in new vehicles."

Launches Critical to Vehicle Appeal

The overall industry APEAL score improves by 3 points to 801, helped by the launch of many new vehicles. In 2016, 22 of the 30 all-new or major redesigned models included in the study score higher than their respective segment average. Over the past 10 years, newly launched vehicles have scored an average of 29 index points higher than their segment average.

"The key to successful models is to launch with very high appeal and limit the decline that often comes in subsequent years," said Stephens. "As automakers continue to add more content, including advanced technologies, to their vehicles, one key way to maintain appeal is to design technology that is easily upgradeable and intuitive. Intuitive designs never go out of style. For example, for infotainment systems, intuitive design may mean simplification: bigger buttons, bigger screens and menus that are laid out in a manner that is easy for the driver to understand."

More key findings of the study include:

• APEAL Affects Advocacy: Among owners whose vehicles have average or above-average APEAL scores (801 or higher) and who report no problems with their vehicle in the first 90 days of ownership, 90% say they "definitely will" recommend their vehicle to others. In contrast, among owners whose vehicle has low APEAL scores (800 or lower), even when their vehicle is problem-free, advocacy drops to 64%. Among those who report one or more problems with their vehicle, advocacy plummets to 49%.¹
• Navigation Nightmares: Factory-installed navigation systems remain a challenge for vehicle owners. Two of the lowest-rated vehicle attributes are related to the navigation system: usefulness of the navigation features and ease of using the vehicle's navigation system.
• Saving Gas: Nine of the 10 categories improve in 2016, with fuel economy posting the largest gain (+14 points) year over year. Audio/communication/entertainment/navigation (ACEN) and visibility and safety also make notable gains of 6 points and 4 points, respectively.
• Transmissions Not So Smooth: Engine/transmission is the only category to decline (-1 point) this year, with the largest attribute decline in transmission smoothness when shifting, as penetration of 8- and 9-speed automatic transmissions increases.

Highest-Ranked Nameplates and Models

Porsche ranks highest overall in APEAL for a 12th consecutive year, with a score of 877 index points. BMW ranks second with 859, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz rank third in a tie at 852, and Land Rover, Lexus and Lincoln rank fifth in a tie at 843. Volkswagen (809) ranks highest among non-premium brands, followed by MINI (808), Kia (807), Ford (803), Ram (803) and GMC (802).

General Motors receives six segment-level awards, followed by Hyundai Motor Company with five and BMW AG and Volkswagen AG with four each. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and Toyota Motor Corporation each have two models that rank highest in their respective segments.

The segment-level APEAL awards by corporation are:

• General Motors: Buick Cascada; Chevrolet Camaro; Chevrolet Colorado; Chevrolet Sonic; Chevrolet Tahoe; and GMC Sierra HD
• Hyundai Motor Company: Hyundai Tucson; Kia Optima; Kia Sedona; Kia Sorento; and Kia Soul
• BMW AG: BMW 2 Series; BMW X1; BMW X6; and MINI Clubman
• Volkswagen AG: Audi A6; Porsche 911; Porsche Boxster; and Porsche Macan
• Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.: Nissan Maxima and Nissan Titan
• Toyota Motor Corporation: Lexus RC and Toyota RAV4

Other models receiving awards are Land Rover Range Rover and smart fortwo. The BMW 7 Series is the highest-scoring model in the study in 2016, although no award is presented in the large premium car segment as there are insufficient models represented.

About the Study

The industry benchmark study, now in its 21st year, measures owners' emotional attachment and level of excitement across 77 attributes, ranging from the power they feel when they step on the gas to the sense of comfort and luxury they feel when climbing into the driver's seat.  These attributes combine into an overall APEAL Index score that is measured on a 1,000-point scale.  The importance of these results cannot be overstated.  Year after year, the study has shown that higher APEAL leads to significantly higher advocacy and customer loyalty.

The APEAL Study is used extensively by manufacturers worldwide to help them design and develop more appealing vehicles and by consumers to help them in their purchase decisions. It complements the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study^SM (IQS), which focused on problems experienced by owners during the first 90 days of ownership. The 2016 U.S. APEAL Study is based on responses gathered from February through May 2016 from more than 80,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2016 model-year cars and light trucks who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership.

2016 APEAL Nameplate Index Ranking
(Based on a 1,000-point scale)

Top Three Models per Segment

City Car* 
Highest Ranked: smart fortwo

Small Car
Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Sonic
Scion iA
Ford Fiesta

Small Premium Car
Highest Ranked: BMW 2 Series
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
Audi A3

Compact Car
Highest Ranked: MINI Clubman
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Beetle

Compact Sporty Car
Highest Ranked: Buick Cascada
MINI Cooper
Hyundai Veloster (tie)
Mazda MX-5 Miata (tie)

Compact Premium Car
Highest Ranked: Lexus RC
BMW 4 Series
BMW 3 Series

Compact Premium Sporty Car
Highest Ranked: Porsche Boxster
Audi TT
Porsche Cayman

Midsize Car
Highest Ranked: Kia Optima
Nissan Altima (tie)
Subaru Legacy (tie)

Midsize Sporty Car*
Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Camaro
Dodge Challenger

Midsize Premium Car
Highest Ranked: Audi A6
Lexus GS
Audi A7

Midsize Premium Sporty Car*
Highest Ranked: Porsche 911

Large Car
Highest Ranked: Nissan Maxima
Hyundai Azera
Dodge Charger

Small SUV
Highest Ranked: Hyundai Tucson
Subaru Crosstrek
Volkswagen Tiguan

Small Premium SUV*
Highest Ranked: BMW X1
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

Compact SUV
Highest Ranked: Toyota RAV4
Ford Escape
Mazda CX-5

Compact Premium SUV
Highest Ranked: Porsche Macan
BMW X4
Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Compact MPV*
Highest Ranked: Kia Soul

Midsize SUV
Highest Ranked: Kia Sorento
Ford Edge
Buick Enclave (tie)
Jeep Grand Cherokee (tie)

Midsize Premium SUV
Highest Ranked: BMW X6
BMW X5 (tie)
Porsche Cayenne (tie)

Midsize Pickup*
Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Colorado
GMC Canyon

Minivan
Highest Ranked: Kia Sedona
Toyota Sienna
Honda Odyssey

Large SUV*
Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Tahoe

Large Premium SUV
Highest Ranked: Land Rover Range Rover
Cadillac Escalade
Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

Large Light Duty Pickup
Highest Ranked: Nissan Titan
GMC Sierra 
Chevrolet Silverado

Large Heavy Duty Pickup*
Highest Ranked: GMC Sierra HD
Chevrolet Silverado HD

* No other model in this segment performs above segment average.
Note: There must be either at least four ranked models or three ranked models comprising at least 80% of sales in any given segment for an award to be presented. The Large Premium Car segment did not meet either of these criteria, thus no award is presented in that segment.

Find detailed information on vehicle quality, as well as model photos and specs, at www.jdpower.com/performance.

For more information about the 2016 U.S. APEAL Study, visit http://www.jdpower.com/resource/jd-power-automotive-performance-execution-and-layout-apeal-study.

¹ All problem-related data in the paragraph are from the J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study^SM (IQS)