Korean Models Dominate 2024 J.D. Power APEAL Awards

J.D. Power's Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) study has named this year’s list of the cars whose owners enjoy them the most, with Porsche and Mini leading the way.

The J.D. Power 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. The 2024 U.S. APEAL Study is based on responses from 99,144 owners of new 2024 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership.

Measured on J.D. Power’s 1,000-point scale, overall owner satisfaction is 847 this year. That represents a slight 2-point rise over 2023. Unsurprisingly, dissatisfaction with infotainment systems is a drag on scores. While infotainment ratings rose 5 points, the score is still 823, which makes it one of the lowest-scoring categories among those evaluated.

“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 [battery-electric vehicles], 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.”

Related:J.D. Power Names the Top 2024 Vehicles in Initial Quality

The top brands for premium manufacturers were Porsche, with a company-wide rating of 891, Jaguar (886), and Land Rover (882). Among mainstream brands, the leaders were Mini, at 858, followed by Ram (854) and Kia (853).

For individual model winners in various categories, the Hyundai Motor Group led the way with seven winners, followed by BMW AG, which had four segment winners, and Toyota Motor Corporation, with three. These corporate parent groups include all of the associated brands.

Click through our slideshow for a look at the top models in each category.

J.D. POWER 2024 U.S. APEAL STUDY