U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study
See What Drives Owner Delight
The U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study gives automotive brands the real-world clarity they need to design, support and differentiate vehicles that owners love.
What the Study Measures
A Complete View of Owner Experience
Evaluates owner sentiment across the first 90 days of ownership:
• Design, performance, and driving enjoyment
• Comfort, usability, and feature execution
• Perceived quality and emotional connection
Tracks:
• Satisfaction across 35+ attributes and 10 experience categories
How It Works
How the APEAL Study Works
• Surveys verified new-vehicle owners after 90 days of ownership
• Captures satisfaction, excitement, and emotional connection
• Measures full ownership experience across key attributes and categories
Core Strengths
Stronger Differentiation, Better Decisions
• Identifies the features owners value most
• Reveals strengths and weaknesses across brands and models
• Benchmarks performance against the industry
• Highlights opportunities to differentiate and improve
• Creates annual rankings and awards-licensing opportunities for top-performing brands
Business Impact
Improve Products, Strengthen Launches
• Prioritizes product and feature development based on real owner expectations
• Strengthens launch planning, marketing messages, and dealer communication
• Compares performance against direct competitors and segment leaders
• Supports higher residual values and stronger customer retention
Key Dates
2026
Fielding: June 2025 – May 2026
Publish: July 21, 2026
Press Release: July 23, 2026
Press Release & Award Information
JD Power issues a national press release highlighting key findings and top-to-bottom rankings from the study. The brand(s) that rank highest in each award-eligible segment and meet predetermined award criteria will have the opportunity to enter into a licensing agreement through the JD Power Awards Program, which requires subscribing to the study as a prerequisite. Entering into a licensing agreement provides top-ranked brands with the valuable opportunity to market their award-winning performance. As the trusted symbol of excellence, JD Power Awards enhance brand perceptions, drive consumer preference, and differentiate awarded brands in competitive marketplaces.
Profiled Brands
2026 Compact Car
Fiat 500
Honda Civic
Honda Prelude
Hyundai Elantra
Kia EV4
Kia Forte
Kia K4
Mazda MAZDA3
Nissan Sentra
Subaru Impreza
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Jetta
2026 Compact Premium Car
Alfa Romeo Giulia
Audi A4
Audi A5
BMW 3 Series
BMW 4 Series / i4
Cadillac CT4
Genesis G70
Infiniti Q50
Lexus IS
Lexus RC
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Polestar 2^
Tesla Model 3^
Volvo S60
Volvo V60
2026 Sporty Car
Dodge Charger/Charger EV
Ford Mustang
Mazda MX-5 Miata
MINI Cooper
Nissan Z
Subaru BRZ
Subaru WRX
Toyota 86
2026 Premium Sporty Car
BMW Z4
Chevrolet Corvette
Lexus LC
Mercedes-Benz SL
Polestar 6^
Porsche 718
Porsche 911
Toyota Supra
2026 Premium Sporty Car
BMW Z4
Chevrolet Corvette
Lexus LC
Mercedes-Benz SL
Polestar 6^
Porsche 718
Porsche 911
Toyota Supra
2026 Small Car
Chevrolet Bolt EV
Nissan Versa
2026 Small Premium Car
Acura Integra
Audi A3
BMW 2 Series
Mercedes-Benz CLA
2026 Midsize Car
Chevrolet Malibu
Honda Accord
Hyundai IONIQ 6
Hyundai Sonata
Kia K5
Nissan Altima
Toyota Camry
Toyota Mirai
2026 Midsize Premium Car
Acura TLX
Cadillac CT5
Infiniti Q70
Lexus ES
Mercedes-Benz CLE
Polestar 5^
2026 Upper Midsize Premium Car
Audi A6
Audi A7
Audi e-tron GT
BMW 5 Series / i5
Genesis G80
Maserati Ghibli
Mercedes-Benz CLS
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Mercedes-Benz EQE
Porsche Taycan
Tesla Model S^
Volvo S90/ES90
Volvo V90
2026 Large Car
Chrysler 300
Nissan Maxima
Toyota Crown
2026 Large Premium Car
Audi A8
BMW 7 Series / i7
BMW 8 Series
Genesis G90
Genesis GT90
Lexus LS
Maserati Quattroporte
Mercedes-Benz EQS
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Porsche Panamera
2026 Compact SUV
Buick Enspire
Buick Envision
Chevrolet Equinox
Ford Bronco
Ford Escape
Ford Mustang Mach-E
GMC Terrain
Honda CR-V
Hyundai IONIQ 5
Hyundai Nexo
Hyundai Tucson
Jeep Cherokee
Jeep Recon
Jeep Wrangler
Kia EV6
Kia Sportage
Mazda CX-5
Mazda CX-50
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Mitsubishi Outlander
Nissan Ariya
Nissan Rogue
Subaru Forester
Subaru Solterra
Toyota bZ4X
Toyota RAV4
Volkswagen ID.4
Volkswagen ID.5
Volkswagen Tiguan
2026 Compact Premium SUV
Acura RDX
Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Audi Q4 e-tron
Audi Q5
Audi Q6 e-tron
BMW X3
BMW X4/iX4
Cadillac XT4
Genesis GV70
Infiniti QX50
Infiniti QX55
Jaguar F-Pace
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Lexus NX
Lexus RZ^
Lincoln Corsair
Maserati Grecale
Mercedes-Benz EQB
Mercedes-Benz GLB
Mercedes-Benz GLC
Porsche Macan
Rivian R2^
Tesla Model Y^
Volvo XC60
2026 Small SUV
Buick Encore GX
Buick Envista
Chevrolet Bolt EUV
Chevrolet TrailBlazer
Chevrolet Trax
Dodge Hornet
Ford Bronco Sport
Honda HR-V
Hyundai Kona
Hyundai Venue
Jeep Compass
Jeep Renegade
Kia Niro
Kia Seltos
Mazda CX-30
Mazda MX-30
MINI Countryman / Countryman Electric
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Nissan Kicks
Nissan LEAF
Subaru Crosstrek
Subaru Uncharted
Toyota CH-R
Toyota Corolla Cross
Volkswagen Taos
2026 Small Premium SUV
Acura ADX
Acura RSX
Alfa Romeo Tonale
Audi Q3
BMW X1
BMW X2
Genesis GV60
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Lexus UX
Mercedes-Benz GLA
Volvo C40/EC40
Volvo EX30
Volvo XC40/EX40
2026 Midsize SUV
Chevrolet Blazer
Honda Passport
Honda Prologue
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Wagoneer S
Mazda CX-70
Mazda CX-9
Nissan Murano
Subaru Outback
Subaru Trailseeker
Toyota 4Runner
Toyota Crown Signia
2026 Midsize Premium SUV
Acura MDX
Acura ZDX
Cadillac OPTIQ
Cadillac XT5
Infiniti QX60
Land Rover Defender
Land Rover Range Rover Velar
Lexus GX
Lexus RX
Lexus TX
Lincoln Nautilus
Polestar 3^
Polestar 4^
2026 Upper Midsize SUV
Audi Q7
Audi Q8
BMW iX
BMW X5
BMW X6
Cadillac LYRIQ
Cadillac VISTIQ
Cadillac XT6
Genesis GV80
Genesis GV90
Land Rover Discovery
Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Lincoln Aviator
Maserati Levante
Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV
Mercedes-Benz GLE
Porsche Cayenne
Rivian R1S^
Tesla Model X^
Volvo XC90/EX90
2026 Upper Midsize Premium SUV
Audi Q7
Audi Q8
BMW iX
BMW X5
BMW X6
Cadillac LYRIQ
Cadillac VISTIQ
Cadillac XT6
Genesis GV80
Genesis GV90
Land Rover Discovery
Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Lincoln Aviator
Maserati Levante
Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV
Mercedes-Benz GLE
Porsche Cayenne
Rivian R1S^
Tesla Model X^
Volvo XC90/EX90
2026 Large SUV
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Tahoe
Ford Expedition
GMC Yukon
Jeep Wagoneer
Nissan Armada
Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Sequoia
2026 Large Premium SUV
BMW X7
Cadillac Escalade/Escalade IQ
GMC Hummer EV SUV
Infiniti QX80
Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Land Rover Range Rover
Lexus LX
Lincoln Navigator
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
Mercedes-Benz GLS
2026 Minivan
Chrysler Pacifica
Chrysler Voyager
Honda Odyssey
Kia Carnival
Toyota Sienna
Volkswagen ID.Buzz
2026 Midsize Pickup
Chevrolet Colorado
Ford Maverick
Ford Ranger
GMC Canyon
Honda Ridgeline
Hyundai Santa Cruz
Jeep Gladiator
Mitsubishi L Series/Triton
Nissan Frontier
Toyota Tacoma
2026 Large Light Duty Pickup
Chevrolet Silverado/Silverado EV
Ford F-150
GMC Hummer EV
GMC Sierra/Sierra EV
Nissan Titan
Ram 1500
Rivian R1T^
Tesla Cybertruck^
Toyota Tundra
Who should use it
Designed for Teams Shaping the Customer Experience
• OEM product, design and engineering teams
• Component engineering teams
• Marketing and brand leaders
• Residual value and remarketing analysts
• Tier 1 suppliers
PowerSource
Insights Available at a Touch of a Button
Subscribers to this study have full access to benchmark reporting, competitor analysis, and more with PowerSource.
