When it comes to the auto market, the options for a new car seem endless. To cut through the clutter and help consumers make a decision, organizations will put together competitions or studies to find the best vehicles available in the market today. One of those organizations is J.D. Power. Putting together annual studies for different purposes, J.D. Power recently released the results of its 2024 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study. There were some outstanding brands this year, with a lot of high-ranking vehicles in various segments.

J.D. Power conducted the 2024 APEAL Study from July 2023 to May 2024, and was based on the data on vehicles registered from April 2023 through February 2024. Surveys were sent out to owners of new 2024 model-year vehicles after 90 days of ownership. The surveys were designed to rate their vehicles based on 37 attributes, covering design, performance, safety, usability, comfort, perceived quality, infotainment systems, the APEAL Study does exactly what it sounds like. It ranks vehicles based on the “appeal” to the consumer. The results for the 2024 J.D. Power APEAL Study comes from a collection of responses from 99,144 owners that contributed with their survey answers. It’s a nice sample of the new car owner population, and if all these people agree on a vehicle brand, it can help point new vehicle buyers in the right direction.

Based on the study, even though battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are still a concept that can get consumers paranoid about not being able to find a charging station, the market is slowly showing a growing interest. Rated on a 1,000-point scale, BEVs earned an overall score of 849 this year. Returning to the top three ranked vehicles again this year, Ram was ranked as the second-highest automaker in the mass-market vehicle category with a score of 854. Leading Stellantis with off-road automaker Jeep®, the Ram 1500 also came in second for the Large Light Duty Pickup segment, whereas the Jeep Wagoneer was the highest ranked in the Large SUV segment.

The Hyundai Motor Group (HMG), umbrella group of the Kia Corp got great news this year with many Kia models being the highest ranked in their respective segment. This follows a tradition of Kia always earning highest ranked awards, holding the title for the most awarded Brand in history of the J.D. Power APEAL Study. During the 2024 J.D. Power APEAL Study, the Kia K5 was ranked the highest in the Midsize Car segment, the Kia Forte was ranked the highest in the Compact Car segment, the Kia EV9 was ranked the highest in the Upper Midsize SUV segment, the Kia EV6 was the highest ranked for the Compact SUV segment, and the Kia Carnival was ranked the highest for the minivan segment, although it’s more like an MPV – Multi-Purpose Vehicle. Kia was the third highest-ranked brand in the 2024 J.D. Power APEAL Study with a score of 853 points.

Overall, the APEAL Study uses a Net Promotor Score® to also determine the rankings for different vehicles and their brand. This year saw a 38 point higher score, meaning more owners will more than likely promote their vehicle and recommend it to friends and family, growing the popularity of a vehicle by word of mouth. The Promotor Score also gave insight into the long-term effect that a highly appealing vehicle would have on the current marketplace. The 2024 J.D. Power APEAL Study put the spotlight on some of the highest ranked brands in the market, and you can get a new Kia, new Ram 1500 pickup truck, or a new Jeep Wagoneer when you buy a car online with NowCar.

Photo Source/Copyright: J.D. Power