The Vehicle Brands with the Highest Customer Satisfaction in 2026, According to J.D. Power
For the third consecutive year, satisfaction among new-car owners continues to rise, thanks to improvements in quality and the driving experience.
This is the main finding of the latest APEAL (Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout) study by the American firm J.D. Power, which is based on responses from nearly 80,000 people who leased or purchased a 2026 model, three months after taking delivery. More than 30 aspects are taken into account, ranging from acceleration power to the sense of luxury and comfort inside the vehicle.
“Automakers have made real progress in reducing the number of problems, but our data clearly shows that quality alone isn’t enough,” notes Frank Hanley, senior director of automotive benchmarking at J.D. Power. “Owners are particularly enthusiastic when their vehicle is not only reliable but also well-designed, with a comfortable interior, practical storage solutions, and technologies that are easy to use on a daily basis. “The brands that succeed in balancing all of these factors have the most satisfied customers.”
The study highlights improvements in nearly all categories, but especially inside the vehicles, including storage, the center console, cup holders, and phone storage. On the other hand, the new models still cause some frustration when it comes to vehicle configuration, technology, and infotainment systems.
Other findings: The gap between luxury and mainstream brands continues to narrow, while electric vehicles are seeing a greater increase in satisfaction than any other type of vehicle.
The Most Desirable Brands in 2026
Across the industry as a whole, Porsche once again tops J.D. Power’s APEAL study with a score of 896 out of 1,000. Land Rover (886), despite its poor reputation for reliability, and Cadillac (885) round out the top three luxury brands, as shown in the following ranking:
Tesla (920), Rivian (893), and Jaguar (892) would rank near the top if they could meet all of the study’s eligibility criteria.
Among popular brands, MINI remains number one with 875 points. The Korean brands Hyundai (858) and Kia (857) rank second and third, respectively, but several others are close behind. Dodge (870), which reportedly performed very well, is not eligible:
As for the models, the BMW X6 once again earned the highest rating across all categories, tied with the BMW 7 Series. We invite you to visit the J.D. Power website to view the complete list.
