The 10 Most Appealing New Cars of 2015

J.D. Power surveyed more than 84,000 new car purchasers and lessees of 2015 model-year cars in a four-month span from February to May of this year on 77 different attributes to find out how appealing their new cars were after 90 days of ownership. The survey, called the Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, is now in its 20th year.

New technology plays a big role in owners’ satisfaction with their new cars. For example, the overall score among owners of vehicles with blind-spot monitoring and warning systems is 38 points higher than among those without them. A J.D. Power executive noted:

Unlike other technologies, such as voice recognition, that can be challenging to operate, most safety features provide information in a more intuitive way, giving owners a greater sense of security. Not only are models increasingly offering systems that improve safety and visibility, but owners are also using them on a regular basis. This can go a long way toward generating positive feelings about their vehicle overall.

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The top-ranked brand for the 11th consecutive year is Porsche, which is part of the Volkswagen stable. Out of a possible 1,000 points, Porsche scored 874 this year, a slight drop from last year’s 882. The industry average score this year was 798. The average score for premium brands was 841 and the average score for non-premium brands was 790. That is the smallest gap in 10 years, according J.D. Power.

Here is the complete list of the top 10 with their APEAL scores:

1. Porsche, 882
2. Jaguar, 855
3. BMW, 854
4. Mercedes-Benz, 853
5. Audi, 852
6. Land Rover, 843
7. Lincoln, 842
8. Cadillac, 838
9. Infiniti, 835
10. Lexus, 831

Both Cadillac from General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) and Ford Motor Co.’s (NYSE: F) Lincoln ranked higher than either Infiniti or Lexus. In last year’s rankings, the Lexus ranked above both U.S.-made brands and above Mercedes-Benz as well. The top-ranked non-premium brand this year was the Mini from BMW.

In addition to the Mini, seven other non-premium brands scored above the overall average of 798: Hyundai, Volkswagen, GMC, Ram from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (NYSE: FCAU), Buick, Ford and Kia.

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Based on findings of the survey, J.D. Power offers the following consumer tips:

• Ask your dealer to explain the benefits of the latest safety features and how to use them before deciding whether to add them to your vehicle (if they’re optional).
• If you’re adding an optional package of safety features, familiarize yourself with all of them–not just the ones you think you’ll use.
• Find out which of the latest technology features are gaining the broadest favor with consumers and which ones may take some time to be perfected.
• Research the differences between the Premium and Non-Premium brands you’re considering, especially if you’re comparing the various models from a particular automaker, to determine whether the Premium vehicle is worth the higher price.

Category winners and other details of the study are available at the J.D. Power website.