Cars and Drivers
Porsche Top Brand for 13th Straight Year in JD Power Study; Chrysler Most-Improved Brand
Published:
Last Updated:
Porsche was the most appealing brand for the 13th straight year, as luxury brands dominated the top spots in J.D. Power’s 2017 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) study. Genesis, BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz rounded out the top five.
Mitsubishi and Fiat were the least appealing brands in the study. Fiat sales in the United States have plunged again in 2017.
Chrysler showed the biggest improvement in J.D. Power’s latest study of new-vehicle appeal, while MINI, Nissan, Honda and Jeep all posted significant gains in the latest report, which was released yesterday.
The J.D. Power study, now in its 22nd year, gauges owners’ emotional attachment and level of excitement across 77 attributes. These attributes are combined into an overall APEAL index score that is measured on a 1,000-point scale.
The study was based on responses gathered from February through May 2017 from nearly 70,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2017 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership.
Porsche had the top score of 884. MINI’s score climbed 30 points to 838 and Nissan gained 27 points to 811. Both were above the industry average of 810. Honda’s score rose 25 points to 820, and Jeep gained 17 points to 773.
Mitsubishi lost 20 points, the most of any brand as its score plunged to 750. U.S. sales at Fiat, whose score was 752, have fallen sharply. Over the first six months of this year, sales have dropped 12% to 14,682.
Chrysler’s brand surged 41 points to 815 and J.D. Power cited the addition of the all-new Pacifica minivan as a factor in the brand’s improvement. Good news for parent Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (NYSE: FCAU).
Volkswagen led all companies with six model-level awards for the Audi A3, A4 and A7; Porsche 911; Cayenne; and Macan. BMW was second with four segment awards.
Overall, the industry average rose by nine points to 810 in 2017.
Take Charge of Your Retirement In Just A Few Minutes (Sponsor)
Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance—and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor.
Here’s how it works:
- Answer a Few Simple Questions. Tell us a bit about your goals and preferences—it only takes a few minutes!
- Get Matched with Vetted Advisors Our smart tool matches you with up to three pre-screened, vetted advisors who serve your area and are held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. Click here to begin
- Choose Your Fit Review their profiles, schedule an introductory call (or meet in person), and select the advisor who feel is right for you.
Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. Click here to get started today!
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
Our expert who first called NVIDIA in 2009 is predicting 2025 will see a historic AI breakthrough.
You can follow him investing $500,000 of his own money on our top AI stocks for free.