Cars get us from point A to point B, but some brands make this experience far less satisfying and enjoyable. What drivers care about can differ widely. Some drivers put an emphasis on owning a stylish vehicle, while others are looking for a car with superior acceleration and handling. And some just care about maximizing fuel efficiency and minimizing upkeep costs.
To find the car that most Americans hate, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2022 J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study. Car brands are ranked according to the cumulative score in the APEAL Brand Index, which is based on a survey of over 84,000 car owners. The APEAL Study asks owners to consider 37 attributes. We have included last year’s index score for comparison as well as the average score for each segment.
J.D. Power’s study asked owners to rate attributes such as the sense of comfort they feel when climbing into the driver’s seat, the exhilaration they get when they step on the accelerator, their satisfaction with the infotainment system and with fuel economy.
Customers were generally less satisfied with mass market vehicles, which averaged a score of 841 out of 1,000. Premium vehicles averaged 873. Dodge is the only mass market brand with a score over 880. The scores of many of the most hated brands fell from last year. However, the score of Chrysler, the second most hated brand, slightly improved.
Audi is the most hated premium brand, with a score of 847, followed by Acura. Porsche, on the other hand, is the most loved premium brand, followed by Tesla. (These are the ugliest cars ever made)
Low scores do not necessarily equate to low sales. Toyota, the third most-hated car brand in the country, was the top-selling brand in the U.S. market in 2021. The most hated cars in America also do not necessarily correlate with the worst car brands in America.
Click here to see the least appealing car brands to Americans.
34. Porsche
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 888/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 882/1000 — #2 out of 34
> Parent company: Volkswagen Group
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33. Tesla
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 887/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 893/1000 — #1 out of 34
> Parent company: Tesla Inc.
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32. Genesis
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 886/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 879/1000 — #5 out of 34
> Parent company: Hyundai Motor Group
31. Cadillac
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 885/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 871/1000 — #9 out of 34
> Parent company: General Motors
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30. Dodge
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 882/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 882/1000 — #2 out of 34
> Parent company: Stellantis
29. Mercedes-Benz
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 876/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 867/1000 — #10 out of 34
> Parent company: Daimler AG
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28. BMW
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 875/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 874/1000 — #8 out of 34
> Parent company: BMW Group
27. Polestar
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 871/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: N/A/1000 — #N/A out of 34
> Parent company: Zhejiang Geely Holding Group
26. Land Rover
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 871/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 879/1000 — #5 out of 34
> Parent company: Tata Motors
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25. Lincoln
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 870/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 876/1000 — #7 out of 34
> Parent company: Ford Motor Co.
24. Jaguar
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 868/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 852/1000 — #18 out of 34
> Parent company: Tata Motors
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23. Alfa Romeo
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 868/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 854/1000 — #17 out of 34
> Parent company: Stellantis
22. Infiniti
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 866/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 842/1000 — #24 out of 34
> Parent company: Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance
21. Lexus
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 863/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 860/1000 — #13 out of 34
> Parent company: Toyota Motor Corp.
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20. Ram
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 863/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 881/1000 — #4 out of 34
> Parent company: Stellantis
19. GMC
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 856/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 861/1000 — #12 out of 34
> Parent company: General Motors
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18. Volvo
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 852/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 856/1000 — #15 out of 34
> Parent company: Zhejiang Geely Holding Group
17. Acura
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 851/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 842/1000 — #24 out of 34
> Parent company: Honda Motor Company
16. Chevrolet
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 851/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 845/1000 — #23 out of 34
> Parent company: General Motors
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15. Kia
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 849/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 856/1000 — #15 out of 34
> Parent company: Hyundai Motor Group
14. MINI
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 848/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 847/1000 — #20 out of 34
> Parent company: BMW Group
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13. Audi
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 847/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 850/1000 — #19 out of 34
> Parent company: Volkswagen Group
12. Hyundai
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 846/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 847/1000 — #20 out of 34
> Parent company: Hyundai Motor Group
11. Jeep
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 845/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 830/1000 — #30 out of 34
> Parent company: Stellantis
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10. Ford
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 845/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 858/1000 — #14 out of 34
> Parent company: Ford Motor Co.
9. Nissan
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 845/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 866/1000 — #11 out of 34
> Parent company: Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance
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8. Buick
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 843/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 829/1000 — #31 out of 34
> Parent company: General Motors
7. Mitsubishi
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 840/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 827/1000 — #32 out of 34
> Parent company: Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance
6. Volkswagen
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 839/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 834/1000 — #29 out of 34
> Parent company: Volkswagen AG.
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5. Mazda
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 839/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 847/1000 — #20 out of 34
> Parent company: Mazda Motor Corp.
4. Subaru
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 833/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 835/1000 — #28 out of 34
> Parent company: Subaru Corp.
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3. Toyota
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 831/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 838/1000 — #27 out of 34
> Parent company: Toyota Motor Corp.
2. Chrysler
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 829/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 826/1000 — #33 out of 34
> Parent company: Stellantis
1. Honda
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 824/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 839/1000 — #26 out of 34
> Parent company: Honda Motor Co.
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