Genesis Topples Porsche In 2018 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study

The industry average APEAL score increases to 820 points (on a 1,000-point scale) from 810 a year ago, propelled by significantly higher scores in all 10 vehicle evaluation categories, with 23 of the 31 brands included in the study making gains in their performance from 2017.

The automotive industry is performing exceptionally well, with manufacturers making record-breaking improvements year over year," said Dave Sargent, Vice President, Global Automotive at J.D. Power. "It's a great time to buy a new car or truck. There are a lot of high-quality, appealing vehicles in every segment of the market and shoppers don't have to spend a fortune to get one."

Following are some key findings of the 2018 study:

• Mass market brands continue to close in on luxury segment: The average APEAL score for the mass market segment is 814, a 10-point improvement from 2017, while the luxury segment improves 6 points to 851. Vehicles in the mass market segment are being loaded with more content than in the past, which accounts for much of the improvement. The gap between the two segments has narrowed to an all-time low of 37 points.
• All categories improve in 2018: The APEAL Study examines 10 vehicle categories, all of which consumers are finding more satisfying vs. 2017: driving dynamics (+12 points); visibility and safety (+11); engine/transmission (+10); audio/communication/entertainment/navigation (+10); seats (+10); heating, ventilation and air conditioning (+10); exterior (+9); interior (+9); storage and space (+9); and fuel economy (+4).
• Lincoln Navigator posts highest score of any model: The Lincoln Navigator has the highest overall APEAL score (915) of any model this year. This is also the highest level recorded in this generation of the study (2013-2018). The U.S. APEAL Study, which was first published in 1996, is currently in its third generation.

Highest-Ranked Brands

Genesis ranks highest in overall APEAL for the first time, with a score of 884. Porsche ranks second overall (883), followed by BMW (863), Lincoln (861) and Mercedes-Benz (858).

In the mass market segment, Chevrolet and GMC rank highest in a tie with a score of 826. This is the first time either brand has ranked highest. Ram ranks third (825), followed by Dodge and Ford (824 each).

Mitsubishi is the most improved brand, increasing 33 points from 2017. Other brands showing substantial improvements are Dodge (+29), Jeep (+26), GMC (+18) and Chevrolet (+16).

Segment-Level Model APEAL Awards

The parent company receiving the most model-level awards for its various brands is Ford Motor Co. (four model-level awards), followed by General Motors, Volkswagen AG and BMW AG with three each.

• Ford Motor Co.: Ford Expedition; Ford F-150; Ford Mustang; and Lincoln Continental
• General Motors: Chevrolet Equinox; Chevrolet Traverse; and GMC Sierra HD
• Volkswagen AG: Audi A3; Porsche Cayenne; and Volkswagen Jetta
• BMW AG: BMW X1; BMW X3; and MINI Countryman
• Honda Motor Co.: Honda Accord and Honda Ridgeline
• Hyundai Motor Group: Kia Rio and Kia Stinger
• Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: Chrysler Pacifica
• Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.: Nissan Maxima

Receiving a model-level award for a second consecutive year are Audi A3, BMW X1, Chrysler Pacifica, Ford F-150, Lincoln Continental, Honda Ridgeline and Porsche Cayenne.

The 2018 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study measures owners' emotional attachment and level of excitement across 77 attributes, ranging from the power they feel when they step on the gas to the sense of comfort and luxury they feel when climbing into the driver's seat. These attributes are combined into an overall APEAL index score that is measured on a 1,000-point scale. The study, now in its 23rd year, is based on responses gathered from November 2017 through February 2018 from nearly 68,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2018 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study, which complements the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study,^SM is used extensively by manufacturers worldwide to help them design and develop more appealing vehicles and by consumers to help them in their purchase decisions.

MDarringer - 7/25/2018 11:32:30 AM

-3 Boost

APEAL is great and wonderful, but it is all about the happiness with the honeymoon.

Once again, the customer is key.

As an example...

As cars become more complicated with the infotainment systems, customers who report a poor interface with the infotainment system were often inadequately trained on how to work it.

Some customers are stubborn mules who want no training and then are pissed that it doesn't work right.

Other customers are shown how things work with a perfunctory/cursory once over by a salesperson and when that training is insufficient, they blame the system.

Another example...

Follow up after the sale is vitally important. Five days out is the ideal time to make contact to answer questions. Premium brands know this and if a customer has questions they will often send the sales person to the customer as opposed to having the customer come in so that additional tutorial can happen.

Given that this aware is 100% customer opinion, customers are important.

It should be easy for Genesis to win. If their small sales volume is met with stellar service, they win. Porsche has for a long time supported its small sales volume with excellent customer relations.

BUT

As volume increases it becomes harder to provide the same level of support. As the data shows, low-volume premiums score better on APEAL than volume mainstream brands, but that is NO INDICATION of how well the car will perform for durability and reliability.

A high score on APEAL is like a honeymoon with mind-blowing sex and being surveyed in that moment as to the success of the marriage.

It does not take into consideration bills, in-laws, kids, idiosyncracies, and so on.

Truthy - 7/25/2018 12:08:01 PM

+4 Boost

Dodge and Chrysler rank above Acura and Mazda? What is the methodology for this study?

MDarringer - 7/25/2018 12:18:40 PM

-3 Boost

@Truthy

It's a VERY flawed methodology. It's dependent on people responding and basing the analysis on emotional responses rather than factual data. In essence, JD Power turns emotional responses into "data seeming" facts.

If you bought a Mostaccioli SuperCretino MR Spec, you're likely to complete the survey and extol its virtues glowingly.

Filling out the survey reaffirms your self-impression as to how awesome you are that you have the fancy car.

If you bought a Peoplewagen Tarquishia and it's not going well, you're likely to complete the survey and bitch to high heaven.

Mainstream buyers who are happy with their purchase have better things to do than fill out a survey.

NOW factor in that JD Power sells the use of its logo and the information to companies so they can use it for advertising and you can see that it's in JD Power's interests to perpetually have new winners.

Did Genesis do a good job with customers? Hands down, yes. BUT the number of customers they needed to keep happy is much smaller than the number Porsche had to juggle.

zlives - 7/25/2018 3:27:13 PM

+4 Boost

Perception is key with this one. a Porsche buyer has expectations of the brand that a Hyundai buyer doesn't.

so its easier to wow a customer that was expecting mediocrity, with above average.

MDarringer - 7/25/2018 7:37:41 PM

-1 Boost

Amen to that.

TheSteve - 7/25/2018 11:31:08 PM

+5 Boost

Hmmmm. I've been eyeing that 911 Turbo, but now that Genesis is one point better than Porsche, maybe I should get a Genesis instead... said no one, ever.

MDarringer - 7/26/2018 9:42:47 AM

+2 Boost

This is all about creating a meaningless award that the idiot buying public will swallow as having meaning. The people who are buying a Genesis because they can't afford a Mercedes will eat this up. Porsche could be dead last and you'd still buy the Turbo Super Beetle.

TomM - 7/26/2018 7:58:32 AM

+2 Boost

Sorry - but UNTIL we discover HOW the study was done - how the car owners were chosen - what questions were asked - whether actual data was used instead of memories of the owner - I will continue to ignore such studies - especially those that seem wrong right from the getgo.

I can design a POLL that would have the ALL TIME favorite vehicle be the Pontiac Aztec. AND while I would not have bought one new - the prices on them came down so rapidly and essentially they had nothing different from many other GM cars - they were actually a real BUY. But the Favorite of ALL TIME- sure - and Matt is a liberal too!

MDarringer - 7/26/2018 9:41:11 AM

-1 Boost

#Dumbass the article tells you the methodology. Moreover, you could simply Google APEAL to find out. Stop being so nose uppity and entitled.

hangtime010 - 7/26/2018 9:56:00 AM

+3 Boost

1 major flaw (and believe me there are more than 1) with all these surveys and polls is that the number of respondents will vary. Genesis sold 7,262 vehicles, Porsche sold over 30K - YTD (June #'s). How many took part in the survey? 10%?
If CR or whoever is doing these surveys can get the same # of respondents, say minimum 10K people, from each brand I will be inclined to take a bit of notice of the outcome.
You can't base ranking if under a 1K people from 1 brand responds compared to 25K from another.

MDarringer - 7/26/2018 10:23:13 AM

0 Boost

Which was what I was getting at with #Truthy.