Purchasing an appealing 2020 model vehicle isn’t easy.
But not because there are too few.
Figuring out how to buy a car that’s really appealing right now starts with this impressive list of 11 manufacturers, 18 brands in 25 segments, a total of 68 models, according to J.D. Power’s Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) study.
Shoppers’ choices range from the 40 cars, SUVs and pickups in 15 mass market segments to the 28 vehicles in 10 premium segments.
Photo credit: Honda via Newspress USA
The Honda Ridgeline was J.D. Power’s winner among midsize pickup trucks.
The parent company receiving the most model-level awards was Hyundai Motor Group, five awards comprising two Hyundai and two Kia models, plus one Genesis model, followed by BMW AG with three BMWs and a MINI, and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., with four Nissan models.
But that’s only part of the story for shoppers seeking appealing vehicles in 2020.
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Counting runner-up positions, General Motors landed 12 models on the APEAL list with a mix of mass market and premium vehicles – five GMCs, four Cadillacs and three Chevrolets – and Ford Motor Company and Hyundai Motor Group each landed nine models with a mix of mass-market and premium. BMW AG made the list with eight, mainly premium vehicles, and Nissan and Honda motor companies and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles each scored five vehicles overall, mainly mass-market brands.
The study measures 37 attributes, ranging from the sense of comfort and luxury owners feel when climbing into the driver’s seat to the feeling they get when they step on the accelerator, said J.D. Power.
Following is a rundown of the complete APEAL results:
Mass-market cars and SUVs
Small car
Winner: Nissan Versa
Runners-up: Chevrolet Sonic and Kia Rio
Compact car
Winner: Nissan Sentra
Runners-up: Volkswagen Jetta and Honda Civic
Compact sporty car
Winner: Hyundai Veloster
Runner-up: Subaru WRX
Midsize car
Winner: Hyundai Sonata
Runners-up: Honda Accord and Kia Optima
Midsize sporty car
Winner: Dodge Challenger
Runner-up: Ford Mustang
Large car
Winner: Nissan Maxima
Runner-up: Dodge Charger
Small SUV
Winner: (Tie) MINI Countryman and Toyota C-HR
Runner-up: Mazda CX-30
Compact SUV
Winner: (Tie) Ford Escape and Mazda CX-5
Runner-up: GMC Terrain
Midsize SUV
Winner: Chevrolet Blazer
Runners-up: Nissan Murano and Hyundai Santa Fe
Upper midsize SUV
Winner: Kia Telluride
Runners-up: Hyundai Palisade and Dodge Durango
Large SUV
Winner: Nissan Armada
Runners-up: GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe
Mass-market minivans and trucks
Minivan
Winner: Honda Odyssey
Runner-up: Chrysler Pacifica
Midsize pickup
Winner: Honda Ridgeline
Runners-up: (tie) Ford Ranger and GMC Canyon
Large light duty pickup
Winner: Ram 1500
Runners-up: GMC Sierra and Ford F-150
Large heavy duty pickup
Winner: GMC Sierra HD
Runner-up: Ford Super Duty
Premium cars and SUVs
Small premium car
Winner: Audi A3
Runner-up: Acura ILX
Compact car
Winner: Genesis G70
Runners-up: BMW 3 Series, and (tie) Lexus IS and Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Midsize car
Winner: Kia Stinger
Runners-up: Cadillac CTS and Lincoln MKZ
Upper midsize car
Winner: Cadillac CT6
Runner-up: BMW 5 Series
Large car
Winner: BMW 7 Series
Runner-up: BMW 8 Series
Small SUV
Winner: Jaguar E-Pace
Runners-up: Volvo XC40 and Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Compact SUV
Winner: BMW 4
Runners-up: Lincoln Corsair and Porsche Macan
Midsize SUV
Winner: Land Rover Range Rover Velar
Runners-up: Cadillac XTS and Lincoln Nautilus
Upper midsize SUV
Winner: BMW X6
Runners-up: Porsche Cayenne and BMW X5
Large SUV
Winner: Lincoln Navigator
Runners-up: Cadillac Escalade and Mercedes-Benz GLS
The APEAL study is based on more than 20 vehicle attributes in 10 experience groups: Walking up to your vehicle, setting up and starting your vehicle, getting in and out of the vehicle, the vehicle’s interior, the vehicle’s powertrain, your vehicle’s driving feel, the vehicle keeping you safe, using the infotainment system, your vehicle’s driving comfort and its fuel usage.
The study was based on responses from nearly 90,000 owners of new 2020 model-year vehicles who were surveyed from February through May after 90 days of ownership.
