BMW, Dodge win three segment awards each in J.D. Power APPEAL Study

(July 28, 2011) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — As the auto industry battles through another difficult year, vehicle manufacturers are fighting to win customers by offering the most appealing vehicles in history, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study released on Wednesday.

BMW and Dodge each captured three segment-level awards. BMW models receiving awards were the X3, Z4 Roadster and 5 Series, while Dodge received awards for the Challenger, Charger and Durango. The Charger, Durango, X3 and 5 Series are all redesigned for the 2011 model year.

The Hyundai Equus luxury car achieved the highest score of any model in the industry. This is the first year that a model other than the BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS or Mercedes-Benz S-Class has led the overall model ranking.

Hyundai Equus most appealing vehicle

Ford and Honda captured two model-level awards each, with Ford receiving awards for the all-new Fiesta and F-150 LD and Honda receiving awards for the Ridgeline and redesigned Odyssey.

Also receiving awards were the Chevrolet Volt, Hyundai Equus, Land Rover Range Rover, Lexus IS, MINI Countryman, Nissan Armada, Porsche Cayenne, Scion xB, Suzuki Kizashi and Volkswagen GTI. Of these, the Countryman, Equus and Volt are all-new models, while the Cayenne is redesigned.

Three models rank highest in their respective segments in both the 2011 APEAL Study and the 2011 IQS — the Dodge Challenger, Ford F-150 LD and Honda Ridgeline.

Porsche was the highest-ranking nameplate in the study for a seventh consecutive year. Hyundai improved from 2010 more than any other nameplate this year, while Jeep and Chrysler also improved considerably.

The APEAL Study examines how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive, based on owner evaluations of more than 80 vehicle attributes. The 2011 APEAL Study is based on responses gathered between February and May 2011 from more than 73,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2011 model-year cars and trucks who were surveyed after the first 90 days of ownership.

The APEAL Study complements the Initial Quality Study (IQS), which focuses on problems experienced by owners during the first 90 days of ownership.