Electric vehicles and active-safety systems are propelling an unprecedented proliferation of new tech features in modern cars. But new systems and features mean more complications for manufacturers and a steeper learning curve for buyers. editors live in a sort of rapid-fire gauntlet of new tech as we cycle through test vehicles, but for a more comprehensive look at how new tech is received by the public, J.D. Power created its U.S. Tech Experience Index Study.
Related: 2023 J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey: New Vehicle Problems Set New Record, Breaking the Previous One from Last Year
The Rankings
Based on results compiled from 82,472 survey respondents who have owned new model-year 2023 vehicles for at least 90 days, the Tech Experience Index Study uses a 1,000-point scale to rate the level and execution of new technology in brands’ vehicles. It looks at 40 technologies that J.D. Power groups into four categories: convenience, emerging automation, energy and sustainability, and infotainment and connectivity. In both the mass-market and premium categories, J.D. Power gives the nod to Korean brands, with Hyundai ranking at the top for mass-market brands and its luxury counterpart Genesis topping the premium chart. The industry average score was 503, up from 486 in 2022.
J.D. Power’s complete ranking of brands for its 2023 Tech Experience Index Study is as follows:
- Genesis: 656
- Hyundai: 547
- Cadillac: 533
- Lexus: 533
- BMW: 528
- Kia: 528
- Mercedes-Benz: 522
- Volvo: 509
- GMC: 505
- Land Rover: 499
- Lincoln: 488
- Infiniti: 485
- Ram: 483
- Subaru: 481
- Chevrolet: 480
- Acura: 472
- Nissan: 466
- Buick: 462
- Ford: 462
- Toyota: 459
- Alfa Romeo: 458
- Audi: 456
- Mini: 454
- Jeep: 453
- Honda: 452
- Volkswagen: 452
- Porsche: 451
- Mitsubishi: 440
- Chrysler: 436
- Dodge: 424
- Jaguar: 411
- Mazda: 394
Brands with insufficient sales numbers aren’t included in the official rankings, but J.D. Power handed Tesla and Polestar an unofficial 773 and 591, respectively.
EV Tech Brings More Frustrations
J.D. Power also compared results between electric and internal-combustion-engine vehicles, concluding that users encountered more problems with specific technologies and systems in EVs versus the same technologies in ICE vehicles.
Important caveat: A problem can be an actual malfunction or failure, or it can be something an owner doesn’t understand or finds annoying. With that in mind, survey respondents reported the greatest EV and ICE discrepancies with remote parking assistance systems (27.4 problems per 100 vehicles for EVs versus 10.7 for ICE vehicles) and interior gesture controls (49.6 versus 31.2).
The study also found that new automakers like Lucid, Polestar, Rivian and Tesla offer more innovative tech than brands that have been around for a while. However, this doesn’t mean they’re problem-free: Excluding Polestar, the average problem levels for new manufacturers are rated above the premium average of 24.3 problems per 100 vehicles.
On the plus side, however, nearly 75% of EV owners find that plug-and-charge technology is something they’d want in their next vehicle. The technology allows owners to start charging their EVs automatically after plugging into a public charger, and it also lets them make payments without fumbling for a credit card after charging is complete. The tech received an overall satisfaction rating of 8.89 on a 10-point scale, as well as a mere 6 problems per 100 vehicles.
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