Electric vehicle ownership comes with a unique set of benefits (lower maintenance costs and fuel savings) and challenges (range anxiety and charging concerns). J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study can help guide shoppers thinking about making the switch by providing insights into what current owners like and dislike about the experience as well as which vehicles lead to the highest satisfaction ratings. For 2023, newcomer Rivian R1T pickup truck has the highest overall owner satisfaction in its first year of eligibility — a spot Tesla claimed in both 2022 and 2021. Among the expanded list of mass-market brands, the Mini Cooper SE Hardtop comes out on top.

Related: What to Know Before Purchasing an Electric Vehicle: A Buying Guide

The EVX study measures EV owners’ satisfaction based on 10 factors: accuracy of stated battery range; availability of public charging stations; battery range; cost of ownership; driving enjoyment; ease of charging at home; interior and exterior styling; safety and technology features; service experience; and vehicle quality and reliability. For the first time in its three-year history, the study focused only on satisfaction in the first year of vehicle ownership.

The 2023 results show unique trends among premium and mass-market EV owners, offer reassurance for electrified truck shoppers and highlight first-time owners’ satisfaction scores.

The Overall Rankings

The average satisfaction score for premium brands was 756 on a 1,000-point scale — down from 770 in 2022. Mass-market brands saw a satisfaction score of 730 — a notable jump from 709. Below are the vehicles ranked in each segment along with their overall satisfaction scores:

Premium

1. Rivian R1T: 794 points (out of 1,000)

2. Tesla Model 3: 759

3. Tesla Model Y: 754

4. Audi E-Tron: 735

5. Polestar 2: 724

Mass-Market

1. Mini Cooper SE Hardtop: 782

2. Kia EV6: 762

3. Ford Mustang Mach-E: 742

4. Hyundai Ioniq 5: 738

5. Volkswagen ID.4: 735

6. Kia Niro EV: 733

7. Ford F-150 Lightning: 723

8. Chevrolet Bolt EUV: 716

9. Chevrolet Bolt EV: 711

10. Nissan Leaf: 698

The Top Dogs: Rivian R1T, Mini Cooper SE Hardtop

The Rivian R1T ranks highest among premium brands and overall, unseating the Tesla Model 3, 2022’s top-ranked EV. In the premium category, the Model 3 takes second with a score of 759 — down from 777 in 2022. Its SUV counterpart, the Model Y, lands third. Top factors that contributed to the R1T’s satisfaction score were the truck’s driving enjoyment and styling.

Among an expanded list of mass-market EVs, the Mini Cooper SE Hardtop sees the highest satisfaction score. It also ranks highest for quality and reliability — the study’s heaviest-weighted category. The Kia Niro EV, 2022’s top-ranked mass-market model, falls to sixth place, but it remains a popular choice among editors, helping to earn the title of Best Car of 2023.

Premium Vs. Mass-Market EVs

Shoppers deciding which EV to choose should note that mass-market and premium brands differ in average satisfaction scores and problems reported. While infotainment was the most problematic category for mass-market EVs in all three years of the study, the biggest complaint among premium owners in 2023 was “squeaks and rattles.”

The biggest gap in mass-market and premium EV owners’ satisfaction was public charging availability. For premium EVs, the public charging satisfaction score was 589, while mass-market EVs had a notably lower score of 341. Tesla’s public charging network of Level 2 and DC fast chargers plays a significant role in the discrepancy: While overall public charging satisfaction took a dip in J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Public Charging Study, Tesla’s chargers ranked highest in owner satisfaction.

As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that includes a $7.5 billion investment in EV charging, Tesla has agreed to open thousands of public chargers to all EVs by 2024. The move could lead to improved satisfaction among mass-market EV owners but lower satisfaction among Tesla owners who will be forced to share the network.

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Towing Boosts Satisfaction

A new survey question targeted at electric pickup owners uncovers the most surprising results of the study. Ford F-150 Lightning, GMC Hummer EV and Rivian R1T owners were asked if they tow with their vehicles; a series of follow-up questions shows that owners who towed with their EV had a higher overall satisfaction rating (779) than those who have not towed (753).

A EV towing test showed a significant impact on the F-150 Lightning’s range and accuracy of range predictions, but respondents who towed with their vehicles didn’t find this problematic. In fact, driving range satisfaction was higher among owners who have towed (635) than among those who have not (617), and satisfaction with range accuracy also is higher among the towing group compared with those who haven’t towed (707 and 680, respectively).

What Do First-Time EV Owners Want?

The share of first-time EV owners rose from 74% in the 2022 study to 85% in 2023, partially due to the increase in available mass-market EVs, says J.D. Power. But while more shoppers are choosing EVs for the first time, there may be some buyer’s remorse involved — satisfaction among first-time owners is higher in just one category: vehicle quality and reliability. Among first-time EV owners who chose a mass-market EV, affordability was a top concern, with 68% reporting expected lower running costs and tax credits and incentives as their primary reasons for the purchase. Meanwhile, 75% of first-time premium EV owners ranked driving performance as their primary reason for the purchase.