Cadillac Edges Out BMW, But Porsche Still Tops in Latest Owner Satisfaction Survey

You know that feeling when you pull into your driveway and just smile at your car? D. Power’s annual APEAL study tries to measure exactly that, how much owners actually love their vehicles after three months behind the wheel. This year, Porsche took the top spot overall with a score of 896 out of 1,000, thanks largely to the 911.

But the study, now in its 31st year, asked over 78,000 owners about everything from seat comfort to cup holder placement, and the results turned up some surprises.

Among premium brands, Cadillac beat BMW in the overall rankings, with the Escalade winning its segment. BMW still cleaned up in individual categories, taking home awards for the X2, X6, 2 Series, 5 Series, and 7 Series. Mini, which is part of BMW Group, ranked first among mass-market brands with a score of 875.

Hyundai and Kia also did well, with wins for the Carnival, K4, K5, Palisade, and Santa Cruz. Ford scored with the Mustang and Super Duty pickups, while General Motors took home wins for the Chevy Blazer and GMC Yukon.

But here’s where it gets messy. D. Power says it couldn’t sample owners in all 50 states due to restricted access. Yet the study still published their scores, and if they counted, Tesla would have crushed the field with a 920, while Chrysler would have landed dead last at 814. D.

Power also includes those ineligible brands when calculating the industry average, which explains why the premium segment average of 893 sits just behind Porsche. The whole thing raises eyebrows, especially since the Jaguar F-Pace won its category despite the brand being ineligible and ending production last year.

For car shoppers, the APEAL study still offers a useful window into how real people feel about their rides after the new-car glow fades. Talking to 78,000 owners about whether they’d buy the same car again is no small task. It’s a reminder that the best marketing in the world can’t beat the feeling of a car you actually enjoy driving every day.