WASHINGTON — Today’s cars and trucks are loaded with more and more gizmos, but a new survey of owners indicates that safety features are the ones that drivers like best — and actually use.
J.D. Power’s annual APEAL (Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout) study, released Wednesday, says that new-vehicle owners’ satisfaction is up slightly over last year, and that features such as blind-spot monitoring and warning systems are a major contributor.
Fancy tech such as voice recognition can be difficult to use, but “most safety features provide information in a more intuitive way, giving owners a greater sense of security,” said Renee Stephens, vice president of U.S. automotive quality at J.D. Power.
“Not only are models increasingly offering systems that improve safety and visibility, but owners are also using them on a regular basis. This can go a long way toward generating positive feelings about their vehicle overall.”
The study finds that 36 percent of new-vehicle owners have blind-spot monitoring and warning systems; 21 percent have lane-departure warning systems; 46 percent have park assist/backup warning; and 25 percent have collision avoidance/alert systems — all up from last year.
Drivers use these features: 69 percent of owners who have blind-spot systems and 62 percent with park assist say they use these systems every time they drive. And they’re willing to pay for them. In another J.D. Power study, drivers on average were willing to pay an extra $750 for blind-spot detection and prevention systems.
The APEAL study also shows that, while drivers are more satisfied with premium-brand cars (Porsche won out for the 11th year in a row), the gap between premium and non-premium brands is the smallest it’s been in 10 years.
The top five:
- Porsche
- Jaguar
- BMW
- Mercedes-Benz
- Audi
The top non-premium brand was Mini.
The study came from a survey held between February and May from more than 84,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2015 model-year cars and light trucks who were surveyed 90 days after they got their vehicles.
