What do new car owners really think about their purchase after about 90 days of ownership? Each year, JD Power aims to find out, surveying tens of thousands of verified new vehicle owners about the pros and cons of their car, truck, or SUV.
Based on the responses from consumers just like you, JD Power learns what has gone right and what has gone wrong during the first 90 days of ownership. This data is gathered, analyzed, and organized into several benchmark studies of automotive customer satisfaction.
One of these studies is the annual JD Power Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) Study, which measures satisfaction with exterior design, interior controls and comfort, and vehicle performance, among others. To understand which vehicles best satisfy owners, JD Power assigns an index score to each make and model. In the APEAL Study, the higher the score, the more satisfied the customers who own the vehicles are.
This list includes the five highest-rated midsize premium and upper midsize premium cars of the 2020 model year, according to the consumers who own them, and they’re listed in order starting with the vehicle earning the highest score. The average index score for midsize premium cars is 855, with 861 being the average for upper midsize premium cars.
Cadillac never quite got the appealing CT6 off the ground, and now after a relatively short 5-year production run, the car exits production after the 2020 model year. The final examples of the 2020 Cadillac CT6 have a 335-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 with Luxury and Premium Luxury trim levels, while the Platinum and CT6-V are powered by Cadillac’s twin-turbocharged 4.2-liter Blackwing V-8 engine, making 500 to 550 horsepower. Every CT6 has a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive.
The APEAL index score for the 2020 Cadillac CT6 is 883, and the CT6 receives an APEAL award in the Upper Midsize Premium Car segment.
What’s a Kia doing on this list of premium cars? Check out the Stinger 5-door fastback and you’ll find out, as it offers athletic performance and high levels of both quality and equipment plus impressive utility. The Stinger lineup begins with the GT-Line, which is powered by a 255-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. Then come the GT, GT1, and GT2 versions of the car, equipped with a twin-turbocharged 365 horsepower 3.3-liter V-6. Both engines are matched to an 8-speed automatic transmission that delivers power to the rear or all four wheels.
The APEAL index score for the 2020 Kia Stinger is 878, and the Stinger receives an APEAL award in the Midsize Premium Car segment.
In a nice bit of synchronicity, no less than five powertrain choices are available for the 2020 BMW 5 Series sport sedan. They range from a 248-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder to a monstrous 617-horsepower twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8. BMW even offers a plug-in hybrid version providing electric operation for short trip combined with the efficiency of a gasoline-electric powertrain. All 5 Series models employ an 8-speed automatic transmission, and feature rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.
The 2020 Cadillac CT5 is a brand-new addition to the automaker’s lineup, replacing the previous CTS sedan. It’s built on the same platform and is equipped with a standard 237-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder or an available 335-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6. Stepping up to the performance-tuned V-Series increases the V-6 engine’s output to 360 horsepower. Every version of this Cadillac has a 10-speed automatic transmission powering the rear wheels unless you choose the optional all-wheel-drive system.
The APEAL index score for the 2020 Cadillac CT5 is 866.
Last redesigned for 2013, the 2020 Lincoln MKZ enters its final model year continuing to offer several powertrain choices. A 245-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder serves as the base engine, while a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 generating as much as 400 horsepower is an option. Both engines are available with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. There’s a hybrid version of the MKZ, too, providing a combined 188 horsepower. Lincoln has cancelled all car models after 2020, moving to a strictly SUV lineup.
The APEAL index score for the 2020 Lincoln MKZ is 861.
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