The Rivian R1T and MINI Cooper Electric led in J.D. Power’s EV ownership satisfaction survey, beating out Tesla, Ford, Hyundai/Kia and more.
While specifications and professional reviews often play a significant role when car buyers are looking to buy their next vehicle, the thoughts and experiences of other recent customers can also be a considerable help.
According to J.D. Power’s survey, which compiles a series of data points from a customer survey into a score on a 1,000-point scale, the Rivian R1T was the highest-rated premium electric vehicle, scoring 794 points, while the MINI Cooper Electric led the mass market segment, scoring 782 points.
The Tesla Model 3 came in a close second in the premium segment, scoring 759 points, while the Tesla Model Y was third, with 754 points. The Audi e-tron and the Polestar 2 rounded out the top five in the premium segment. The segment average score was 756 points.
As for mass market offerings, the MINI Cooper Electric was another clear winner, with the second-place Kia EV6 trailing by 20 points. The Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Volkswagen ID.4 rounded out the mass market top five.
Last year's winners, the Tesla Model 3 and Kia Niro EV, had dramatically different placements this year. The Model 3 remained competitive for the top spot of the premium segment, while the Niro EV sank to sixth in the mass market segment, just above the industry average.
J.D. Power’s study focused on 10 factors when surveying drivers: accuracy of stated battery range, public charging availability, cost of ownership, driving enjoyment, ease of charging at home, interior and exterior styling, safety and technology features, service experience, vehicle quality and reliability.
Unsurprisingly, premium EV owners had a far better charging experience than mass market EV owners, likely influenced by Tesla’s Supercharging Network. It should be noted a slightly larger proportion of mass market owners were first-time EV buyers; 84% of all respondents were first-time EV owners, a record for the survey.
Regarding top concerns, results varied considerably between the mass market and premium segments. While infotainment was the biggest annoyance for mass market EV owners, general build quality and “creaks and rattles” were top concerns in the premium segment.
As EVs become increasingly popular with the general public, there is no doubt the problems found today will receive more attention, pushing automakers to improve in these critical areas. This, combined with the fantastic ownership experience already cited by the vast majority of owners in this survey, will make the EV ownership experience of the future an incredible one.
