Rivian R1T and the MINI Cooper Electric came out on top of J.D. Power’s most recent study, released today. The 2023 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study noted that owners’ satisfaction with their EV was likely to hinge on “traditional” factors such as quality and styling, and not EV-specific aspects, like range and charging.
“The electric vehicle landscape is changing quickly, and newer models are bringing in more mainstream, first-time EV buyers,” said Brent Gruber, executive director of the EV practice at J.D. Power. “Recent vehicle launches from both new brands and traditional automakers have had a profound effect on what factors are most important in the ownership experience. Today’s EV owners are looking for quality, reliability, driving enjoyment, safety and technology features.”
In its first year of eligibility, the Rivian R1T ranks highest overall with a satisfaction score of 794 (on a 1,000-point scale). Owners have high levels of satisfaction with the driving enjoyment and interior/exterior styling factors. MINI Cooper Electric ranks highest in the mass market segment with a score of 782, supported by the highest satisfaction score of any EV model in the study’s highest-weighted index factor, quality and reliability.
Following are key findings of the 2023 study:
- Differences notable between premium and mass market segments: For a third consecutive year, owners of mass market BEVs cite infotainment as the most problematic category. Among premium BEV owners, the most problematic categories are squeaks and rattles, and exterior.
- Towing more satisfying for EV truck owners: New to the study this year are survey questions specific to EV trucks regarding towing. Interestingly, satisfaction is higher among EV truck owners who have used their vehicle for towing, than among owners who have not towed.
- Changing landscape of first-time BEV owners: The study shows an increase of 11 percentage points from 2022 in the rate of first-time BEV ownership, rising to 85% from 74%.
The 2023 study includes 10 factors (in alphabetical order): 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.
