A brand new J.D. Energy examine reveals a decline in Tesla proprietor satisfaction, however a rise for different EVs.

The annual J.D. Energy Automotive Efficiency, Execution, and Structure (APEAL) examine measures buyer satisfaction for the primary 90 days of possession, primarily based on a survey masking 37 car attributes. With a rating of 878 out of 1,000 factors, Tesla stays one of many highest-ranked manufacturers, and outperformed different manufacturers in some attributes, however that rating is down 9 factors from a yr in the past, when Tesla was first included within the examine.

The general image for EVs was extra constructive. Excluding Tesla, the rating for EVs was 840 factors, which is a two-point enhance year-over-year, even because the {industry} as a complete noticed a consecutive year-over-year decline in proprietor satisfaction for the primary time within the 28-year historical past of the APEAL examine. The industry-wide satisfaction rating was 845—two factors decrease than 2022 and three factors decrease than 2021.

2022 BMW i4 M50

EVs are additionally closing the hole with gasoline vehicles. The typical rating for gasoline vehicles was 843 factors, simply three factors greater than EVs and tied with plug-in hybrids. Amongst particular person fashions, the BMW i4 was additionally runner-up within the Compact Premium Automotive class, behind the Lexus IS.

Some EV fashions seem to have misplaced some floor to fuel fashions within the rankings, nonetheless. The Mercedes-Benz EQS and Kia EV6 topped gasoline automobiles of their respective classes within the 2022 APEAL examine, however did not repeat that this yr. The i4 was the one EV within the prime three of any mannequin class.

2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS

This examine additionally does not cowl the service expertise. One other J.D. Energy examine printed earlier this yr discovered EV house owners had been much less glad with dealership service than house owners of gasoline vehicles.

J.D. Energy discovered final yr that pricing is necessary in EV charging satisfaction, so we’ll must see if as EV costs themselves settle, customers are feeling much more constructive concerning the automobiles.

And as J.D. Energy has emphasised earlier than, most first-time EV house owners are very glad with the EV possession expertise, and those that purchase an EV are more likely to get an EV once more, even when their satisfaction diminishes from that first impression.