July 24, 2013 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - The 2013 Dodge Charger and Fiat 500 lead their segments in J.D. Power’s 2013 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study™, while the Ram Truck brand ranks as the highest non-premium brand in the industry.
The APEAL Study measures how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive, based on customer evaluations of 77 vehicle attributes of new 2013 model year vehicles. Customers are surveyed after 90 days of ownership at the same time as J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study (IQS). According to J.D. Power, the most appealing vehicles have greater owner loyalty, command higher transaction prices and spend less time on dealer lots before purchase.
“The vehicle characteristics measured in the APEAL study are just as relevant to owners’ overall quality impressions as the issues identified in the IQS survey,” Doug Betts, Senior Vice President - Quality, Chrysler Group LLC said. “A vehicle’s subjective appeal is what really sets it apart from the competition and strengthens a customer’s willingness to recommend their car or truck. We are constantly investing in product upgrades to improve all aspects of quality and customer satisfaction.”