The study looked at four main areas: convenience, emerging automation, energy and sustainability, and infotainment and connectivity. It ranked the car brands based on how many problems drivers had with the new tech features, using a "problems per 100 vehicles" (PP100) scale. The brands got scores out of 1,000 based on this ranking.
For the fancy premium brands, Genesis came out on top, followed by Lexus and BMW. In the regular car category, Hyundai took the lead, with Kia and GMC right behind.
Some cars got special awards for their cool tech features. The Toyota Sequoia won in the convenience category for its rearview mirror camera system. For emerging automation, the Genesis GV70 and Kia Carnival both got props for their front cross-traffic warning systems.
In the energy and sustainability group, the BMW iX stood out with its one-pedal driving system. For infotainment and connectivity, the BMW X6 and Hyundai Santa Fe both got kudos for their phone-based key systems.
J.D. Power's director of user experience benchmarking and technology had this to say:
"A strong advanced tech strategy is crucial for all vehicle manufacturers, and many innovative technologies are answering customer needs. At the same time, this year's study makes it clear that owners find some technologies of little use and/or are continually annoying."
Source: J.D. Power