European cars are the most appealing to non-luxury, new vehicle owners in the United States with Japanese cars cornering the luxury end of the same market, according to a new study.
The study, which measures owners' satisfaction with the design, content, layout and performance of their new vehicles, finds that, on average, non-luxury European marques are the preferred choice over Japanese, American and Korean nameplates in exterior styling, cockpit/instrument panel, driving, handling and braking categories.
The JD Power and Associates 2003 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) study, which was released last month, also shows that several successful, all-new and redesigned model launches have succeeded in raising UScustomer satisfaction higher with them than with the models they replaced.
Taking overall poll position was the Mazda 6 which was considered the most improved redesign, up 8 per cent over the Mazda 626 it replaces.
The award for the Most Appealing Compact Car was won by the MINI Cooper, for Most Appealing Entry Midsize Car the Volkswagen Jetta tied with the Hyundai Sonata, while the Most Appealing Full-Size Car category was won by the Mercury Marauder.
The Most Appealing Premium Sports Car was the BMW Z4, with the Most Appealing Premium Luxury Car award going to Lexus LS 430.
Meanwhile, Japanese luxury marques had a slight edge in several categories, including comfort/convenience, sound system, heating, ventilation and cooling, and seats.
The 2003 APEAL Study is based on responses from 102,975 new-vehicle owners across the United States.