Cars get us from point A to point B, but some brands make this experience far less satisfying and enjoyable. What drivers care about can differ widely. Some drivers put an emphasis on owning a stylish vehicle, while others are looking for a car with superior acceleration and handling. And some just care about maximizing fuel efficiency and minimizing upkeep costs.
To find the car that most Americans hate, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2022 J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study. Car brands are ranked according to the cumulative score in the APEAL Brand Index, which is based on a survey of over 84,000 car owners. The APEAL Study asks owners to consider 37 attributes. We have included last year’s index score for comparison as well as the average score for each segment.
J.D. Power’s study asked owners to rate attributes such as the sense of comfort they feel when climbing into the driver’s seat, the exhilaration they get when they step on the accelerator, their satisfaction with the infotainment system and with fuel economy.
Customers were generally less satisfied with mass market vehicles, which averaged a score of 841 out of 1,000. Premium vehicles averaged 873. Dodge is the only mass market brand with a score over 880. The scores of many of the most hated brands fell from last year. However, the score of Chrysler, the second most hated brand, slightly improved.Â
Audi is the most hated premium brand, with a score of 847, followed by Acura. Porsche, on the other hand, is the most loved premium brand, followed by Tesla. (These are the ugliest cars ever made)
Low scores do not necessarily equate to low sales. Toyota, the third most-hated car brand in the country, was the top-selling brand in the U.S. market in 2021. The most hated cars in America also do not necessarily correlate with the worst car brands in America.
Click here to see the least appealing car brands to Americans.
Source: andreafidone / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
34. Porsche
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 888/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 882/1000 — #2 out of 34
> Parent company: Volkswagen Group
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Source: Sjo / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
33. Tesla
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 887/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 893/1000 — #1 out of 34
> Parent company: Tesla Inc.
Source: 152930510@N02 / Flickr / Public Domain
32. Genesis
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 886/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 879/1000 — #5 out of 34
> Parent company: Hyundai Motor Group
Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
31. Cadillac
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 885/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 871/1000 — #9 out of 34
> Parent company: General Motors
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Source: Onnes / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
30. Dodge
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 882/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 882/1000 — #2 out of 34
> Parent company: Stellantis
Source: THEPALMER / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
29. Mercedes-Benz
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 876/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 867/1000 — #10 out of 34
> Parent company: Daimler AG
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Source: ByoungJoo / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
28. BMW
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 875/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 874/1000 — #8 out of 34
> Parent company: BMW Group
27. Polestar
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 871/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: N/A/1000 — #N/A out of 34
> Parent company: Zhejiang Geely Holding Group
Source: tomeng / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
26. Land Rover
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 871/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 879/1000 — #5 out of 34
> Parent company: Tata Motors
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Source: 152930510@N02 / Flickr
25. Lincoln
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 870/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 876/1000 — #7 out of 34
> Parent company: Ford Motor Co.
24. Jaguar
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 868/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 852/1000 — #18 out of 34
> Parent company: Tata Motors
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Source: Tramino / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
23. Alfa Romeo
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 868/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 854/1000 — #17 out of 34
> Parent company: Stellantis
Source: Tramino / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
22. Infiniti
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 866/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 842/1000 — #24 out of 34
> Parent company: Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance
Source: chameleonseye / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
21. Lexus
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 863/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 860/1000 — #13 out of 34
> Parent company: Toyota Motor Corp.
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Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
20. Ram
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 863/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 881/1000 — #4 out of 34
> Parent company: Stellantis
Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
19. GMC
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 856/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 861/1000 — #12 out of 34
> Parent company: General Motors
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Source: Luca Piccini Basile / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
18. Volvo
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 852/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 856/1000 — #15 out of 34
> Parent company: Zhejiang Geely Holding Group
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Source: shaunl / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
17. Acura
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 851/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 842/1000 — #24 out of 34
> Parent company: Honda Motor Company
Source: Courtesy of Chevrolet
16. Chevrolet
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 851/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 845/1000 — #23 out of 34
> Parent company: General Motors
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Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
15. Kia
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 849/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 856/1000 — #15 out of 34
> Parent company: Hyundai Motor Group
Source: serrvill / Flickr
14. MINI
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 848/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 847/1000 — #20 out of 34
> Parent company: BMW Group
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Source: y_carfan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
13. Audi
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 847/1000
> Segment: Premium — segment average score: 872
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 850/1000 — #19 out of 34
> Parent company: Volkswagen Group
12. Hyundai
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 846/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 847/1000 — #20 out of 34
> Parent company: Hyundai Motor Group
Source: 1000kbps / iStock via Getty Images
11. Jeep
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 845/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 830/1000 — #30 out of 34
> Parent company: Stellantis
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Source: gopixa / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
10. Ford
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 845/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 858/1000 — #14 out of 34
> Parent company: Ford Motor Co.
Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
9. Nissan
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 845/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 866/1000 — #11 out of 34
> Parent company: Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance
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Source: RiverNorthPhotography / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
8. Buick
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 843/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 829/1000 — #31 out of 34
> Parent company: General Motors
Source: rafalkrakow / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
7. Mitsubishi
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 840/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 827/1000 — #32 out of 34
> Parent company: Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance
Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
6. Volkswagen
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 839/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 834/1000 — #29 out of 34
> Parent company: Volkswagen AG.
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Source: Teka77 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
5. Mazda
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 839/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 847/1000 — #20 out of 34
> Parent company: Mazda Motor Corp.
Source: tomeng / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
4. Subaru
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 833/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 835/1000 — #28 out of 34
> Parent company: Subaru Corp.
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Source: dogayusufdokdok / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
3. Toyota
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 831/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 838/1000 — #27 out of 34
> Parent company: Toyota Motor Corp.
Source: RomanBabakin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2. Chrysler
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 829/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 826/1000 — #33 out of 34
> Parent company: Stellantis
Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
1. Honda
> 2022 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 824/1000
> Segment: Mass Market — segment average score: 841
> 2021 Overall APEAL Brand Index Ranking: 839/1000 — #26 out of 34
> Parent company: Honda Motor Co.
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