IN the top five non-premium segment, Volkswagen emerged ahead of passenger brands Mini, Buick and Kia while trucking company Ram held the top position. The Passat and GTI were winners in their Mid-Size Car and Compact Sporty Car segments respectively in the JD Power 2013 Apeal Study.

According to the JD Power 2013 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, SM automakers that build appealing models sell them faster, and for higher prices, than those who do not. Furthermore, when those appealing models are traded in, those customers are more likely to remain loyal to the brand.

The JD Power APEAL Study, an industry benchmark customer satisfaction study now in its 18th year, is completely redesigned for 2013. Vehicle design and performance remain key evaluation attributes, but the new APEAL Study better measures owner satisfaction with new vehicle technology and modern features.

Buyers Willing to Spend More for Vehicles that Excite

A key finding of the 2013 APEAL Study is that new-vehicle buyers are willing to spend more money on the more appealing models in a particular market segment, and those more appealing cars and trucks also sell faster than other models.

“Appealing vehicles are simply good news for both consumers and automakers,” said David Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power. “Even within the same vehicle segment, consumers are willing to spend substantially more on vehicles that they find attractive, provide the performance and utility they are looking for, and have well-executed interiors.”

Additionally, the 2013 APEAL Study finds that nearly two-thirds of owners of the more appealing models within a particular market segment are likely to buy another model from the same brand, while nearly half of vehicle owners who do not own one of the more appealing models switch brands the next time they buy or lease a new car or truck.

“One percentage point of loyalty is worth tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars to automakers,” said Sargent. “These companies are fighting for every last customer, and it is clear that appealing products remain the key to achieving this.” Volkswagen Group produces the most models that rank among the top three in their respective segments (14), with General Motors in second place with 11. BMW of North America, Chrysler Group, and Toyota Motor Sales USA all had six top-three-ranked models.

Passat Most Appealing Mid-size Car

The Passat has been awarded the most appealing Midsize Car in the J.D. Power 2013 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study. This is the second year in a row that the Passat has ranked highest in this hotly contested category, which comprised 14 vehicles for 2013.

The Volkswagen GTI ranked highest in the Compact Sporty Car segment. The Beetle and Golf were second and third respectively in the Compact Car segment, while the Tiguan was second in the Sub-Compact CUV segment.

ATL Automotive is the exclusive local dealer of Volkswagen. The company was recently awarded 2012 Importer of the year for the Latin America and Caribbean region by the German Automaker. Jamaica stood out in the Latin America and Caribbean region (excluding Brazil) having registered increases of over 100 per cent in passenger vehicle sales and local market share in the segment.