7 cars that tick all the right boxes for tech

As driver-oriented technology becomes a more significant part of the car experience, so too does the need for getting it right.

Automakers are working hard at that, and it’s useful to know where they’ve done it best before splashing the cash on a new vehicle.

J.D. Power’s Tech Experience Index Awards have whittled it down to seven models, based on the responses of more than 16,000 owners and lessees of 2019 versions at 90 days of ownership. These vehicles were either all-new or redesigned within the last three years, and assessed in categories including entertainment and connectivity, collision protection, comfort and technology, driving assistance, smartphone mirroring, and navigation.

The best buy for satisfaction, according to the study, is the Kia Stinger sports sedan, which lit up the index with a score of 834 on a 1,000-point scale. You can find the seven top tech experiences by segment, and runners up, as follows.

 

 

Tech experience winners

Small vehicle
Winners: Hyundai Kona and Toyota C-HR
Runner up: Hyundai Accent

Compact vehicle
Winner: Kia Forte
Runners up: Volkswagen Jetta, Hyundai Elantra

Mid-size vehicle
Winner: Chevrolet Blazer
Runners up: Chevrolet Traverse, Hyundai Santa Fe

Large vehicle
Winner: Ford Expedition
Runners up: Chevrolet Silverado, Ram 1500

Compact luxury vehicle
Winner: Kia Stinger
Runners up: Genesis G70, Cadillac XT4

Mid-size luxury vehicle
Winner: Porsche Cayenne
Runners up: BMW 5 Series, Audi Q8

 

Overall, drivers who took part in the survey were most satisfied with collision protection (813), followed by smartphone mirroring (789), comfort and convenience (787), entertainment and connectivity (782), driving assistance (768) and navigation (744).

Notes of dissatisfaction were aired for annoying and overbearing driver-assistance alerts, and built-in apps.

 

Written by: Rob Looker on September 20, 2019