J.D. Power’s 2025 Tech Experience Study Ruled by Korean Automakers
Korean car companies once again lead J.D. Power’s U.S. Tech Experience Index, which this year is based on responses from more than 76,000 owners of new 2025 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership.
The study combines the level of adoption of new technologies for each brand with excellence in execution—specifically, how much owners like the technologies and how many problems they experience while using them. It analyzes 40 automotive technologies, which are divided into five categories: comfort and convenience; connected vehicle; driver assist; electric vehicle; and smart vehicle.
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With a score of 538 on a scale of 1,000, Genesis ranks highest overall and highest among premium brands for a fifth consecutive year. Parent company Hyundai (493) sits atop mass-market brands for the sixth year in a row, followed by another Korean brand, Kia (474).
Cadillac (526), Lincoln (523) and BMW (511) all occupy enviable positions, too. Tesla (873) and Rivian (730) would have been the overall leaders by a wide margin, but neither one manages to meet all of the criteria in the study.
The following graph shows the complete ranking:
Chrysler (346) and Ram (381) are two Stellantis brands that benefit from the excellent UConnect infotainment system, but they struggle in other areas and end up at the bottom of J.D. Power's tech index in 2025—replacing Dodge, which is nowhere to be found. Jeep (412) isn't that far behind, by the way.
The research firm gave advanced technology awards to specific vehicles, as well. These include the Genesis GV80 and Hyundai Santa Fe for their phone-based digital key, the same Santa Fe for its blind spot monitor, the Kia EV9 for its one-pedal driving function, the Toyota Land Cruiser and Sequoia for their digital rearview mirror, the Land Rover Defender for its advanced air purification system, and the GMC Hummer EV for its active lane-change assist.
One more thing: a blind spot camera has quickly become a customer must-have, as J.D. Power revealed. A large majority (93%) of customers say they use it most of the time, and 74% say they want the feature in a future vehicle.