Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y scored more than 50 points above the nearest US-made rival in J.D. Power’s 2026 premium EV owner satisfaction rankings, as both Rivian models and the Lucid Air finished below the segment average.
The study measures owner satisfaction with both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), across premium and mass-market segments, during the “crucial first year of ownership.”
Published this week, it has surveyed 5,741 owners of 2025 and 2026 models and was carried out between August and December 2025.
Rankings are based on numerical scores and not necessarily on statistical significance, J.D. Power noted.
BEVs were evaluated across 10 factors: accuracy of stated battery range, availability of public charging stations, battery range, cost of ownership, driving enjoyment, ease of home charging, interior and exterior styling, safety and technology features, service experience, and vehicle quality and reliability.
PHEV models were not ranked separately.
Record Satisfaction
BEV owners are reporting their highest satisfaction levels since J.D. Power began tracking in 2021, even as EV market share has fallen following the expiration of the federal tax credit in September 2025.
Nearly all new BEV owners (96%) say they would consider buying or leasing another BEV.
Despite a decline in EV market share in the US, following the expiration of the federal tax credit last September, owner satisfaction continues to rise due to battery technology, vehicle performance, and charging infrastructure.
Expanded charging networks, including the opening of Tesla‘s Supercharger network to other brands, have driven the largest year-over-year improvement in the study.
Premium BEV owners rated public charging infrastructure at 652 points on a 1,000-point scale, while mass-market owners gave it 511 — up 101 and 115 points, respectively, from last year.
Premium Rankings
There are nine award-eligible models in the premium segment.
The Tesla Model 3 ranked highest overall among premium BEVs, with a score of 804 out of 1,000. The Model Y followed with 797 points.
BMW’s i4 and iX placed third and fourth, scoring 795 and 794, respectively — within striking distance of Tesla but still below it.
The segment average rose to 786, up from 756 in the 2025 edition.
Below the average sat the Cadillac Optiq (762), Rivian R1S (758), Lucid Air (740), Rivian R1T (739), and Audi Q6 e-tron (690). The Audi ranked last among all premium models evaluated.
The Rivian R1S’s score of 758 represented a notable decline from the 2025 study, where the SUV had ranked third overall with 770 points — trailing only the BMW iX and i4.
PHEV x BEV
BEV owners continue to report higher satisfaction than PHEV owners across both segments.
Cost of ownership is a major factor, with BEVs scoring 114–117 points higher than comparable PHEVs, largely due to lower maintenance and service requirements.
Owner satisfaction among premium, fully electric vehicle drivers averaged 786 in the latest edition, up from 756 in 2025.
For mass-market BEVs, satisfaction averages 727, a slight increase from 725 last year.
Average overall satisfaction among PHEV owners increased across the board, rising to 756 for premium models (up from 741 in 2025) and to 658 for mass-market models (up from 632 last year).
BEV Models
There are nine award-eligible models in the premium segment and nine award-eligible models in the mass market segment.
The Tesla Model 3 ranked highest overall among premium BEVs, with a score of 804 out of 1,000.
The best-seller Model Y followed, with 797 points.
Late last year, Tesla introduced more affordable versions of its two popular U.S. models.
The Model 3 starts at $36,990, with EPA ranges from 309 to 363 miles depending on the trim. The Model Y is priced from $39,990, with EPA ranges between 294 and 357 miles.
Both models are available in Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) and All-Wheel Drive (AWD), from standard to performance trims.
The two Tesla models were followed by the BMW i4, which ranked just two points below the Model Y.
The model starts at $57,900, with an EPA-estimated range of 268 to 333 miles, depending on whether buyers choose the eDrive40 or xDrive40 trim and its configuration.
US EV Makers
Compared to other US EV makers, Tesla ranks more than 50 points above.
Among the nine models evaluated are also the Rivian R1 models and the Lucid Air sedan, both ranking below the segment average of 786 points.
The Rivian R1S SUV scored 758 out of 1,000 points, ranking sixth, while the R1T pickup scored 739 points, placing eighth.
Between them was the Lucid Air sedan, the company’s debut model, which earned 740 points.
Their starting prices are well above Tesla and BMW, which topped the ranking.
The entry-level Lucid Air Pure begins at $70,900, while Rivian’s R1T starts at $72,990 and the R1S at $76,990.
The Lucid Air stands out with a significantly higher range, generally between 400 and 500 miles, whereas the R1 models achieve 270 to 420 miles depending on trim and configuration.
Rivian’s higher prices reflect larger battery packs and off-road capabilities, while Lucid targets the luxury segment with ultra-long range and advanced technology, justifying its top-tier pricing.
Mass Market Rankings
In the mass-market segment, which also had nine award-eligible models, the Ford Mustang Mach-E ranked highest with a score of 760 out of 1,000.
The Detroit automaker’s electric crossover was followed by the Hyundai Ioniq 6 (748), Kia EV9 (745), Hyundai Ioniq 5 (743), and Kia EV6 (743). The segment average was 727, up from 725 last year.
The Ford F-150 Lightning scored 731, while three GM-platform vehicles occupied the bottom of the rankings: the Chevrolet Equinox EV (722), Chevrolet Blazer EV (711), and Honda Prologue (623).
The Prologue — built on GM’s Ultium platform under a partnership with Honda — scored the lowest of any model in either segment.
