Are EVs Really More Reliable? Owners Are Complaining Less About Their Electric Cars

Analysts have evaluated how satisfied electric vehicle owners are with their cars, examining how the ownership experience has changed since 2021 — and which EVs drivers like the most.

According to a new study by J.D. Power, overall owner satisfaction with electric vehicles has reached its highest level since 2021, the year the firm first began compiling this specific ranking.

In the latest survey, satisfaction among premium EV owners averaged 786 points out of a possible 1,000. For mass-market electric vehicles, the average score came in at 727 points.

The improvement in satisfaction is attributed to the expansion of public charging infrastructure across the United States, technological advancements such as increased driving range, and overall improvements in vehicle quality. The study also found that fully electric vehicle owners report significantly higher satisfaction than owners of plug-in hybrid models.

Among premium EVs, American favorites Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y lead the rankings, along with the BMW i4, all scoring above the segment average. At the lower end of the premium list is the Audi Q6 e-tron.

In the mass-market segment, the most positive ownership experiences were reported for the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 6, and Kia EV9. Toward the bottom of the rankings were the Chevrolet Blazer EV and the Honda Prologue.

The study also found that most respondents say they are likely to choose another fully electric vehicle as their next car, signaling growing long-term confidence in EV ownership.