Dodge and Ram Dominate Mass-market Brands Second Straight Year in J.D. Power APEAL Study™

Rhea-AI Summary

Dodge and Ram lead the mass-market segment in the 2020 J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) Study, with Dodge taking first place and Ram second. This marks a significant achievement as it's the first time a domestic brand has topped both APEAL and J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study (IQS) in the same year. Dodge Challenger ranks first in the Midsize Sporty Car category, while Ram 1500 secures the top spot in the Large Light-duty Pickup segment. The brands significantly outperformed competitors, achieving scores of 872 and 871 respectively, well above the mass-market average of 838.

Positive

• Dodge and Ram ranked first and second respectively in the 2020 J.D. Power APEAL Study.
• Dodge achieved a historic first-place tie in J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study for the same year.
• Dodge Challenger secured first in the Midsize Sporty Car category and Ram 1500 led the Large Light-duty Pickup segment.
• The brands' scores of 872 and 871 significantly exceeded the mass-market average of 838.

Negative

• None.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

• APEAL mass-market results echo 2019 when Ram ranked first, followed by Dodge
• Dodge Challenger first in popular Midsize Sporty Car category
• Ram 1500 captures top spot in competitive Large Light-duty Pickup segment
• Dodge Durango, Dodge Charger, Chrysler Pacifica make podium

Dodge and Ram rank No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the 2020 J.D. Power Automotive Performance Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study™, reversing last year's finish order among mass-market brands.

The Dodge result is historic because it marks the first time a domestic brand has earned top spots in the APEAL Study and J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study (IQS), in the same year. 

America's performance brand recorded a milestone first-place tie in the 34th running of IQS, spearheading an FCA surge in the influential industry rating.

"These ratings are consistent with our continuing focus on improving the ownership experience for our customers," said Mark Champine, Head of Quality, FCA North America. "Our focus will not waver, nor will our efforts."

Redesigned this year to capture greater detail, APEAL rates the emotional bond between customers and 2020 model-year vehicles. This is determined by customer feedback on vehicle attributes from seating comfort to throttle response, during the first three months of ownership.

The feedback is then aggregated on overall 1,000-point APEAL index. 

Dodge and Ram are separated by one point with scores of 872 and 871, respectively. These results outdistance their nearest competitor by more than 13 points and far-exceeds the study's mass-market brand average of 838.

For the third time in four years, the Dodge Challenger earns bragging rights in the highly competitive Midsize Sporty Car category.

Meanwhile, the acclaimed Ram 1500 captures top spot in the high-volume Large Light-duty Pickup segment.

Holding down the second spots in the Large Car and Minivan categories, respectively, are the Dodge Charger and Chrysler Pacifica.

The Dodge Durango ranks third among Upper Midsize SUVs.

Challenger, Charger and Durango also drove the Dodge brand's first-place finish in this year's IQS, which uses reported problems per 100 vehicles to assign quality scores for a model's first three months in service.

Dodge brand's total tied for lowest among 31 competitors, while Ram ranked third and Jeep improved six spots to record its best-ever finish. These results helped FCA climb five positions to a first-quartile industry placing that was 13 points better than the industry average.

J.D. Power
J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services, data and analytics. These capabilities enable J.D. Power to help its clients drive customer satisfaction, growth and profitability. Established in 1968, J.D. Power has offices serving North America, Asia Pacific and Europe.

FCA
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is a global automaker that designs, engineers, manufactures and sells vehicles in a portfolio of exciting brands, including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep®, Lancia, Ram and Maserati. It also sells parts and services under the Mopar name and operates in the components and production systems sectors under the Comau and Teksid brands. FCA employs nearly 200,000 people around the globe. For more details regarding FCA (NYSE: FCAU/ MTA: FCA), please visit www.fcagroup.com.   

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SOURCE FCA

FAQ

What were the results of the 2020 J.D. Power APEAL Study for FCAU?

In the 2020 J.D. Power APEAL Study, Dodge ranked first and Ram second among mass-market brands.

Which FCAU vehicle won the Midsize Sporty Car category in 2020?

The Dodge Challenger won the Midsize Sporty Car category in the 2020 APEAL Study.

How did Ram 1500 perform in the 2020 APEAL Study?

The Ram 1500 captured the top spot in the Large Light-duty Pickup segment in the 2020 APEAL Study.

What is significant about Dodge's performance in 2020?

Dodge became the first domestic brand to top both the APEAL Study and J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study in the same year.

What were the scores of Dodge and Ram in the APEAL Study?

Dodge scored 872 and Ram scored 871 in the 2020 APEAL Study.