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5 Least Appealing Luxury Brands (APPEAL Survey JD Power)

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Old 08-01-14, 02:52 PM
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LexFather
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Red face 5 Least Appealing Luxury Brands (APPEAL Survey JD Power)

No surprises here expect maybe Caddy...I assume its because it only appeals to the traditional Caddy buyer and no one else? Not sure since their products are very solid.


http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...ar-brands.html

The results for this year’s J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) study are in with every luxury automaker scoring above the industry average.


Based on a 1,000-point scale, the 2014 APEAL study has vehicle owners evaluate over 77 attributes, which combined into an overall score. This year, the industry average was 794 but for premium brands, that number rose to 840. Still, five luxury automakers scored below the premium average, making them the top five least appealing luxury car brands in the U.S.

5: Lincoln (835 APEAL score)

Ford’s luxury arm scored five points shy of the premium industry average but continues to impress with the MKX taking the Midsize Premium SUV category in this year’s Initial Quality Study. Lincoln is actually the most appealing luxury automaker from America and is second only to Lexus for a premium brand not from Europe. Through the first half of the year, Lincoln’s sales have improved by in recent months has seen a slight drop. The company hopes to continue its growth with new models on the horizon.


4: Cadillac (826 APEAL score)

Cadillac has made strides in recent years, separating itself from Japanese competitors with more refinement and performance. Currently, the American automaker is working on its next-generation ATS-V and CTS-V models which will appeal to performance enthusiasts looking for comfort and luxury amenities. The brand has also focused on sporty styling while keeping the classy lines that has made the brand such a staple in the automotive market for generations.


3: Infiniti (826 APEAL score)

Considering how many Infiniti vehicles are on the road today, it might come as a surprise to see that it’s less appealing than Lincoln and tied with Cadillac. But expect things to change for Nissan’s luxury arm as the company continues to focus on innovating technologies and more additions to its lineup. The company still has a ways to go however in order to compete with Europe’s finest.


2: Acura (814 APEAL score)

Honda’s luxury brand has been more evolutionary than revolutionary in recent years, but the addition of its upcoming NSX might change things. For now, its lineup of family sedans, crossovers and SUVs may appeal to the mass market, but none of them truly excite automotive enthusiasts. As a result, Acura is the second least appealing luxury automaker with a score of 814.


1: Volvo (812 APEAL score)

In the last few years, Volvo has gone from bankrupt to developing three new concepts for the world to see. Though it may be the least appealing luxury automaker currently, the company hopes to turn things around in the coming years with its all-new models and fuel-efficient powertrains. Known for its tradition of being safe and boring, Volvo hopes to turn things around by being sporty, luxurious and exciting.

 
Old 08-01-14, 03:16 PM
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Not surprised.... well Infiniti kinda, but I never considered that a Luxury car.
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Old 08-01-14, 03:22 PM
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corradoMR2
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Yeah, Caddy to be "less appealing" than Lincoln is a shocker. Or even more a shocker, Lincoln is more appealing than the rest of them.

My list would be from worst to better:

Lincoln
Buick (near-luxury)
Volvo
Acura
Cadillac

Infiniti would be 6th...
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Old 08-01-14, 04:52 PM
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Mostly premium brands in there.

Cadillac has a RWD flagship and Elmiraj coupe coming, both should help catapult the brands image, returning to their beginnings
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Old 08-01-14, 04:59 PM
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pretty accurate list IMO. All those brands seem to be near luxury, not luxury brands
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Old 08-01-14, 05:14 PM
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mmarshall
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Originally Posted by corradoMR2
Yeah, Caddy to be "less appealing" than Lincoln is a shocker. Or even more a shocker, Lincoln is more appealing than the rest of them.
Though the article doesn't explicitly state it, Lincoln has (probably) been helped by the new MKC, which is arguably the first credible new Lincoln product in years.
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Old 08-01-14, 05:17 PM
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Link to full stats

http://www.jdpower.com/press-release...ut-apeal-study
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Old 08-01-14, 05:47 PM
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Originally Posted by mmarshall
Though the article doesn't explicitly state it, Lincoln has (probably) been helped by the new MKC, which is arguably the first credible new Lincoln product in years.
FYI it wasn't a part of the survey.
 
Old 08-01-14, 05:59 PM
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Originally Posted by corradoMR2
Buick (near-luxury)...
Buick is below industry average.
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Old 08-01-14, 06:24 PM
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If these cars are not luxury brands, what makes these brands(Lex,MB,BMW, etc..) luxury makes? Is it because the real ones have Flagships over $70k? That's the only thing i could see because both near and real lux brands have cars that compete directly with one another outside of flagship sedans.
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Old 08-01-14, 06:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Slvr surfr
If these cars are not luxury brands, what makes these brands(Lex,MB,BMW, etc..) luxury makes? Is it because the real ones have Flagships over $70k? That's the only thing i could see because both near and real lux brands have cars that compete directly with one another outside of flagship sedans.
You raise an interesting point. Part of the problem is that, whether it is in the auto press self or just us in Car Chat, many people (and car enthusiasts) simply can't agree on what defines a luxury car these days. The additions of the terms "upmarket", "premium", "upscale", "Tier 1", "Tier 2", and similar adjectives have muddled and confused the issue even further. That's one reason why we have so many Car Chat threads (and so much discussion) in this issue. There are several brands, in particular, where a lot of people aren't going to agree just where they fall in the (so-called) luxury pecking-order.....Acura, Buick, Volvo, Chrysler, Infiniti, Lincoln, and lower-end Audis. Most people, though, would agree that Rolls/Bentley/Maybach are at the very top (ultra-luxury), with Mercedes/BMW/Lexus and some high-end Audis a step below that. Maserati is also a player in this class in some countries...but not in the U.S., where sales are too low. Tesla, of course, is an upcoming player.

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Old 08-01-14, 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by LexFather
FYI it wasn't a part of the survey.
If that's the case, then, I also have to add my comments to those somewhat surprised by Lincoln's high showing.
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Old 08-01-14, 07:54 PM
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Originally Posted by 97-SC300
Not surprised.... well Infiniti kinda, but I never considered that a Luxury car.
Funny, I feel the same way about half of the current Lexus lineup.

Originally Posted by Slvr surfr
If these cars are not luxury brands, what makes these brands(Lex,MB,BMW, etc..) luxury makes? Is it because the real ones have Flagships over $70k? That's the only thing i could see because both near and real lux brands have cars that compete directly with one another outside of flagship sedans.
They're all luxury brands. However, some have a more complete lineup than others. In my mind, the brands that rely on premium RWD platforms for their models are the true luxury brands/vehicles. Those that rely on their cheaper mainstream brand's midsize sedan platforms are not. I won't mention names, but they should be pretty obvious.
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Old 08-01-14, 10:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Slvr surfr
If these cars are not luxury brands, what makes these brands(Lex,MB,BMW, etc..) luxury makes? Is it because the real ones have Flagships over $70k? That's the only thing i could see because both near and real lux brands have cars that compete directly with one another outside of flagship sedans.
Its really just the image. I don't think it matters what kind of cars the brand makes. Lexus has been fine without having models that compete with every german class out there, like an SL/6 series fighter, wagons, or until recently performance variants. Not sure what needs to be done to earn that kind of respect from consumers.
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Old 08-01-14, 11:04 PM
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So let me get this straight..
According to this "study", Lincoln is a more appealing luxury brand than Cadillac?

Seems legit.



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