Survey: Car owners prefer tech they never have to notice
A JD Power survey finds that new-vehicle owners rate unobtrusive tech like smart ignition highest, while passenger screens and fully hands-free driving systems score lower satisfaction.
Consumer research firm JD Power surveyed 68,084 owners of new 2026 model-year vehicles after 90 days of ownership, evaluating 40 automotive technologies spanning comfort and convenience, connected vehicles, driver assist, electric vehicles, and smart systems.
The highest-rated features turned out to be the ones drivers barely notice. Smart ignition, which starts and shuts off the vehicle automatically based on driver behavior, earned the top overall satisfaction score, with just 2.4 problems per 100 vehicles. Smart HVAC systems, which use AI to automatically adjust cabin temperature and comfort, also ranked among the top performers.
Doron Hikry, JD Power's director of customer success, said automakers should prioritize technology that simplifies driving rather than complicating it, noting that features solving real problems without adding driver effort or stress resonate most with customers.
Passenger screens and hands-free systems lag behind
Unnecessary features fared worse. Passenger screens embedded in the dashboard rated lowest in satisfaction — more than a third of owners with the feature said they had never tried using it, and only 6 percent reported using it every time they drive.
Hands-free driving systems, known as Level 2 Plus automation and offered by brands including Tesla, Ford, GM, and Mercedes, also have ground to make up. Survey respondents preferred standard Level 2 systems, which require hands on the wheel, over the fully hands-free alternatives in terms of design and overall experience, even though Level 2 systems recorded slightly more problems per 100 vehicles than Level 2 Plus systems.
Individual technology awards went to the Cadillac Escalade and Toyota Tundra for camera mirrors, while other automakers were recognized for blind-spot cameras, digital keys, one-pedal driving, and EV charging schedulers.
