Each year since 1996, J.D. Power and Associates has conducted a unique survey on how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive. The APEAL (Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout) Study is based on owner evaluations of 90 different vehicle attributes in the following 10 categories:

• Fuel Economy
• Audio/Entertainment/Navigation
• Vehicle Interior
• Seats
• Engine
• HVAC
• Storage
• Visibility
• Driving Experience
• Vehicle Exterior

The results of the 2011 study were gleaned from survey results of about 73,000 participants who responded after the first 90 days of ownership, naming the most appealing vehicles in 20 different classes.

Two vehicles on the list in particular caught our eye.  First, the Hyundai Equus not only took top honors in the Large Premium Car segment, but it also achieved the highest APEAL score of any model in the industry in 2011. This marks the first time since since the survey's inception in 1996 that a car other than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series or Lexus LS has led the overall model ranking.  With the Equus already pulling in a 5% share of the luxury market in its first year, this win even more firmly positions Hyundai's new vehicle as a serious contender in the large luxury sedan market.

A second notable chart-topper on the APEAL list was the Chevrolet Volt, which was highest ranked in the Compact Car segment. The Volt has already been making waves as Motor Trend's Car of the Year, but its scoring in this study shows just how much Volt owners love this vehicle.  The results are even more poignant when you consider the small pool of owners from which to survey, given than only 4,000 Volts were produced in 2011.

The overall survey results are not just good news for Hyundai, Chevrolet, and the other brands to top the list. The study finds that overall vehicle appeal has reached an all-time high since the study's first year, with the industry average increasing to 781 on a 1,000-point scale (up from 778 in 2010).  Despite the challenging factors of the auto industry and overall market conditions, auto manufacturers are managing to design and build vehicles that owners find appealing.