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Porsche, Jaguar continue dominance in 2015 JD Power APEAL study

The top of JD Power's 2015 APEAL Study has not changed much in the last year. Porsche remains No. 1 with Jaguar nipping at its heels, although both premium brands saw their overall score fall compared to 2014. For those that need a refresher, the APEAL Study looks at how "gratifying" a vehicle is to own and drive, rating cars and brands on a 1,000-point scale. The industry average for 2015 has increased from 794 to 798, while the total number of automakers that finished above the curve increased from 16 to 20. While Porsche and Jaguar finished at the top, their scores dropped eight and seven points, respectively, to 874 and 855. The top "non-premium" brand was Mini, which scored an impressive 825, up from 795. If the BMW-owned British marque is still a bit too premium for your tastes, last year's non-premium winner, Hyundai, did climb five points and is this year's runner up. At the opposite end of the scale, Smart sits at the very bottom of the rankings, with a score of 683 (it didn't appear on the 2014 rankings). Fiat also dropped, from fourth worst in 2014 to second worst in 2015, despite the 500 being named most appealing city car. Subaru made an impressive climb, from third worst to seventh, falling just 10 points shy of the industry average and two points south of the non-premium average. In the individual vehicle segments, eight brands earned multiple awards, with Ford, Chevrolet, and Porsche earning three apiece. Surprise segment victories included the new Ford Expedition, which beat out Chevy's popular Suburban. The Infiniti QX80 bested the likes of the Cadillac Escalade and Range Rover for best large luxury SUV, and the Dodge Challenger beat its muscle car rivals from Ford and Chevy. Most of the victories, though, were quite predictable. The Mazda6 and CX-5 took wins for the midsize sedan and compact SUV categories respectively, while the Volkswagen Golf captured the compact car win. The Ford F-150 won the large pickup category, while the Porsche Cayman was named most appealing compact premium sporty car. Check out the official release on the 2015 APEAL Study, available below, from JD Power. 2015 U.S. APEAL Study Results The latest safety-related technologies are among the drivers of customer satisfaction with new vehicles, according to the J.D. Power 2015 U.S.

NHTSA probes 2010 Chevy Tahoe for side airbag issue

After a person was killed in a rollover accident in a 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe in Texas in 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is considering whether to conduct a deeper investigation into a potential problem with the model's side airbags. According to the petition filed with the government agency, the SUV's rollover side curtain airbag deployed in the accident, but the design allegedly still allowed some of the occupants in the second- and third-row seats to be ejected from the vehicle. One of them died in the crash. Based on NHTSA's preliminary review, this is the only report of this type of incident happening in a 2007-2015 Tahoe or GMC Yukon. "GM investigated the complaint that is the basis of the petition and found no defect trend," company spokesperson Alan Adler said to The Detroit News, and said the automaker will cooperate with the feds. Still, "a defect petition has been opened to evaluate the issue and make a grant or deny decision," according to NHTSA. Depending on the agency's findings, this could lead to a full investigation and possible recall affecting an estimated 58,000 vehicles. INVESTIGATION Subject : Rollover Side Curtain Air Bags Date Investigation Opened: JUN 11, 2015 Date Investigation Closed: Open NHTSA Action Number: DP15004 Component(s): AIR BAGS All Products Associated with this Investigation Vehicle MakeModelModel Year(s) CHEVROLET TAHOE 2010 CHEVROLET TAHOE HYBRID 2010 Details Manufacturer: General Motors LLC SUMMARY: The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received a petition requesting an investigation of alleged defects that can cause occupant ejections during rollover crashes in certain General Motors vehicles. The petition alleges the defects allow second and third row occupants to be ejected despite the deployment of rollover side curtain air bags. The petition cites a 2011 Texas crash involving a model year 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe, which allegedly resulted in multiple occupants to be ejected. One of the ejected occupants was fatally injured. ODI's preliminary review of its consumer complaint data found no similar reports of occupant ejections on 2007-2015 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon vehicles. ODI also reviewed Early Warning Reporting data submitted by General Motors. A defect petition has been opened to evaluate the issue and make a grant or deny decision.

2016 Chevy Volt auctioned off to help the robots

One of the cool things about the 2016 Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in being auctioned off to raise money for kids' science and robotics program is that even the sedan's color sounds very scientific. Indeed, it's fitting that a "Kinetic Blue" Volt will be used to advance the scientific education of the country's students, according to Hybrid Cars. That is, if it fetches enough cash. Chevrolet parent General Motors was kind enough to donate a 2016 Volt to the so-called FIRST K-12 robotics program (FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). The program was founded in 1989. Last year, General Motors engineers worked with about 10,000 FIRST students in the US, but it looks like GM is now going the cold-hard-cash route to make its mark on future scientists. Bidding for the vehicle will take place until the morning of November 19, and, hopefully, it will generate enough interest to drive the bidding price up beyond its MSRP. As of Tuesday morning, nine bids had been taken, with the top one at $27,750. That's all fine and good except the car is pretty loaded with bells and whistles, and it's 53-mile electric-only range is a considerable jump from the first-generation Volt, so the car's "estimated value" is $40,245 (not factoring in the $7,500 federal tax incentive). That's a pretty good jump over the 2016 Volt's base price of $33,995, which marked a $175 price cut from the 2015 model. So pony up, folks. It's for the kids. Related Video: