Electric vehicles have come a long way in the past few years, and the progress is finally showing up where it matters most: in owner satisfaction. According to the latest data, these steady gains in technology and infrastructure are translating into record-high approval from drivers.

That’s the verdict from JD Power’s 2026 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study, which found premium EV satisfaction climbed from 756 points last year to 789 in 2026. Mainstream EVs also improved two points to hit 727 out of 1,000.

More: A Third of Americans Are Priced Out Of New Cars, And It’s Getting Worse

The highest rated premium EVs were the Tesla Model 3 (804), Tesla Model Y (797), and BMW i4 (795). On the flip side, the new Audi Q6 e-tron came in dead last at 690. It placed well below the Lucid Air (740) and Rivian R1T (739).

Segment Standouts And Stragglers

On the mass market side of the equation, the Ford Mustang Mach-E took top honors with a score of 760. The electric pony car was followed by the Hyundai Ioniq 6 (748) and Kia EV9 (745). Interestingly, the two lowest rated EVs were the Chevrolet Blazer EV (711) and Honda Prologue (623). That’s a huge point spread considering both models are built by GM and have a lot in common.

Of course, things aren’t completely straightforward as the study examined ten different factors. This includes the “accuracy of stated battery range, availability of public charging stations, battery range, cost of ownership, driving enjoyment, ease of charging at home, interior and exterior styling, safety and technology features, service experience, and vehicle quality and reliability.”

Encouragingly, 96 percent of EV owners said they would consider buying or leasing another one and the study also found quality has improved. That’s especially true of premium EVs, which had 15.9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles compared to last year. This brought the total down to 75 and JD Power said this was driven by noise improvements as well as fewer problems with driver assistance technology.

Is Charging Still A Concern?

The study also found that EV drivers are becoming more satisfied with public charging. Scores climbed by over 100 points and this is being attributed to growing charging infrastructure as well as the opening of Tesla’s Supercharger network to other automakers.

Last but not least, EV drivers are more satisfied than those with plug-in hybrids. Premium EVs scored 114 points higher than their PHEV rivals, while mainstream electric vehicles had a 117 point advantage. Part of this can be chalked up to the cost of ownership as plug-in hybrid drivers have to deal with a more complex powertrain that involves gas and electricity.

In a statement, JD Power’s Brent Gruber said “Improvements in battery technology, charging infrastructure and overall vehicle performance have driven customer satisfaction to its highest level ever. What’s more, the vast majority of current EV owners say they will consider purchasing another EV for their next vehicle, regardless of whether they benefited from the now-expired federal tax credit.”

Not long after updating the 2026 A5 and Q5 models for the US market, Audi has applied a similar round of changes to its electric offerings, the A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron. Set to arrive in the second quarter as 2027 models, both come equipped with upgraded tech and features.

One of the most noticeable changes lies directly in front of the driver. Audi’s latest steering wheels come fitted with piano-black haptic-style buttons that work either by touch or swipe. They’re difficult to use and should probably be replaced altogether.

Read: Audi’s 2026 A5 And Q5 Fix One Of Its Most Annoying Interior Decisions

Audi hasn’t walked away from the design entirely, but at least it has scaled things back in the 2027MYs. Some of the more finicky haptic controls have been replaced with physical scroll wheels. The one on the right adjusts volume, while the left now controls gauge cluster menus and settings.

2027 Audi A6 e-tron

What Else is New?

As with the updated A5 and Q5, the electric A6 and Q6 models can be optioned with a dashcam through the Premium trim package, while the Premium Plus models include one as standard. The 4K dashcam is mounted at the base of the rear-view mirror and can be configured to automatically save recordings when triggered.

Audi has also added a new Technology package that includes an augmented-reality head-up display and a dedicated display for the front passenger. The infotainment system gets a few upgrades of its own. Navigation has been made more intuitive, and smartphone integration is smoother than before.

Similarly, the virtual cockpit has been tweaked with different displays and now has fewer icons. Regardless of the viewing mode selected, dedicated time and outside temperature displays will appear in the upper-right corner. Of more importance is the fact that a driver’s smartphone navigation, media, and telephone functions can be displayed directly onto the gauge cluster.

2027 Audi A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron

For the 2027 A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron models, Audi has also improved its voice control function, meaning it can now be used to operate things like the adaptive cruise control and air suspension. The central and passenger displays can now also be paired with controllers, making them even better for in-car gaming.

Driving Improvements

In terms of driving, Audi has improved the regenerative braking function to include a one-pedal mode. The S6 Sportback e-tron has also been updated to include a new Dynamic Plus driving mode that allows for controlled oversteer.

Three versions of the 2027 Audi A6 will be available. The standard 375 hp e-tron starts at $66,700, followed by the 456 hp e-tron quattro at $68,700. At the top sits the 543 hp S6 Sportback e-tron, priced at $79,600.

The Q6 e-tron comes in four versions. The base e-tron SUV quattro and e-tron Sportback quattro each produce 456 hp, with pricing starting at $64,500 and $68,300, respectively. Above those sit the SQ6 e-tron SUV at $73,200 and the SQ6 Sportback at $75,600.

2027 Audi Q6 e-tron

Volkswagen has a fresh lineup with a facelifted Golf, Jetta, and Taos. If that wasn’t enough new blood, the company launched a redesigned Tiguan not long ago.

While you’d expect these models to help boost sales, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Quite the opposite as the only vehicles that posted gains last year were fully electric.

More: VW ID.4 Gets A Stealthy Blackout Package But Something Bigger Waits In The Shadows

This is a tad surprising, but consumers rushed to take advantage of the expiring tax credit. This resulted in a significant boost in the third quarter as ID.4 sales skyrocketed 176% to 12,470 units.

Now, with the tax credit gone, sales of the electric crossover plunged 61.6% to a mere 248 vehicles. That’s a massive swing of 12,222 units in just six months.

While sales have fallen off a cliff, the ID.4 finished the year up 31.4%. However, that pales in comparison to the ID. Buzz, which jumped 428.4%. That being said, Volkswagen only moved 6,140 electric vans and has already announced the EV is skipping the 2026 model year.

The picture gets pretty bleak from there as every other vehicles saw sales decline last year. The Jetta was off by 24.4%, while the Golf GTI and R dropped by up to 34.7%.

VW US SALES 2025

Even the brand’s crossovers struggled as the Atlas and Atlas Coupe only generated a combined 102,608 sales. The Taos was down 13.6%, while the Tiguan dropped 16.7% as some buyers likely held off for the redesigned model.

For the year, Volkswagen sold 329,813 vehicles in the United States. That’s down 13% and it means the brand was outsold by Mazda (410,346).

Audi Had Another Dismal Year

Things were even worse at Audi, which saw sales fall 16% to 164,942 units. That means they were beaten by Cadillac (173,515), Lexus (370,260), and BMW (388,897).

The numbers are terrible as the only models that saw gains were the aging A7 (5%) and Q8 (5%). The Q6 e-tron shot up 1,681%, although that’s mostly due to a late launch and limited supply last year.

That being said, the model appears to be a hit as consumers snapped up 17,207 units. This is more than three times the number of Q4 e-trons sold as sales were down 38% to a modest 5,264.

Speaking of EVs, the e-tron GT tumbled 59%, while the new A6 e-tron Sportback found 3,931 buyers. The discontinued Q8 e-tron lineup is also getting pretty rare and this explains why sales have fallen off the map.

The rest of the numbers should be given some context as Audi is in the midst of a major product revamp. As a result, there’s a new A5, A6, Q3, and Q5. Most of these models are already on sale in the United States, but the Q3 arrives shortly.

That being said, there are still a number of outdated models weighing sales down. One of the worst offenders is the Q7, which saw sales drop 12% last year to a disappointing 18,381 units. To put that into perspective, Lexus sold 57,346 TX crossovers.

Audi is preparing a host of upgrades for the 2026 model year, covering the A5, A6, Q5, A6 e-tron, and Q6 e-tron. It’s not just a set of software tweaks or safety updates either. The brand says these revisions are designed to make some of its most popular models more enjoyable behind the wheel.

Read: Audi’s AUDI Bets Big On China With A 671 HP Electric SUV That Means Business

However, Audi hasn’t yet said whether these updates will cross the Atlantic for American buyers, leaving the U.S. lineup unchanged for now.

What’s Changing Inside?

The biggest transformations happen inside. Like Volkswagen, Audi has come to appreciate that customers never really warmed to capacitive steering-wheel buttons. So from 2026 onward, all affected models will adopt a redesigned wheel fitted with two physical scroll controls, restoring the tactile precision that many drivers missed.

One of the upgrades that’s bound to be enjoyed by S5 and S6 e-tron customers will be the addition of a Dynamic Plus driving mode. Audi says that this will maximize the dynamics of both models, allowing for controlled oversteer despite their advanced quattro all-wheel drive systems and brake torque vectoring.

For all models built on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), the regenerative braking system receives further refinement. Drivers will be able to use true one-pedal operation, bringing the car smoothly to a halt without engaging the friction brakes.

Smarter Tech

Audi is also introducing a more advanced version of its driver-assistance system across its PPE and PPC models. From next year, these cars will include an autonomous lane-change function where the driver simply needs to toggle the turn signal, and the car will automatically change lane.

Following BMW’s lead, Audi will introduce a trained parking feature capable of autonomously navigating up to 200 meters on private property, retracing a saved route to or from a parking space.

Moreover, starting next year, the new A6 will come equipped with digital matrix LED headlights and digital OLED taillights that include configurable light signatures.

Select models will gain the option of an integrated dashcam mounted at the base of the rear-view mirror. The 4K camera records both driving and parking footage, offering a built-in alternative to aftermarket systems.

Audi has also introduced several mood scenarios, or what it calls ‘experience worlds,’ into the cabin, which adjust the interior lighting, sound, climate control settings, and massage functions. Updates have also been made to the onboard gaming system, meaning controllers can now be paired over Bluetooth.