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.

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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.”

Hyundai just posted its best January ever in the US, but if you zoom in on the EV corner of the showroom, you’ll probably find salesmen consoling one particular electric model. Because while one Ioniq barely flinched in the face of EV market turmoil, the other faceplanted. Hard, really hard.

Let’s start with the good-ish news. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 slipped just 6 percent year over year in January, which in today’s EV market basically counts as holding steady while everyone else is struggling to keep the fire alive. Hyundai moved 2,126 of them, proving the retro-futuristic crossover still has plenty of fans.

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Now for the ouch. The Ioniq 6 didn’t just dip, it fell off a statistical cliff, plunging 61 percent to just 344 units. That’s the kind of number that makes accountants quietly close the spreadsheet and go for a walk. Stylish and slippery though it is, the sedan is clearly having a much tougher time finding buyers.

SUVs Equals Sales Success

If Hyundai needs a reminder of what Americans really want, it only has to glance at the SUV side of the ledger. The combustion Palisade surged 29 percent off the back of a refresh, while the Santa Fe climbed 9 percent.

Even the smaller Kona jumped 22 percent. Big, practical, and family-friendly continues to beat low and sleek in the real world.

Hybrids are the real heroes here, though. Hyundai says petrol-electric sales shot up 60 percent, showing buyers still love the idea of electrification, just maybe not one that doesn’t come with a plan B. Models like the Santa Fe Hybrid are clearly hitting the sweet spot between fuel savings and banishing charging anxiety.

Combustion Losers

Not everything else was sunshine, though. The Sonata slid 34 percent, the dies-soon Santa Cruz dropped 32 percent, and Tucson eased back 4 percent. Still, with total Hyundai sales up 2 percent and SUVs making up the bulk of the action, the brand has a solid cushion.

We’ll be following the action closely to see if Hyundai can keep the good news flowing through 2026 – and what action it takes to turn the Ioniq 6’s dismal performance around.

Hyundai USA sales