Image: J.D. PowerImage: J.D. PowerNew vehicles are getting better, according to the 2026 J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study.The annual study, which tracks problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) during the first 90 days of ownership, found that overall quality improved across nine out of 10 categories. The industry average dropped to 175 PP100 from 192 PP100 last year, marking a notable year-over-year gain. Premium brands averaged 169 PP100, while mass-market brands averaged 177 PP100.Tech vs. SimplicityImage: J.D. PowerImage: J.D. PowerAdvertisementAdvertisementThe only category that got worse this year was infotainment, driven largely by Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity issues."As more technology is introduced into vehicles, keeping the experience simple matters more than ever," said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power. "The biggest gains in quality come from features that are easy to use-simple controls, less-intrusive driver assistance and software that works the way customers expect. When technology becomes too complicated, the likelihood of customers experiencing a problem rises considerably."Image: J.D. PowerImage: J.D. PowerComplex screens are also causing distractions. Among drivers who reported a distracted driving issue, 46% blamed the infotainment or touchscreen, while 18% pointed to driver assistance alerts.What Improved?Image: J.D. PowerImage: J.D. PowerAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile tech remains a hurdle, simpler features saw major gains. Better cupholder design-specifically location and capacity-was the single biggest contributor to this year's quality improvement. Drivers also reported fewer issues with:Driver assistance alertsElectric vehicle (EV) rangeRoad noiseBody panel fit and finishTop Brands and ModelsImage: J.D. PowerImage: J.D. PowerHighest-Ranking Brand: Porsche took the top spot overall with a score of 138 PP100. Genesis (151) and Lexus (156) rounded out the top three premium brands.Mass Market Leader: Ford led the mass-market segment with 152 PP100, followed by Nissan (156) and Buick (162).Most Awards: BMW earned the most model-level awards with six. Hyundai Motor Group followed with five, and General Motors took four.Best Individual Car: The Porsche 911 was the highest-ranking individual model overall, scoring 110 PP100.Manufacturing ExcellenceImage: J.D. PowerImage: J.D. PowerAdvertisementAdvertisementJ.D. Power also recognized individual assembly plants based strictly on manufacturing defects rather than design flaws:Platinum Award: Toyota Motor Corporation's Kyushu 1 plant in Japan (Lexus NX, Lexus UX).Americas Gold Award: Hyundai Motor Group's Nuevo Leon KMX plant in Mexico (Kia K4).Europe Gold Award (Tie): Porsche's Leipzig plant (Macan, Panamera) and Stuttgart plant (911, Taycan).The 2026 study surveyed 78,514 buyers and lessees of new 2026 model-year vehicles and combined that feedback with dealership repair data collected from June 2025 through May 2026.This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.