Automakers keep stuffing cars with bigger screens and smarter electronics, but owners say they’re not asking for a rolling Best Buy. JD Power’s latest tech study suggests drivers are happiest with features they barely notice, while some headline-grabbing gadgets are proving much less lovable and end up unused.

 

JD’s 2026 US Tech Experience Index surveyed 68,084 owners of new 2026 model-year vehicles after 90 days of ownership. It examined 40 technologies covering comfort and convenience, connectivity, driver assistance, EVs and smart vehicle features.