U.S. drivers are giving automakers extra points for their vehicles’ quality, design and features.

An annual JD Power survey found that as vehicle problems pinpointed in its separate initial quality study have fallen, satisfaction in autos’ look, feel and performance has gone up.

This year’s seven-point jump in satisfaction as measured in the data provider’s APEAL study is the third straight increase, showing that automakers are making steady strides in designing cars that fit consumers’ tastes.

The improvement, raising the satisfaction score to 858 on a 1,000-point scale, is the biggest jump since 2018.

Though reduced vehicle problems as noted in the company’s initial-quality study are important when it comes to consumer satisfaction, automakers must also improve their overall experience, JD Power said.

“Owners are most enthusiastic when their vehicle not only works reliably but also feels thoughtfully designed and offers comfortable interiors, useful storage and technology that’s easy to live with,” said JD Power Senior Director of Auto Benchmarking Frank Hanley. “The brands that get both sides of that equation right see the strongest advocacy from their customers.”

Strides in providing better interiors made the most difference in this year’s positive turn with an 11-point increase. Consumers gave brands credit for additional storage, including holders for cups and phones. Exterior design and easier in-and-out access also drew good marks.

At the same time, consumers for the fifth straight year expressed subdued enthusiasm for new models, which scored scarcely higher than carryover equivalents, especially in the premium segment, JD Power found. As in the initial-quality study, problems with infotainment and other technological features decreased satisfaction.

Electric vehicles saw the biggest score increase: 22 points, outperforming gas-powered models in almost all categories, JD Power said.

Meanwhile, mass-market brands continued to gain on premium lineups in satisfaction, narrowing the difference to just 29 points compared to a 66-point gap in 2008.

Porsche outperformed its premium segment competitors on satisfaction with a score of 896, and Mini topped mass-market brands with a score of 875. BMW took the most model-level awards with six, followed by Hyundai with five and General Motors with three.