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Buick Ranks Low In J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Tech Experience Index Study

Rating well below average in the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Tech Experience Index Study, General Motors brand Buick came in far down the Innovation Ranking list, scoring 427 out of a possible 1,000 points compared to the overall study average of 494 points.

Buick also got a low rating in 2023, both in the overall ranking and among mass-market brands, which were rated separately in 2023, with a score of 462 – which is notably higher than its rating in 2024.

The Tech Experience index with Buick rated low.

While Buick is significantly below average for owners’ tech experience with its vehicles, the automotive market as a whole is seeing mixed results for the reception of its technology in 2024 model-year vehicles. Some new tech has proven popular, with smart climate control and other AI features well-liked by consumers.

However, people see little application for other automotive tech. Separate passenger infotainment displays are generally low-rated, since many people drive without a passenger most of the time while commuting to work. Gesture, fingerprint, and facial recognition technologies are seen as having little use and are even “continually annoying,” according to J.D. Power senior director Kathleen Rizk.

J.D. Power also says it is rating individual tech features based on their return on investment. Rizk says this approach is “a major step in enabling carmakers to determine the technologies that deserve the most attention while helping them ease escalating costs.”

Side view of the Buick Encore.

In order to determine a rating for Buick and other brands, the TXI study looks at how owners of new 2024 model-year vehicles, owned for at least 90 days, rate 40 different tech features. These features are divided in several segments, including convenience technology, automation, energy, and infotainment.

Seven new tech features were added for 2024, including “conditional driving automation, impaired driving prevention, OEM smartphone app,
smart climate control, smart doors, smart driver preferences, and vehicle-informed virtual reality entertainment.” The 2024 study uses feedback from 81,926 vehicle owners to derive its final ratings.

Interior detail of the Buick Enclave with infotainment display.

Despite the technology speed bumps, Rizk pointed out that “a strong advanced tech strategy is crucial for all vehicle manufacturers,” including both premium marques and mass-market brands like Buick.

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Comments

  1. Hutch

    This is all about the outgoing 2024 models. The 2025 lineup, including the Buick Enclave Avenir, looks pretty techy to me and has certainly drawn my interest as a potential Cadillac substitute.

    Reply
  2. R Borowski

    I own a 2024 Buick Avidar & have no quarrels with the technology. I find it hard to believe it did not score higher .

    Reply
  3. Paul

    Whatever.

    Reply
  4. Rick McDonald

    I ordered and now have a 2024 Buick Envison Avenir. Supposedly the top end of the Envsion line.
    I have no problem with the tech they have added, but I do have a problem with what they have taken away.
    You have a DIC control on the steering wheel that does nothing but change radio stations. DIC stands for Driver Information Center. But It no longer gives you a menu selection like it did on all previous models. You now have to do a search and find from the right hand side of the screen, instead of being able to scroll down through various info menus. There already is a station selector on the backside left on the steering wheel, so why two switches dedicated to the one operation? They took away the ability to select different view on the HUD display. One only. Speed and speed limit signs. No longer can you choose an audio view, RPM view or a compass view. Without the RPM view, you can’t see with the HUD display what gear you are in when manual mode is selected. To see that, you need to look at the bottom right of screen where it shows the drive selection. That means taking your eyes off the road and with a 9 speed transmission you may not always know exactly what gear you are in. So much for safety. I like the large screen idea and there is so much they could have done with it, but instead it’s nothing but a cheap tablet. There are supposed to be different cluster views, as well. All of that is described in the owners manual , but GM says the manual is made up of pick and paste items that may not be included. Convenient excuse and so much for a top end model.
    I also have a 2017 Envision that has all the things I described and were available right up to the 2023 model. I like the 2017 and that’s is reason I ordered a new 2024. I expected the 2024 model to have the same features, and more. Not go backwards. Why do they hype this new screen that doesn’t provide half the information what you could get on older models? So, in agreement with the article, some of the new tech is not necessary. In my opinion, tech that was removed was more valuable and functional. No wonder they are below average and at the lower end of the rankings. I personally do not consider Buick to be a top end vehicle anymore and definitely not a “luxury” vehicle. Needless to say, I am quite disappointed in GM and where they have taken Buick. That comes from someone who has driven GM products for 45 years. My next car I will shop for and not automatically go to GM.

    Reply
    1. jules rosen

      There is certainly a lack of communication between end users and the builders. There’s no such thing as real management anymore or consumer surveys, you would think a multi-billion dollar company would call you after a month of having the car and saying what do you like and don’t like? After all you just spend $50,000

      Reply
  5. MJ

    Didn’t you investigate and test drive the 2024 so there would be no surprises?

    Reply
    1. Rick

      No, I did not. Mine was the 1st or one of the first that arrived at the dealership. I ordered it for the new exterior body lines and the 30″ screen. Never did it cross my mind that Buick would discontinue providing features that had been included in the upper end Envisions in all the previous model years. Especially with the hyped up new screen. If anything they should have been even better. The owners manual describes these items, but GM says they are not applicable. I have the Avenir. It’s supposed to come with everything.
      With today’s technology this should just be programming. That’s why I agree with the article. GM is falling way behind other manufacturers and in fact is going backwards based on the new Envisions.

      Reply
  6. Cigna

    Mary Buick Envision Made in China-Barra has turned Buick in another Chevy, but with Buick prices.

    Reply
  7. James Wilson

    Lot to like about the Envision, Seats are worse than the high end 2013 Malibu . Compfort Low

    Reply
  8. jules rosen

    I have a 2017 Buick verano as well as a encore.
    On the verano I can easily get 12 different points of information from mileage to speed to air pressure etc but the encore has a messed up system where it doesn’t have any of these things practically. For all the millions that these guys spend on engineering and software, wouldn’t you think they would test these things and have a couple of consumer panels before they put them in the cars? They are as out of touch with what the consumer wants as much as Ronald Reagan was when he went into a supermarket and found out that things can be scanned instead of punched into a register

    Reply
  9. jules rosen

    I would like to volunteer to be on that consumer panel to test all of their so-called new software items.
    By the way keep the buttons for the radio and the air conditioning / heating

    Reply

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