2nd place: Volkswagen Jetta
3rd place: Mitsubishi Lancer
J.D. Power's APEAL tends to favor cars with a strong emotional attraction. Cars like the Mini Cooper certainly apply.
The Mini's quirky retro design carries over into an interior that features a speedometer the size of a pie mounted between the seats. Engineers at parent company BMW also gave the Mini ultra-responsive handling to match the eye-catching design.
"Owners really do find it fun to drive," said J.D. Power's David Sargent.
NEXT: Compact Sporty Car: Volkswagen GTI