J.D. Power 2026 Tech Experience Index: Cadillac Ranking, Score and Full Results

© A. Krivonosov

Cadillac scored 641 out of 1,000 points and topped J.D. Power's 2026 U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) among brands eligible for the award. But the full table comes with an important caveat: Tesla scored 924 points, and Rivian scored 781. That means Tesla beat Cadillac by 283 points, yet J.D. Power classifies both brands as non-rank-eligible. The study is based on responses from 68,096 owners of 2026 model-year vehicles after 90 days of ownership.

For Cadillac, this is a notable jump: a year ago the brand scored 526 and trailed Genesis's 538, and now its score has climbed by 115 points. TXI shouldn't be confused with reliability, though: in a separate J.D. Power study, Cadillac already posted a strong result on defect counts, while TXI measures how widely technologies are adopted, how satisfied owners are with them, and the problems they run into while using them.

The most telling part of the report isn't the brand rivalry — it's how owners react to specific features. Smart ignition logged just 2.4 problems per 100 vehicles and drew high marks, while passenger displays hit 21.3 PP100. In fact, 35% of owners with such a screen never used it once, and only 6% turn it on every trip. L2 systems that keep the driver's hands on the wheel also scored higher on owner experience than more advanced hands-free L2+ systems.

The Cadillac Escalade separately won an award for its camera-based rearview mirror. That result captures the study's underlying logic well: owners don't reward the number of screens, they reward a feature that solves a clear problem. Cadillac already has models with far more elaborate electronics — the Lyriq-V, for instance, pairs a 33-inch display with Super Cruise. The TXI results suggest that as the tech race continues, owners will judge it mainly by convenience, not by screen count.