BMW is notorious for its high prices, but there is a reason for that. It’s hard to top the quality, and it is a luxury brand, after all. Now BMW has another reason to back up the excessive price tags. J.D. Power has given it six prestigious awards, making BMW the most awarded luxury brand of 2020. 

BMW locked up two J.D. Power quality awards

The J.D. Power Quality Award is given to vehicles that have the fewest issues reported in the first 90 days of ownership.

For 2020, two BMW vehicles earned the quality award. The 2020 BMW X6 and 2020 BMW 8 Series took home the award.

The BMW X6 is a powerhouse. It can reach speeds up to 155 mph. That is also the X6’s Achilles’s heel, however. It can be very frustrating to drive on public roads due to the fact that you can’t turn that power loose, and just let it rip.

The 2020 BMW 8 Series is also completely amazing, but the 2021 model is removing the night vision with pedestrian detection. It remains to be seen if this will prevent the 8 Series from getting the quality award again in 2021.

J.D. Power dependability award

The J.D. Power dependability award is given to the brand with the fewest problems, as reported by 100 owners in the last 12 months. This applies to vehicles that are three years old. Given the high price of repairs on BMW vehicles, this a huge relief to many owners.

Over a 10-year period, you’re looking at maintenance costs of $17,800, which can catch some owners by surprise. That doesn’t include unexpected repairs.

For owners of the BMW 2, this pain might be a little lighter. It took home the dependability award, which means that owners are reporting fewer issues. J.D. Power gives it an above-average reliability score, so for anyone thinking of buying a used BMW 2, this should give them some relief.

BMW has always been about performance

J.D. Power describes the performance award as, “Awarded to the brand with the highest new car owner design and performance ratings after the first 90 days of ownership.”

BMW had three vehicles that made this list. The 2020 X4, X6, and 7 Series all proved to be performance powerhouses.

The 2020 X4 is often described as the perfect SUV for drivers who don’t actually like SUVs. Its compact size makes it ideal for anyone who needs a little more room than a sedan offers, but isn’t ready to make the leap into a large SUV. 

The second BMW to earn the performance award should sound familiar. This was the second award that the X6 earned, making it the highest awarded BMW from J.D. Power for 2020. It is often compared to it’s smaller sibling the X4, with the major difference being that the X6 is bigger.

The third vehicle to earn the performance award is the 2020 7 Series. Features such as heated seats and massagers are no longer relegated to the front seat. Passengers can now sit in the back, and get a well-needed massage. This feature is so cool it might even end the age-old argument about who gets to sit in the front.

The price is still a major issue, but if you wait until the 2020 model ages a little, you might be able to get your hands on one for a steep discount. Whether you buy it new or used, however, BMW has definitely taken some major steps in the right direction this year.