According to a new study, Porsche makes the most appealing new cars. While that result might not surprise many people, some of the survey's other conclusions probably will -- a Hyundai knocking a BMW off of its high perch, for instance.

"Porsche again ranked as the industry's most appealing brand while Dodge and Ford scored big gains in a U.S. rating of vehicles' ability to excite owners," explains Automotive News. Porsche claimed the top spot for the fifth straight year.

JD Power and Associates' 2009 Vehicle Appeal Study (Automotive Performance, Execution And Layout) queried more than 80,000 people who have purchased or leased a new car this year on their opinion of more than 90 attributes of their new car.

"The automotive industry achieves a three-year high in appeal for new and redesigned models" in this year's results, JD Power explains. "In addition, seven all-new and redesigned models rank highest in their respective segments, including the Dodge Challenger, Ford F-150 (in a tie), Ford Flex, Hyundai Genesis, Nissan Maxima, Volkswagen CC and Volkswagen Tiguan."

Autoblog notes, "While the APEAL nameplate ranking is significant (Porsche, Jaguar, and Cadillac round out the top-three), the segment winners offer more insight into what today's buyers are seeking...This year's biggest upset comes in the ‘Midsize Premium Car' segment as the all-new Hyundai Genesis (sedan) knocks the BMW 5-Series from the podium."

Automotive News notes another interesting trend - a vehicle's appeal seems to have little to do with its quality. "BMW's Mini brand and Land Rover, for example, were the last-place finishers" in Powers' 2009 Initial Quality Study, which looks at the number of mechanical problems owners report in the first 90 days of vehicle ownership. Yet both brands "ranked above average in the APEAL survey. Honda, Toyota and Hyundai were among the industry's top seven in quality but finished below average in their ability to inspire an emotional response."

If you're in the market for a new car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year's best cars as well as this month's best car deals.