Shopping for a 2025 BMW 3-Series? Here's What Experts Say You Should Look at Instead
Is there another BMW as iconic as the BMW 3 Series? Probably not. This is the car that built BMW in America, where it quickly established itself as the penultimate sports sedan, a title it has yet to relinquish. It retains its sharp handling reflexes, with quick steering, strong brakes, and a well-controlled ride with minimal body lean. The current generation 3 Series is offered as the 255-horsepower 330i or 386-horsepower M340i, with rear-wheel drive or xDrive all-wheel drive. Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine or a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine mated with a mild hybrid system and an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The EPA rates the 3-Series at 29 mpg in combined city/highway driving, except for the base 330i, which returns 31 mpg. All models require premium fuel, and towing is rated at 3,747 pounds with trailer brakes. An optional M Sport package tightens up the suspension, while a Dynamic Handling package brings adaptive dampers. Both packages transform this buggy's ride, rendering it firm but not punishing.
The interior houses a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen with redundant console-mounted controls. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot are standard, while a head-up display is optional. The cabin's modern design and ambient lighting make it feel well worth its price, with firm and comfortable seats. Trunk space is very good at 17 cubic feet – fairly large for this sedan's overall length. The 3-Series certainly remains the world's best sports sedan, but you might wonder what its competition is like. Here's a sampling of the 3-Series' continental competitors.
From a sheer performance standpoint, the Alfa Romeo Giulia can more than hold its own dynamically against the BMW 3 Series. Oozing with style, it's offered with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 280 horsepower through an eight-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels or all four. It's EPA-rated at 27 mpg in combined city/highway driving with rear-wheel drive and 26 mpg with all-wheel drive. Premium fuel is required, and towing is rated at 3,500 pounds. Trunk space is also fairly good, measuring 17 cubic feet.
A 12.3-inch instrument cluster and an 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, integrated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. Even if the Giulia's interior finishes aren't quite as special as its German rivals, its seats' aggressive bolsters and sumptuous leather telegraph that you're in a sports sedan. Its fast, dynamic feel will have you grinning every minute you're behind the wheel, with balanced handling, quick steering, and engine and exhaust noises that will ensure that you'll never listen to the radio.
Audi models have always benefited from a quiet sophistication that belies their adept performance. Then again, it's always the quiet ones that you have to watch. This is the final year for the A4 sedan, which is powered by a 261-horsepower, turbocharged, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder mild hybrid system and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with standard all-wheel drive. It's EPA-rated at 29 mpg and requires premium fuel with a 1,580-lb towing capacity. While the Audi proves athletic when roads turn twisty, it offers a bit more damping than the BMW and a bit more comfort as a result.
The cabin is roomy, although trunk space is tight at 12 cubic feet. The A4's instrument panel is anchored by a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with elegant graphics that eschew the circus-like user interface used by its German rivals. Wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto are standard. A 4G Wi-Fi hotspot is available on Premium Plus and Prestige models. The Audi A4 is an incredibly competent yet quietly sophisticated luxury compact sports sedan that doesn't need to shout its intentions.
Mercedes-Benz sedans are like Russian stacking dolls; what you expect on one, you can expect on others, just sized differently. And while the company may use a single formula, it works, producing cars that are uniquely products of the three-pointed star. Beautifully styled and detailed, the C-Class is powered by a 255-horsepower, turbocharged, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder mild hybrid system that funnels its power through a nine-speed automatic transmission to the real wheels or all four. EPA-rated at 29 mpg with rear-wheel drive and 27 mpg with all-wheel drive, all C-Class models require premium unleaded fuel. Its towing capacity is 3,950 pounds with trailer brakes. Trunk space measures 13 cubic feet.
A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 11.9-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging are standard, while a head-up display is available. The C-Class handles like a sports sedan, but its steering and brakes return a feel that trails the best-in-class. It still proves to be a luxurious automobile, though, emitting an upscale vibe that is distinctly Mercedes-Benz.
Volvo has implemented few changes to the S60, which counts the 2025 model year as its last. That's too bad, as its cool Scandinavian elan is unique, giving it a unique presence that's unmistakably Volvo. It comes with either a 247-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which is as unexciting as it sounds, or as a plug-in hybrid with 456 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and 40 miles of pure electric driving range. The four-cylinder S60 is EPA-rated at 30 mpg with front-wheel drive and 28 mpg with all-wheel drive. The plug-in hybrid is rated at 31 mpg when running its gas engine, and all Volvo S60s use premium fuel. The towing capacity is 2,000 pounds. Trunk space is on the small side at 12 cubic feet.
Inside, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, an infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a head-up display are standard. You'll find the interior quality to be excellent, with a restrained sumptuousness that plays to its personality. The S60 isn't really a sports sedan. Although it acquits itself well enough, it lacks the edgy, connected feel that the best in this class offer. If you prefer a bit more comfort, however, this is your ride.
The BMW 3 Series remains the best-in-class among sports sedans and remains the model every other automaker seems to imitate. The Alfa Romeo certainly challenges the BMW's performance cred, but interior quality prevents it from being its equal. The Mercedes-Benz comes close but fails to deliver the essence of a great sports sedan, instead offering a quintessential contemporary luxury experience. The Audi delivers the compelling handling you'd expect with a quiet dignity that is the brand's modern-day hallmark. Finally, we have the Volvo, which isn't the sports sedan you expect but delivers it in a package that is wholly its own.
There's no wrong answer among this crowd, with each car delivering a unique, pleasing persona. Take each for a ride and see which European beauty best speaks to your needs.
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Associated Press
4 hours ago
- Associated Press
BMW Motorrad Dealers Top-Ranked in 2025 Powersports Study for Providing Quick and Easy Service Appointments
MONTEREY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 2, 2025-- BMW Motorrad dealerships ranked highest in the 2025 Pied Piper PSI ® Service Telephone Effectiveness ® (STE ® ) Powersports Industry Study, which measured the efficiency and quality of customer attempts to schedule service appointments by telephone. Following BMW were Kubota, Triumph, Polaris Off-Road and Harley-Davidson. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Source: 2025 Pied Piper Powersports Service Telephone Effectiveness Industry Study (USA) Pied Piper submitted service calls to 1,531 powersports dealerships representing 27 brands, then evaluated the telephone interactions. Each brand's overall STE Score is a combined average of its individual dealer performances. Scores range from 0 to 100 and include over 30 differently weighted measurements tracking the best practices most likely to generate service revenue and customer loyalty. BMW Ranked Highest: Consistency in Challenging Conditions 'BMW has consistently been ranked among the top three performing brands during the three years this annual study has been conducted,' said Cameron O'Hagan, Pied Piper's Vice President of Metrics and Analytics. ' This year they have achieved the top position due to that consistency.' BMW led the 2025 STE study with an average STE score of 50 – the same score BMW achieved in both 2023 and 2024. The following are examples of behaviors which set BMW dealers apart from the industry average when customers call for service: Why Should We Care About a Customer's Service Telephone Experience? ' Well-run service departments focus on building customer loyalty, and the first opportunity to drive that loyalty is a customer's phone call to schedule an appointment,' said O'Hagan. ' Powersports customers who struggle to schedule service vote with their feet by moving to another dealership or independent shop. In extreme cases, due to most powersports purchases being discretionary, if ownership becomes frustrating, many customers will begin to question whether it's worth the effort and may sell the vehicle and become sour with the brand. ' The industry's average STE score improved one point over the past year, reaching an average score of 44, one point higher than 2024 but trailing the 2023 high watermark average score by two points. Performance varied substantially from dealership to dealership, with a minority of dealerships clearly benefiting from their superior processes. 16% of dealerships nationally achieved STE scores over 70, by providing an interaction with their service customers that was speedy, efficient and proactively helpful. In contrast, customers for 11% of the dealerships hung up their phone having completely failed in their attempt to schedule service. The business implications between those two extremes are substantial. Powersport Industry Performance Lacking in Key Areas Customer expectations for scheduling service aren't set by the powersports industry. Nearly all powersports customers also schedule service for their cars and trucks, and over the past few years the auto industry has significantly improved the service scheduling experience for their customers. Industry's Greatest Opportunities for Improvement ' The cliché is true: sales sells the first; service sells the rest,' said O'Hagan. ' Dealerships that prioritize a superior service experience gain in both sales and service.' Turn 'Just Drop it Off' Into a Positive – 41% of powersports customers are told to 'just drop it off,' where the vehicle will wait—often outside in the elements—for an undetermined number of days, before the dealership will get to it. This demonstrates little concern for a customer's time or expectations. However, this 'drop it off' mentality can be transformed from a frustration into a positive experience by also offering an appointment. For example: ' I can schedule you two weeks from today, or if you prefer, you're welcome to bring it in and we'll try to get to it sooner. ' Framing it this way respects the customer's time and shows that the dealership is organized and responsive—turning a traditionally negative interaction into a loyalty-building moment. Understand What Customers Are Really Experiencing – In the 2025 study there were 14 brands which improved their STE score over the previous year. The brand with the greatest improvement was Kubota, with a six-point gain since last year, moving from a tenth-place ranking in 2024 to second in this year's study. Kubota dealers nearly doubled their rate of setting appointments, occurring 58% of the time in 2025 compared to 31% of the time last year. Kubota dealers also drastically cut the rate of insisting 'just drop it off' from 62% of the time in 2024 to 38% of the time this year. The key to this improvement was showing dealers what their customers actually experienced when calling for service. 2025 Brand Performance Compared Performance varied substantially by brand, as shown by these examples: Why Was This Study Conducted? 'The first service interaction that drives loyalty and service revenue is a customer's initial phone call to schedule an appointment,' said O'Hagan. 'Because these phone calls often go unnoticed in daily operations, they're frequently neglected — and without clear visibility, improvement becomes difficult.' For more than 15 years, Pied Piper has independently published annual industry studies that rank the omnichannel performance of brands and dealer groups. These studies track how industry performance changes over time and let clients understand how their own performance compares. Pied Piper clients order ongoing Prospect Satisfaction Index ® (PSI ® ) measurement and reporting – internet, telephone or in-person – for their dealerships, as tools to improve and maintain omnichannel sales and service effectiveness. Pied Piper clients have found that the key to driving dealership improvement is showing what sales and service customers are really experiencing – which is often a surprise. About Pied Piper Management Company, LLC Monterey, California - based Pied Piper helps brands and national retailer groups improve the omnichannel sales & service performance of their retailers. Pied Piper's PSI process applies data science analytics to determine the omnichannel sales and service best practices most likely to drive unit sales and loyalty. PSI then uses a combination of artificial intelligence, machine learning and human actors to measure and report how effectively retail locations follow those best practices. Other recent Pied Piper PSI industry studies include: Learn more, request a presentation of industry study results, or request PSI measurement and reporting at ------------------------- This press release is provided for editorial use only, and information contained in this release may not be used for advertising or otherwise promoting brands mentioned in this release without specific, written permission from Pied Piper Management Co., LLC. View source version on Contact at Pied Piper: Ryan Scott,[email protected](831) 648-1075 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY AUTOMOTIVE GENERAL AUTOMOTIVE OTHER RETAIL CONSULTING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DATA ANALYTICS RETAIL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SOURCE: Pied Piper Management Company, LLC Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/02/2025 12:01 AM/DISC: 06/02/2025 12:01 AM
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
BMW Motorrad Dealers Top-Ranked in 2025 Powersports Study for Providing Quick and Easy Service Appointments
Missed Opportunities: Industrywide half of all customer calls ended without a service appointment date and time being offered, and 4 in 10 customers were told to "just drop it off" despite a typical one-week service availability backlog BMW, consistency in difficult times: While the industry faces tough conditions, BMW maintained consistently high performance three years in a row MONTEREY, Calif., June 02, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BMW Motorrad dealerships ranked highest in the 2025 Pied Piper PSI® Service Telephone Effectiveness® (STE®) Powersports Industry Study, which measured the efficiency and quality of customer attempts to schedule service appointments by telephone. Following BMW were Kubota, Triumph, Polaris Off-Road and Harley-Davidson. Pied Piper submitted service calls to 1,531 powersports dealerships representing 27 brands, then evaluated the telephone interactions. Each brand's overall STE Score is a combined average of its individual dealer performances. Scores range from 0 to 100 and include over 30 differently weighted measurements tracking the best practices most likely to generate service revenue and customer loyalty. BMW Ranked Highest: Consistency in Challenging Conditions "BMW has consistently been ranked among the top three performing brands during the three years this annual study has been conducted," said Cameron O'Hagan, Pied Piper's Vice President of Metrics and Analytics. "This year they have achieved the top position due to that consistency." BMW led the 2025 STE study with an average STE score of 50 – the same score BMW achieved in both 2023 and 2024. The following are examples of behaviors which set BMW dealers apart from the industry average when customers call for service: Higher Rate of Setting Appointments – 65% of BMW service calls resulted in an appointment being set, compared to only 52% for the industry overall. More Likely to Ask About Other Issues – BMW customers were asked if they had any other issues or needed any additional service 35% of the time on average, compared to only 22% of the time for the industry overall. More Likely to Ask if Visited Before – On average, BMW dealers asked service customers whether they had visited the dealership before 44% of the time, compared to 28% of the time for the industry overall. Reach Service Advisor Quickly – BMW customers on average reached a service advisor within one minute 84% of the time, compared to 78% of the time for the industry overall. Why Should We Care About a Customer's Service Telephone Experience? "Well-run service departments focus on building customer loyalty, and the first opportunity to drive that loyalty is a customer's phone call to schedule an appointment," said O'Hagan. "Powersports customers who struggle to schedule service vote with their feet by moving to another dealership or independent shop. In extreme cases, due to most powersports purchases being discretionary, if ownership becomes frustrating, many customers will begin to question whether it's worth the effort and may sell the vehicle and become sour with the brand." The industry's average STE score improved one point over the past year, reaching an average score of 44, one point higher than 2024 but trailing the 2023 high watermark average score by two points. Performance varied substantially from dealership to dealership, with a minority of dealerships clearly benefiting from their superior processes. 16% of dealerships nationally achieved STE scores over 70, by providing an interaction with their service customers that was speedy, efficient and proactively helpful. In contrast, customers for 11% of the dealerships hung up their phone having completely failed in their attempt to schedule service. The business implications between those two extremes are substantial. Powersport Industry Performance Lacking in Key Areas Customer expectations for scheduling service aren't set by the powersports industry. Nearly all powersports customers also schedule service for their cars and trucks, and over the past few years the auto industry has significantly improved the service scheduling experience for their customers. Fail to Live up to Expectations – Today, half of all auto service appointments for basic needs like oil changes are quickly booked online, and with the help of AI-powered chat, 87% of auto customers who phone to schedule service end their call with an appointment—compared to only 52% of the powersports customers. Too Many "Just Drop it Off" Demands – 41% of the time powersports customers were told to "just drop it off" and wait an undetermined amount of time, rather than the dealership committing to a specific date and time. In comparison, this unfavorable behavior occurs only 2% of the time in the auto industry. Rarely Ask About Additional Services – Across the industry, only 22% of customers were asked if they had other issues or needed additional services—significantly lower than the 40% rate seen in the auto industry. Industry's Greatest Opportunities for Improvement "The cliché is true: sales sells the first; service sells the rest," said O'Hagan. "Dealerships that prioritize a superior service experience gain in both sales and service." Turn "Just Drop it Off" Into a Positive – 41% of powersports customers are told to "just drop it off," where the vehicle will wait—often outside in the elements—for an undetermined number of days, before the dealership will get to it. This demonstrates little concern for a customer's time or expectations. However, this "drop it off" mentality can be transformed from a frustration into a positive experience by also offering an appointment. For example: "I can schedule you two weeks from today, or if you prefer, you're welcome to bring it in and we'll try to get to it sooner." Framing it this way respects the customer's time and shows that the dealership is organized and responsive—turning a traditionally negative interaction into a loyalty-building moment. Understand What Customers Are Really Experiencing – In the 2025 study there were 14 brands which improved their STE score over the previous year. The brand with the greatest improvement was Kubota, with a six-point gain since last year, moving from a tenth-place ranking in 2024 to second in this year's study. Kubota dealers nearly doubled their rate of setting appointments, occurring 58% of the time in 2025 compared to 31% of the time last year. Kubota dealers also drastically cut the rate of insisting "just drop it off" from 62% of the time in 2024 to 38% of the time this year. The key to this improvement was showing dealers what their customers actually experienced when calling for service. 2025 Brand Performance Compared Performance varied substantially by brand, as shown by these examples: "Set an Appointment" - How often did the brand's dealerships offer an appointment for a specific date and time? More than 60% of the time on average: Triumph, BMW, Royal Enfield, Moto Guzzi Less than 25% of the time on average: Husqvarna, Cub Cadet, John Deere "Just Drop it Off" - How often did the brand's dealerships insist that the customer drop off the vehicle without also offering an appointment? Less than 25% of the time on average: Triumph, Ducati, Moto Guzzi More than 50% of the time on average: Husqvarna, Cub Cadet, John Deere "Average Days Out" – What were the brand's dealerships' average number of days out until the earliest available appointment? Less than 5 days on average: Kubota, Triumph, Harley-Davidson, Yamaha More than 10 days on average: Suzuki, Zero, HiSun "Inquire About Additional Services" - How often did the brand's dealerships ask if there were other issues or services the customer would like to have addressed? More than 35% of the time on average: Ducati, Husqvarna, BMW, HiSun Less than 15% of the time on average: Yamaha, Segway, Arctic Cat, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, CFMoto, Triumph "Communication Failure" - How often would calling a brand's dealerships for service result in an issue that prevented communication (placed on hold indefinitely, straight to voicemail, stuck in phone tree, etc.)? Less than 5% of the time on average: Segway, Husqvarna, Cub Cadet, Kubota, Polaris More than 15% of the time on average: Kymco, Zero, Ducati, Tracker Why Was This Study Conducted? "The first service interaction that drives loyalty and service revenue is a customer's initial phone call to schedule an appointment," said O'Hagan. "Because these phone calls often go unnoticed in daily operations, they're frequently neglected — and without clear visibility, improvement becomes difficult." For more than 15 years, Pied Piper has independently published annual industry studies that rank the omnichannel performance of brands and dealer groups. These studies track how industry performance changes over time and let clients understand how their own performance compares. Pied Piper clients order ongoing Prospect Satisfaction Index® (PSI®) measurement and reporting – internet, telephone or in-person – for their dealerships, as tools to improve and maintain omnichannel sales and service effectiveness. Pied Piper clients have found that the key to driving dealership improvement is showing what sales and service customers are really experiencing – which is often a surprise. About Pied Piper Management Company, LLC Monterey, California - based Pied Piper helps brands and national retailer groups improve the omnichannel sales & service performance of their retailers. Pied Piper's PSI process applies data science analytics to determine the omnichannel sales and service best practices most likely to drive unit sales and loyalty. PSI then uses a combination of artificial intelligence, machine learning and human actors to measure and report how effectively retail locations follow those best practices. Other recent Pied Piper PSI industry studies include: 2025 Internet Lead Effectiveness® (ILE®) Powersport Industry Study (Indian Motorcycle was ranked first) 2025 Internet Lead Effectiveness® (ILE®) Auto Industry Study (Subaru was ranked first) 2024 Service Telephone Effectiveness® (STE®) Auto Dealer Group Study (Serra Automotive was ranked first) 2024 Telephone Lead Effectiveness™ (TLE™) Pontoon Boat Industry Study (BRP's Sea-Doo brand ranked first) Learn more, request a presentation of industry study results, or request PSI measurement and reporting at ------------------------- This press release is provided for editorial use only, and information contained in this release may not be used for advertising or otherwise promoting brands mentioned in this release without specific, written permission from Pied Piper Management Co., LLC. View source version on Contacts Contact at Pied Piper: Ryan Scott, rscott@ (831) 648-1075 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
5 hours ago
- Business Wire
BMW Motorrad Dealers Top-Ranked in 2025 Powersports Study for Providing Quick and Easy Service Appointments
MONTEREY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BMW Motorrad dealerships ranked highest in the 2025 Pied Piper PSI ® Service Telephone Effectiveness ® (STE ®) Powersports Industry Study, which measured the efficiency and quality of customer attempts to schedule service appointments by telephone. Following BMW were Kubota, Triumph, Polaris Off-Road and Harley-Davidson. 'Well-run service departments focus on building customer loyalty, and the first opportunity to drive that loyalty is a customer's phone call to schedule an appointment.' Share Pied Piper submitted service calls to 1,531 powersports dealerships representing 27 brands, then evaluated the telephone interactions. Each brand's overall STE Score is a combined average of its individual dealer performances. Scores range from 0 to 100 and include over 30 differently weighted measurements tracking the best practices most likely to generate service revenue and customer loyalty. BMW Ranked Highest: Consistency in Challenging Conditions 'BMW has consistently been ranked among the top three performing brands during the three years this annual study has been conducted,' said Cameron O'Hagan, Pied Piper's Vice President of Metrics and Analytics. ' This year they have achieved the top position due to that consistency.' BMW led the 2025 STE study with an average STE score of 50 – the same score BMW achieved in both 2023 and 2024. The following are examples of behaviors which set BMW dealers apart from the industry average when customers call for service: Higher Rate of Setting Appointments – 65% of BMW service calls resulted in an appointment being set, compared to only 52% for the industry overall. More Likely to Ask About Other Issues – BMW customers were asked if they had any other issues or needed any additional service 35% of the time on average, compared to only 22% of the time for the industry overall. More Likely to Ask if Visited Before – On average, BMW dealers asked service customers whether they had visited the dealership before 44% of the time, compared to 28% of the time for the industry overall. Reach Service Advisor Quickly – BMW customers on average reached a service advisor within one minute 84% of the time, compared to 78% of the time for the industry overall. Why Should We Care About a Customer's Service Telephone Experience? ' Well-run service departments focus on building customer loyalty, and the first opportunity to drive that loyalty is a customer's phone call to schedule an appointment,' said O'Hagan. ' Powersports customers who struggle to schedule service vote with their feet by moving to another dealership or independent shop. In extreme cases, due to most powersports purchases being discretionary, if ownership becomes frustrating, many customers will begin to question whether it's worth the effort and may sell the vehicle and become sour with the brand. ' The industry's average STE score improved one point over the past year, reaching an average score of 44, one point higher than 2024 but trailing the 2023 high watermark average score by two points. Performance varied substantially from dealership to dealership, with a minority of dealerships clearly benefiting from their superior processes. 16% of dealerships nationally achieved STE scores over 70, by providing an interaction with their service customers that was speedy, efficient and proactively helpful. In contrast, customers for 11% of the dealerships hung up their phone having completely failed in their attempt to schedule service. The business implications between those two extremes are substantial. Powersport Industry Performance Lacking in Key Areas Customer expectations for scheduling service aren't set by the powersports industry. Nearly all powersports customers also schedule service for their cars and trucks, and over the past few years the auto industry has significantly improved the service scheduling experience for their customers. Fail to Live up to Expectations – Today, half of all auto service appointments for basic needs like oil changes are quickly booked online, and with the help of AI-powered chat, 87% of auto customers who phone to schedule service end their call with an appointment—compared to only 52% of the powersports customers. Too Many 'Just Drop it Off' Demands – 41% of the time powersports customers were told to 'just drop it off' and wait an undetermined amount of time, rather than the dealership committing to a specific date and time. In comparison, this unfavorable behavior occurs only 2% of the time in the auto industry. Rarely Ask About Additional Services – Across the industry, only 22% of customers were asked if they had other issues or needed additional services—significantly lower than the 40% rate seen in the auto industry. Industry's Greatest Opportunities for Improvement ' The cliché is true: sales sells the first; service sells the rest,' said O'Hagan. ' Dealerships that prioritize a superior service experience gain in both sales and service.' Turn 'Just Drop it Off' Into a Positive – 41% of powersports customers are told to 'just drop it off,' where the vehicle will wait—often outside in the elements—for an undetermined number of days, before the dealership will get to it. This demonstrates little concern for a customer's time or expectations. However, this 'drop it off' mentality can be transformed from a frustration into a positive experience by also offering an appointment. For example: ' I can schedule you two weeks from today, or if you prefer, you're welcome to bring it in and we'll try to get to it sooner. ' Framing it this way respects the customer's time and shows that the dealership is organized and responsive—turning a traditionally negative interaction into a loyalty-building moment. Understand What Customers Are Really Experiencing – In the 2025 study there were 14 brands which improved their STE score over the previous year. The brand with the greatest improvement was Kubota, with a six-point gain since last year, moving from a tenth-place ranking in 2024 to second in this year's study. Kubota dealers nearly doubled their rate of setting appointments, occurring 58% of the time in 2025 compared to 31% of the time last year. Kubota dealers also drastically cut the rate of insisting 'just drop it off' from 62% of the time in 2024 to 38% of the time this year. The key to this improvement was showing dealers what their customers actually experienced when calling for service. 2025 Brand Performance Compared Performance varied substantially by brand, as shown by these examples: Why Was This Study Conducted? 'The first service interaction that drives loyalty and service revenue is a customer's initial phone call to schedule an appointment,' said O'Hagan. "Because these phone calls often go unnoticed in daily operations, they're frequently neglected — and without clear visibility, improvement becomes difficult." For more than 15 years, Pied Piper has independently published annual industry studies that rank the omnichannel performance of brands and dealer groups. These studies track how industry performance changes over time and let clients understand how their own performance compares. Pied Piper clients order ongoing Prospect Satisfaction Index ® (PSI ®) measurement and reporting – internet, telephone or in-person – for their dealerships, as tools to improve and maintain omnichannel sales and service effectiveness. Pied Piper clients have found that the key to driving dealership improvement is showing what sales and service customers are really experiencing – which is often a surprise. About Pied Piper Management Company, LLC Monterey, California - based Pied Piper helps brands and national retailer groups improve the omnichannel sales & service performance of their retailers. Pied Piper's PSI process applies data science analytics to determine the omnichannel sales and service best practices most likely to drive unit sales and loyalty. PSI then uses a combination of artificial intelligence, machine learning and human actors to measure and report how effectively retail locations follow those best practices. Other recent Pied Piper PSI industry studies include: Learn more, request a presentation of industry study results, or request PSI measurement and reporting at ------------------------- This press release is provided for editorial use only, and information contained in this release may not be used for advertising or otherwise promoting brands mentioned in this release without specific, written permission from Pied Piper Management Co., LLC.
