Does paying more to be able to drive a luxury car actually make you happier?

It did for the buyers of three luxury brands — Tesla, Porsche and Genesis — according to a new study by Consumer Reports, which ranked automotive brands based on a comprehensive satisfaction study. Buyers of those three were, overall, the happiest car owners in the U.S.

But the unhappiest owners were also those who bought into a luxury nameplate, Acura. It ranked last among 30 brands.

Unlike Consumer Reports' widely-followed Reliability Survey, this study didn't rank automakers based on quality or dependability.

Instead, it rates auto brands based on how they performed against car buyers' expectations in the 2015 through 2018 model years. It incorporates feedback on the driving experience, comfort, value, styling, audio and climate systems.

"Owner satisfaction is really a measurement of whether or not the car fulfilled on its promise," said Jake Fisher, director of automotive testing for Consumer Reports. "Did it disappoint you? Did you get more than you thought? Did you get less than you thought?"

Based on that gauge, Tesla came out on top. The Silicon Valley automaker's luxury electric vehicles have generated a devoted following despite price tags that can exceed $100,000.

"People are very happy with them," Fisher said. "You’re not buying it because it’s a great value, but you’re still extremely happy with the purchase."

Fisher said other luxury auto brands have taken a hit to their satisfaction scores by introducing cheaper vehicles. Mercedes-Benz, for example, ranked 22nd after the German luxury brand's CLA, priced in the low-to-mid $30,000 range to appeal to Millennials, disappointed some buyers. Acura suffered a similar fate, Fisher said.

On the flip side, relatively new luxury brand Genesis, which South Korean automaker Hyundai recently spun off, has gotten off to a good start. Genesis ranked third behind Tesla and Porsche.

Fiat Chrysler's Chrysler brand also performed well, rising four spots in this year's survey to the fourth spot. The brand is benefiting primarily from the strong performance of its Pacifica minivan.

The fifth through 10th slots were filled out by Audi, Mazda, Subaru, Toyota, Honda and Lincoln.

The full list (owner satisfaction scores out of 100):

1. Tesla (90)

2. Porsche (85)

3. Genesis (81)

4. Chrysler (78)

5. Audi (76)

6. Mazda (76)

7. Subaru (76)

8. Toyota (76)

9. Honda (75)

10. Lincoln (75)

11. Mini (73)

12. Ram (73)

13. Kia (72)

14. Chevrolet (72)

15. BMW (72)

16. GMC (72)

17. Ford (70)

18. Lexus (70)

19. Volvo (69)

20. Dodge (68)

21. Jeep (68)

22. Mercedes-Benz (67)

23. Volkswagen (67)

24. Hyundai (67)

25. Buick (66)

26. Cadillac (64)

27. Infiniti (60)

28. Mitsubishi (58)

29. Nissan (58)

30. Acura (58)

Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.