ежегодно Consumer Reports releases its highly anticipated Car Brand report card, a crucial resource for consumers navigating the automotive market. This report card ranks automakers based on the average Overall Score of their vehicles. This score is a comprehensive metric, combining road-test performance, safety ratings, predicted reliability, and owner satisfaction data. The result is a definitive ranking that clearly highlights which car brands excel and those that may be best avoided. For anyone in the market for a new vehicle, understanding these car brand rankings is an essential step in making an informed decision.
Consumer Reports doesn’t just provide an overall ranking. They also offer separate scores for each car brand based on average road-test, reliability, and owner satisfaction for new models. Furthermore, they assess and rank brands based on their used-car reliability, offering a complete picture of car brand performance over time.
In the 2025 report, featuring 32 prominent car brands, the top five positions remained largely consistent with the previous year. However, there was a notable shift at the very top. Subaru ascended to the number one spot, overtaking BMW, which had been the top-ranked car brand in the prior year. Subaru edged out BMW by a single point in average Overall Score, demonstrating the competitive nature of the top tier of car brand rankings.
Lexus also made a notable move, climbing from fifth to third place. This wasn’t due to significant improvements from Lexus itself, but rather due to slight declines in the rankings of Porsche and Honda. This movement underscores the dynamic nature of car brand performance and how even minor changes can impact overall rankings.
Audi was a significant riser in this year’s rankings, jumping six places to secure the sixth position. This improvement reflects positively on Audi’s overall vehicle quality and performance. Conversely, Mini and Acura experienced a drop in their rankings, primarily due to lower predicted reliability scores. Reliability remains a critical factor in car brand perception and owner satisfaction.
Other car brands that saw considerable movement include Buick, which slipped four places to 17th. This decline was attributed to lower road-test scores, with the new Envista model receiving only an adequate road-test score. Cadillac experienced an even steeper drop, tumbling seven spots to 21st place. This was partly due to the below-average reliability of its Lyriq EV, highlighting the challenges some brands face in ensuring reliability in new electric vehicle models.
It’s important to recognize that some level of fluctuation in car brand rankings is expected each year, particularly among brands with smaller product lines where each model’s performance has a more pronounced effect on the brand’s average score. Because these rankings are based on averages, car brands with fewer models tested can see more volatility in their year-over-year performance.
For car buyers, the key takeaway is to look for car brands that demonstrate consistent performance over time, as evidenced by the brands consistently ranking in the top tier. Equally important is being aware of the lowest-rated brands. Consumer Reports notes that the bottom section of their list frequently includes GMC, Land Rover, Rivian, and Stellantis brands such as Alfa Romeo, Dodge, and Jeep. Consumers should exercise caution and conduct thorough research before considering vehicles from these car brands.
However, it’s crucial to remember that even high-scoring car brands can have individual models that underperform. Therefore, it is essential to check the ratings of the specific models you are interested in, rather than relying solely on the overall car brand ranking. This is particularly relevant for larger brands like Toyota. While some Toyota models, like the Camry, consistently achieve high scores, others, such as the Tacoma, may receive poorer ratings in road tests and predicted reliability. Model-specific research is vital for making the best car buying decision.
Of the 32 car brands evaluated in this year’s Consumer Reports study, only four manufacturers earned a recommendation for every single model they had tested. These brands are Porsche, Infiniti, Mini, and Buick. However, Consumer Reports advises against over-interpreting this statistic, as these are brands with smaller product lines and fewer models tested overall. For instance, Chrysler is the highest-ranked domestic car brand, positioned at 16th place. Yet, this ranking is based on its limited product range: the Pacifica, Pacifica Hybrid, and the new-for-2025 Voyager.
Conversely, there are seven car brands that do not have a single model recommended by Consumer Reports. These include Lincoln, Alfa Romeo, Dodge, GMC, Land Rover, Rivian, and Jeep. Notably, these brands also tend to be among the lowest-ranked overall. Consumer Reports suggests careful consideration and extensive research before purchasing vehicles from these manufacturers.
To qualify for inclusion in the car brand ranking, Consumer Reports must have tested at least two current models from a given company. Due to this criterion, several brands were not included in the 2025 rankings, such as Fiat, Jaguar, Lucid, Maserati, Polestar, and Ram. The absence of these brands from the rankings does not necessarily reflect negatively on their vehicle quality, but rather on the number of models Consumer Reports has tested.
Consumer Reports provides an interactive chart that allows users to view the complete car brand rankings. The chart also allows for segmenting the rankings into mainstream and luxury groups. This categorization helps to refine comparisons based on vehicle price point and market positioning, offering a more tailored view for car shoppers. Regardless of whether a brand is categorized as mainstream or luxury, the Overall Scores are calculated using the same methodology, allowing for direct comparison across all car brands.
In conclusion, Consumer Reports’ car brand report card serves as an invaluable tool for consumers seeking to make informed car purchasing decisions. By considering the overall rankings, as well as drilling down into model-specific ratings and understanding the factors that influence brand performance, car buyers can navigate the market with greater confidence and ultimately choose a vehicle that best meets their needs and expectations.
