When you’re in the market for a new car, understanding the make of a vehicle is crucial. In essence, the make refers to the brand or manufacturer of the car, such as Toyota, BMW, or Subaru. But beyond just knowing the name, what does the make truly tell you about a car? Consumer Reports’ annual car brand report card offers valuable insights by ranking automakers based on a comprehensive Overall Score. This score combines road-test performance, safety ratings, predicted reliability, and owner satisfaction, providing a definitive guide for consumers looking to make informed decisions. Let’s dive into the 2025 rankings and see what they reveal about different car makes.
Top Car Brands Leading the Pack in 2025
For 2025, Subaru has risen to the top, claiming the number one spot from BMW. This shift, though by a narrow single point margin in the average Overall Score, marks Subaru as the leading brand in the Consumer Reports ranking. Interestingly, the top five brands remain largely consistent with the previous year, indicating a stable high performance among these manufacturers.
Lexus also demonstrated upward movement, advancing from fifth to third place. This wasn’t due to significant improvements within Lexus itself, but rather a slight dip in the rankings of Porsche and Honda, allowing Lexus to climb higher in the list. The consistent performance of these top makes underlines their commitment to quality across various metrics that Consumer Reports evaluates.
Notable Shifts in Brand Rankings
Audi made a significant leap this year, climbing six positions to secure the sixth rank. This substantial improvement suggests advancements in Audi’s vehicle quality and performance as assessed by Consumer Reports. Conversely, Mini and Acura experienced a drop in their rankings, primarily attributed to lower predicted reliability scores. Reliability is a critical factor for car buyers, and these shifts highlight the dynamic nature of automotive manufacturing and quality control.
Buick also saw a notable decline, falling four places to 17th. This decrease is linked to lower road-test scores, particularly with the new Envista model receiving only an “adequate” rating. Cadillac experienced an even sharper decline, tumbling seven spots to 21st place. This drop is partly due to the below-average reliability of their Lyriq EV model, pointing to potential challenges in the electric vehicle sector for some makes.
These movements in rankings emphasize that even established brands can experience fluctuations in performance, and consumers should stay informed about the latest evaluations. The rankings are based on averages, meaning that for brands with fewer models, each individual model’s performance has a more pronounced impact on the overall brand score.
Considering Brands with Caution
Consumer Reports data also highlights brands that consistently rank lower, suggesting areas where buyers might proceed with caution. These brands often include GMC, Land Rover, Rivian, and Stellantis brands like Alfa Romeo, Dodge, and Jeep. Year after year, these makes tend to appear at the bottom of the rankings, indicating persistent challenges in overall performance, reliability, or owner satisfaction as evaluated by Consumer Reports’ criteria.
However, it’s crucial to remember that brand-level rankings are averages. Even within high-scoring makes, individual models can underperform. Therefore, it is always recommended to delve into specific model ratings before making a purchase decision. This is particularly relevant for larger brands like Toyota, where models like the Camry receive high praise, while others, such as the Tacoma, may receive less favorable scores in road tests and predicted reliability.
Brands Earning Recommendations Across the Board
Interestingly, only a small number of manufacturers achieved the distinction of earning a Consumer Reports recommendation for every single model tested in their lineup. For this year, Porsche, Infiniti, Mini, and Buick are the brands that achieved this 100% recommendation rate. However, it’s important to consider that these brands often have smaller product lines, meaning fewer models are evaluated, which can influence this statistic. Chrysler, for instance, stands out as the highest-ranked domestic brand at 16th place, but its score is based on a limited product range including the Pacifica, Pacifica Hybrid, and the new Voyager.
On the other end of the spectrum, seven brands currently 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 feature among the lowest-ranked overall, reinforcing the advice to exercise caution when considering vehicles from these manufacturers.
Brands Outside the Ranking Scope
To be included in the Consumer Reports brand ranking, a manufacturer must have at least two current models tested. This criterion excludes several brands from the 2025 report, including Fiat, Jaguar, Lucid, Maserati, Polestar, and Ram. The absence of these brands from the ranking does not necessarily imply poor performance, but rather reflects that Consumer Reports has not yet tested a sufficient number of their models to provide a comprehensive brand evaluation.
In conclusion, understanding what the make of a car signifies extends beyond just the brand name. Consumer Reports’ brand rankings offer a data-driven perspective on the overall quality and performance you can expect from different automakers. By considering these rankings and delving into model-specific ratings, car buyers can navigate the market more effectively and make well-informed decisions aligned with their needs and priorities. Remember to look beyond just the make and explore the detailed evaluations to find the best vehicle for you.
