Recent Rankings of 31 Car Manufacturers by Consumer Reports
Recently, the independent non-profit organization Consumer Reports in the United States conducted tests and rankings of 31 car manufacturers. The rankings are based on the average new car overall score, considering results from road tests, safety evaluations, reliability surveys, and owner satisfaction surveys. The aim is to provide reliable, expert-led information for consumers looking to purchase cars in 2026 to help them make informed decisions.
Here are the top 10 car brands for 2026 (starting from the best ranking):
1. Subaru
2. BMW
3. Porsche
4. Honda
5. Toyota
6. Lexus
7. Lincoln
8. Hyundai
9. Acura
10. Tesla
Consumer Reports’ Director of Automotive Testing, Jake Fisher, mentioned that Subaru vehicles excel not only in performance and comfort but also in aspects that might not be readily apparent during test drives. Subaru utilizes mature and reliable components, ensuring consistent reliability. Additionally, Subaru is equipped with advanced safety systems and excelled in emergency handling and braking tests.
Following closely behind is BMW, maintaining its position as a benchmark for luxury brands. Fisher stated that BMW has consistently produced highly attractive models with reliability surpassing all European competitors.
Due to a decrease in reliability for models like the GX SUV and the powerful ES sedan being replaced by newer models, Lexus dropped to sixth place. Lincoln saw the biggest increase in rankings, climbing 17 spots, partly due to improved reliability in its older product lines. For similar reasons, Tesla also rose by 8 spots.
Here are the worst-ranked car brands for the upcoming year (starting from the worst ranking):
10. Jeep
9. Land Rover
8. GMC
7. Dodge
6. Alfa Romeo
5. Rivian
4. Chrysler
3. Chevrolet
2. Mercedes-Benz
1. Volkswagen
Brands with fewer models are more susceptible to ranking fluctuations when reliability decreases. For example, Chrysler only produces one MPV, and the expected reliability of its three different versions is below average, leading to a 9-place drop in overall score compared to last year.
Consumer Reports advises consumers to choose brands that have consistently ranked high over the years but also to pay attention to the overall ratings and predicted reliability of specific models. In fact, even companies known for high quality may produce subpar cars.
Due to the organization only including car manufacturers that have tested at least two current models in the brand rankings, Fiat, Infiniti, Jaguar, Lucid, Maserati, Polestar, and Ram are not included in the rankings.