Consumer Reports’ annual ranking of top automotive brands for performance, safety and reliability put BMW in the top spot.
Subaru, which had secured that spot in 2022, finished second.
The main reason for BMW’s trajectory from third to first in 2023 was improved reliability, according to Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at Consumer Reports. He cites the brand’s infotainment innovations and the simplicity and usability of media and information interfaces also helped.
Consumer Reports ranked 32 brands based on the overall scores of their models, which include road tests, reliability, satisfaction, and safety. Out of the remaining brands, Mini, Lexus, Honda, Toyota, Genesis, Mazda, Audi and Kia secured spots in the Top 10.
Genesis made a major leap in 2023, rising 12 spots in the rankings. Kia, Lincoln and Tesla also made gains. The improved rankings were mostly because of the brands “addressing reliability issues they’ve had in the past,” Fisher said.
Not all brands fared as well as the Top 10. Porsche slid seven slots and Chrysler fell 12 spots. But Fisher reported the declines were partly because Consumer Reports evaluated hybrid models separately this year, which assigned more weight to problems with individual models, such as the Chrysler Pacifica.
Porsche had four models tested in the latest brand report card. The Macan, previously rated above average for predicted reliability, only achieved an average ranking this year. The reliability of the Taycan EV also was below average.
In 12th place, Buick remained the highest-ranked domestic brand. Land Rover took last place in the ranking, falling three spots to hit bottom. The descent is due to the company making sacrifices in comfort and reliability in exchange for off-road capabilities. Jeep also suffered for similar reasons, sliding into the second-to-last spot.
Mercedes-Benz, GMC, Mitsubishi, Alfa Romeo and Jaguar also had rankings near the bottom.
Consumer Reports also assigned Green Choice designations to the cleanest, lowest-emitting passenger vehicles. Here, Toyota gathered up nine Green Choice models.
Consumer Reports also named its 10 top picks for cars, SUVs and trucks with half of the picks being hybrid models, including the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, the Toyota Camry Hybrid, the Ford Maverick Hybrid, the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid and the Lexus NX350h. The Tesla Model 3 made the list this year, which Fisher says is a reflection of the Tesla supercharger infrastructure.
