BMW Takes Top Spot in Consumer Reports Ranking
BMW overtook Subaru to take the top spot in Consumer Reports’ annual ranking of top automotive brands for performance, safety and reliability.

BMW overtook Subaru to take the top spot in Consumer Reports’ annual ranking of top automotive brands for performance, safety and reliability.
IMAGE: Pexels
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.
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Industry

RV Group Expands Carolina Footprint
Blue Compass RV Columbia Northeast is the 13th RV dealership owned by Blue Compass in the Carolinas.
Read More →
Agent Acumen
An Agent Summit panel of people who’ve been supporting auto dealers for years gave both timely and timeless advice for those starting out or mulling the prospect.
Read More →
Missed Maintenance Creates Opportunity
As families get back on the road and into daily school routines, service drives have an opportunity to capture customers who are behind on recommended vehicle maintenance.
Read More →
Mitsubishi Unveils U.S. Plan
The automaker announced a strategy that includes an expanded lineup and dealership presence, along with more ‘rugged’ and electric models.
Read More →
Selling to Grow
The question of whether you should sell your agency and if so, when, is up to you. But it’s a question worth asking to ensure you keep the business on the right path for yourself, employees and clients.
Read More →
Recalled Vehicles Hit 5-Year High
Though the number of events has fallen so far this year, impacted units are up significantly. Meanwhile, regulators consider consumer notification changes.
Read More →
Auto Group Acquires Top-Performing Rooftop
Car Pros sold its Kia Huntington Beach location to Sutherlin Automotive Group, marking the buyer’s third location in Southern California.
Read More →
China as Pacesetter
Automotive leaders huddled on where North America stands in the global picture and how it can strengthen its position against the Asian juggernaut’s surging industry.
Read More →
BMW Concept Car Makes Fuel to Burn
The prototype developed in concert with a South Carolina university engineering team generates more solar energy than it uses in a typical daily commute.
Read More →
South Carolina Auto Group Downsizes
Florida-based group Holler-Classic has acquired four rooftops, its first in South Carolina, from Dick Smith Automotive Group.
Read More →