Subaru has dethroned BMW in the 2025 Consumer Reports car brand rankings, taking the top position by a slim margin of one point in the average Overall Score. The annual report, which evaluates brands based on road-test performance, reliability, owner satisfaction and safety, shows shifts in the automotive landscape this year.
Subaru achieved an average Overall Score of 79, edging out BMW's 78. While the top five brands -- Subaru, BMW, Lexus, Porsche and Honda -- remain largely the same, Lexus climbed two places to third, overtaking Porsche and Honda, both of which saw slight declines.
Audi marked a standout performance, jumping six spots to claim sixth place. The brand's improvements were attributed to strong road-test scores and solid owner satisfaction metrics.
However, not all brands fared as well. Cadillac experienced the most significant drop, falling seven positions to 21st, partly due to reliability issues with its LYRIQ electric SUV. Buick also slid four spots to 17th, weighed down by the "adequate" road-test performance of its new Envista model.
Porsche, Infiniti, Mini and Buick stood out, with every tested model earning recommendations. On the other end of the spectrum, seven brands, including Jeep, GMC and Rivian, failed to receive a single model recommendation from Consumer Reports. These brands were also among the lowest-ranked overall.
Consumer Reports cautioned consumers to evaluate individual models rather than relying solely on brand rankings. Even highly ranked brands like Toyota feature a mix of top- and low-performing models, such as the high-scoring Camry versus the lower-rated Tacoma.
Consumer Reports noted that smaller product lines, such as Chrysler’s, can skew brand rankings due to their limited model variety.
The 2025 rankings continue to emphasize the importance of road tests, reliability and owner satisfaction in shaping brand reputations.
