13) Fiat
For 2020, the Fiat lineup is pared down to just two models: the 124 Spider roadster and the 500L wagon based on the now-discontinued 500 subcompact hatchback. The 124 Spider is a good sports car, with great handling and an efficient and zippy turbocharged engine. The 500L is less impressive, going for style rather than substance – and with few updates since its 2014 launch. If you want a Fiat 124 Spider, go for it, and if you want a 500L, you’re better off shopping for a used model to save money.
12) Nissan
Though Nissan has a broad car lineup with entrants in many categories, including the affordable and electric Leaf, as well as the 370Z and GT-R sports cars, this brand tends to stall out around the middle of our rankings in each segment. In some cases, it’s because Nissan goes too long between redesigns, so the cars look and feel old compared to rivals. However, even in cases like the Sentra, which was just fully redesigned for 2020, efforts fall short of class leaders. That said, cars like the midsize Altima and large Maxima are solid choices in their classes, and the Versa is a great value for a subcompact car.
11) Subaru
Subaru offers a well-rounded car lineup, the best of which is the fully redesigned Outback wagon. It’s comfortable, practical, and loaded with advanced safety features. In fact, most Subaru cars follow this formula, and standard all-wheel drive across most of the lineup gives them an advantage. This is especially true for cars like the compact Impreza and midsize Legacy, which compete against models that don’t even offer all-wheel drive, much less include it as standard. The BRZ sports coupe is an exception to the rule, with rear-wheel drive and a minimalist approach to driving enjoyment. The WRX scores relatively low in our compact car ranking. That’s because it’s basic and fun to drive in a segment where most shoppers want practicality and value above all else.
10) Mini
The stylish Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper Clubman are loaded with personality, thanks to unique design and fun driving dynamics. Both are good choices in the subcompact car segment and have good predicted reliability ratings. On the downside, they’re more expensive than most competitors, since they’re premium options in a segment that chases after entry-level buyers. If premium styling and performance are your goals, Mini’s small but exciting lineup is worth a look.
9) Dodge
Dodge is yet another brand that’s pared down its car offerings to just the essentials – though in this case, the essentials are loaded with excess. The Charger is a large, muscular sedan that trails its rivals in quality and practicality, but can trounce them all in terms of performance thanks to a bunch of beefy powertrain options. The Challenger is a true muscle car and is a blast to drive. It is rewarded with a spot in the top half of our sports car ranking.
8) Chevrolet
Chevrolet is another brand with cars in most categories, from the small Spark and Sonic to the Camaro muscle car. That said, some of these cars are projected to be removed from the lineup over the next few years as Chevy follows the industry trend of investing more heavily in more popular and profitable SUVs and trucks.
7) Volkswagen
Volkswagen offers a lineup of cars that are good, but not great, with one exception. The GTI hatchback leads our compact car ranking with an upscale interior, user-friendly technology, and great acceleration and agility. VW also competes in the compact car space with the Golf hatchback, on which the GTI is based, and the Jetta sedan. The midsize Passat ranks in the middle of its class, with a mix of pros and cons characterizing the vehicle.
6) Toyota
With 11 cars currently in the lineup, Toyota has more offerings than any other carmaker on this list. Toyota has an entrant for each major car category, as well as hybrid variants of the Corolla, Camry, and Avalon sedans. All are great choices in their classes, with strong scores for safety, predicted reliability, and quality.
5) Kia
Kia is a strong competitor in every segment it enters. The brand has become renowned for value-packed vehicles with quality interiors and user-friendly tech features that won’t make you feel like you’ve really compromised. For example, the Kia Forte compact car is a great choice for sedan shoppers who want good fuel economy, cargo space, and a wealth of standard features. The brand offers class-leading warranty coverage, as well.
4) Hyundai
The standout car in the Hyundai lineup may be the Sonata, which was fully redesigned for 2020 and set a new standard for the brand in terms of elegant design. The Sonata Hybrid model is currently at the top of our ranking for the class. The sporty Veloster hatchback is another interesting choice, combining practicality with fun driving dynamics in a unique package. The Ioniq is available with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or fully-electric powertrains, helping bring affordable and efficient technology to the masses. Really, though, every car in the brand’s current lineup is good, and the class-leading warranty is matched only by sister brand Kia.
3) Ford
In the past few years, Ford’s gone all in on SUVs, whittling down its car lineup to just the legendary Mustang muscle car and the Fusion midsize sedan – and even then, this is the Fusion’s last year on the market. That’s bad news for sedan shoppers, since the Fusion and its hybrid variant are both good cars. Things look brighter for sports car buyers, since the Mustang is great, with a spot near the top of our ranking for the class.
2) Honda
Honda’s cars land at or near the top of our rankings in nearly every segment they enter. Standouts include the subcompact Fit hatchback, compact Civic lineup, and Accord midsize sedan. They look good, they’re comfortable to drive, they’re safe, and they’re well equipped. The Clarity plug-in hybrid and Insight hybrid don’t fare quite as well against rivals, but they’re still good choices in their class. With great design, engaging performance, and tons of practicality, it’s easy to see why Honda is the runner-up in our Best Car Brands of 2020.
1) Mazda
With a small but fierce car lineup, Mazda is the winner of our Best Car Brand award for 2020. The MX-5 Miata roadster tops our sports car ranking thanks to its incredible agility and great value. The Mazda3 sedan and hatchback lineup leads our compact car ranking with style and grace. The Mazda6 midsize sedan puts up a strong fight against competitors in that class, making a case for a fun commute in a segment that’s otherwise generally pretty dull. Mazda cars are well-built, well-equipped, and fun to drive. In every segment where Mazda competes, you’ll be hard pressed to find rivals that offer the same combination of practicality and performance.
More Shopping Tools from U.S. News & World Report
Now you’re familiar with the best car brands on the market for 2021, but these manufacturers make other types of vehicles, too. We also have lists of the best SUV brands, truck brands, and luxury vehicle brands, too. Check out the award winners slideshow to learn more about the methodology behind the Best Vehicle Brands.
When you’re ready for your new car, use our U.S. News Best Price Program to find the dealership in your area with the best prices. Whether you’re buying or leasing, shoppers who use the program save an average of more than $3,000 off their new vehicle.
U.S. News' Best Car Brands of 2021
- 13) Fiat
- 12) Nissan
- 11) Subaru
- 10) Mini
- 9) Dodge
- 8) Chevrolet
- 7) Volkswagen
- 6) Toyota
- 5) Kia
- 4) Hyundai
- 3) Toyota
- 2) Honda
- 1) Mazda
Recommended Articles
-
U.S. News Best Truck Brands for 2021
-
U.S. News Best Luxury Vehicle Brands for 2021
-
2021 Land Rover Range Rover vs. 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport: Worth the Upgrade?
-
Future Cars: The Best New Cars Arriving by 2022
-
12 Best Cars for Dogs in 2021
-
16 Small SUVs With the Best Gas Mileage for 2021
-
The 16 Best Used Lexus Models in 2021
-
2021 Best Cars for the Money
-
Best Cars for Families
These Are the Best Car Brands According to U.S. News Scores
Shopping for a new car can be intimidating, even as consumers have more resources than ever to help them research from their own home before setting foot in the high-pressure dealership environment. The good news is that there are a lot of great cars on the market right now. On the flip-side, that can make it even more difficult to figure out which cars are the very best.
In addition to our new vehicle reviews and rankings, our annual Best Car Brand award goes to the automaker with the highest-quality cars, according to the same factors that drive our rankings. These include safety scores, technology, predicted reliability ratings, fuel economy ratings, and opinions of professional automotive journalists.
On the following slides, you’ll learn about every auto manufacturer that makes cars we currently review, counting down from the worst brand to the best. As you read, keep in mind that our scores sometimes change as new expert reviews and data become available. Therefore, the scores included in this story may be slightly different from the scores in our current rankings and reviews. Furthermore, each brand in this slideshow is ranked based exclusively on their cars, so if you’re interested in crossovers and SUVs, trucks, or luxury vehicles, we have awards and slideshows for those segments, too.