Best Car Brand: Mazda
Mazda wins the award for Best Car Brand. The automotive press has always loved Mazdas for their performance, but the Mazda cars on the road today earn positive reviews for their well-made interiors as well as their athletic driving dynamics. The 2016 Mazda3, pictured here, is in the top tier of the U.S. News compact car rankings, with most car reviewers recommending it for its nimble handling, strong acceleration and upscale interior.
Best Car Brand: Mazda
For buyers who need more space, the midsize Mazda6 has an interior that auto journalists say is upscale, and it has the best performance score in the midsize car class. The Mazda6 also has impressive fuel economy for its class.
[See this month’s Best Mazda Deals]
Best Car Brand: Mazda
The iconic Mazda MX-5 Miata is one of the longest-running automotive nameplates on the road today, and reviewers love the 2016 MX-5 for its spritely performance and affordable price. Though the MX-5 has a less-powerful engine than many sports cars, automotive journalists report that its small size, precise handling and responsive steering and braking make it one of the most fun-to-drive cars you can buy.
Best Luxury Brand: Porsche
Though many people associate Porsche with pure performance cars, in recent years the brand has expanded their lineup to include the Panamera, a luxury large car shown here, as well as the Cayenne and Macan SUVs. According to most reviewers, the Panamera not only lives up to the performance heritage of the Porsche’s brand, but also coddles occupants with an opulent interior and the connectivity features today’s luxury buyer demands.
Best Luxury Brand: Porsche
The Porsche Cayenne luxury midsize SUV currently ranks near the top of its class, with reviewers praising its acceleration and handling. The Cayenne is available with a range of engines, including a gas-electric hybrid powertrain, which widens its appeal. The Cayenne isn’t just for the driver, however, as auto writers praise its exceptionally comfortable cabin.
Best Luxury Brand: Porsche
The Porsche Macan debuted at the top of the luxury compact SUV class in 2015, and it’s still currently ranked number one. Reviewers love the Macan’s potent engines, which offer drivers up to 400 horsepower, as well as the SUV’s athletic handling. Auto writers also say the Macan has an upscale interior with a sporty design that pairs perfectly with its performance.
Best Luxury Brand: Porsche
As diverse as its lineup has become, Porsche still makes one heck of a sports car. The Porsche 911 is an iconic sports car that dates back to the early 1960s. The 911 has a unique rear-engine layout that reviewers say helps it have extraordinarily good handling. Most automotive journalists also love the 911's sharp steering and luxurious cabin.
Best Luxury Brand: Porsche
The Porsche Cayman is a hardtop little sibling to the Porsche 911. The Cayman has a mid-engine layout, which reviews say gives it incredible balance and poise on the track and on the road. They also appreciate its classically attractive interior, as well as its razor-sharp steering.
Best Luxury Brand: Porsche
The Porsche Boxster is a convertible mid-engine roadster and the most affordable sports car Porsche makes. Reviewers say that the Boxster offers thrilling performance and is one of the best-handling sports cars you can buy. They also report that its comfortable cabin and supportive seats make the Boxster an excellent companion for long drives.
Best SUV Brand: Honda
Honda wins the Best SUV Brand award. Its SUV lineup includes the newly redesigned 2016 Honda Pilot midsize SUV, shown here, and the all-new 2016 Honda HR-V subcompact SUV. Those models, along with the compact Honda CR-V, rank near the top of their classes, making a Honda SUV a smart buy no matter what kind of SUV consumers are looking for. Reviewers are particularly impressed with the Pilot’s spacious third row, upscale interior materials and numerous interior storage spaces – including a whopping 14 cup holders.
Best SUV Brand: Honda
The Honda CR-V is a long-time critic favorite in the compact SUV category, thanks to a seating area that they say has enough room for the whole family. Journalists also like the CR-V’s large cargo area, which they say can easily hold the whole family’s gear. The CR-V also gets very good fuel economy and has a long list of standard features for the class. The Honda CR-V has been named a U.S. News Best Car for the Money and a Best Car for Families multiple times.
Best SUV Brand: Honda
The Honda HR-V is a brand-new subcompact SUV. Despite its small size, reviewers say the HR-V has the kind of practicality and features that buyers will appreciate. Auto writers praise the HR-V for its flexible cargo capacity, comfortable seats, smooth ride and great outward visibility.
[See this month’s Best Honda Deals]
Best Truck Brand: Ford
Ford earns the Best Truck Brand award on the strength of the Ford F-150. Long a top seller, reviewers say the Ford F-150 continues to lead the evolution of the pickup truck class, adding high-tech connectivity features, fuel-saving engine and chassis features, as well as a high dose of luxury for buyers who want it. All of those bells and whistles don’t come at the expense of capability, as the F-150 has the towing and hauling power you’d expect from a full-size truck.
[See this month’s Best Ford Deals]
Award Methodology
The 2016 U.S. News Best Vehicle Brand Awards methodology uses the combined overall scores from the U.S. News Best Cars rankings across all models in each of the award classes. The overall rankings score is based on an analysis of published, credible reviews of a given model from the automotive press, as well as safety and reliability data.
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The Best Vehicle Brands
When it’s time to buy a new car, you have 36 brands to choose from. Each automotive brand has something to offer, but not every brand is right for every buyer. Some brands excel at making performance cars, others focus on making family-friendly crossovers or specialize in luxury cars.
Homing in on a brand that excels at making the kind of vehicle you’re looking for is an efficient way to focus your shopping and find the best car for you. The 2016 U.S. News Best Vehicle Brand awards recognize the best brands in four categories: Cars, SUVs, Trucks and Luxury. Keep reading to learn about this year’s winners, and kick-start your car shopping with the right automotive brand for you.